Humanitext Reader

Herodotus · Histories §4.107.1

Black Cloaks and Scythian Customs of the Melanchlaeni

Passage 671 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Describes the black clothing and name origin of the Melanchlaeni, and their adoption of Scythian customs.

§4.107.1μελάγχλαινοι δὲ εἵματα μὲν μέλανα φορέουσι πάντες, ἐπʼ ὧν καὶ τὰς ἐπωνυμίας ἔχουσι, νόμοισι δὲ Σκυθικοῖσι χρέωνται.
The Melanchlaeni all wear black clothing, from which they also have their name, and they use Scythian customs.

Notes

  1. §4.107.1ἐπʼ ὧν — The preposition ἐπί with the genitive indicates the basis or origin of a name ('based on', 'after'). The antecedent of the relative pronoun ὧν is the preceding εἵματα μέλανα (black garments).
  2. §4.107.1νόμοισι δὲ Σκυθικοῖσι χρέωνται — The verb χρέωνται (3rd person plural present of χράομαι, 'use', in the Ionic dialect) governs the dative (νόμοισι). In this context, νόμοι refers to 'customs' or 'traditional practices' rather than institutional laws.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §4.107.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.107.1

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.