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Herodotus · Histories §4.170.1

Territory and Charioteering of the Asbystae

Passage 734 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Describes the Asbystae who dwell inland of Cyrene, their geographical limits, their exceptional skill in driving four-horse chariots, and their imitation of Cyrenaean customs.

§4.170.1Γιλιγαμέων δὲ ἔχονται τὸ πρὸς ἑσπέρης Ἀσβύσται.
Bordering on the Giligamae to the west are the Asbystae.
οὗτοι ὑπὲρ Κυρήνης οἰκέουσι.
These dwell inland of Cyrene.
ἐπὶ θάλασσαν δὲ οὐ κατήκουσι Ἀσβύσται τὸ γὰρ παρὰ θάλασσαν Κυρηναῖοι νέμονται.
But the Asbystae do not reach down to the sea, for the Cyrenaeans occupy the district along the sea.
τεθριπποβάται δὲ οὐκ ἥκιστα ἀλλὰ μάλιστα Λιβύων εἰσί, νόμους δὲ τοὺς πλεῦνας μιμέεσθαι ἐπιτηδεύουσι τοὺς Κυρηναίων.
They are, of all the Libyans, by no means the least but rather the most given to driving four-horse chariots, and they make it their practice to imitate most of the customs of the Cyrenaeans.

Notes

  1. 4.170.1Γιλιγαμέων δὲ ἔχονται — The middle voice verb ἔχομαι with the genitive (here Γιλιγαμέων) means 'to border on' or 'be next to.'
  2. 4.170.1ὑπὲρ Κυρήνης — The preposition ὑπέρ with the genitive is used in a geographical sense to mean 'inland of' (literally 'above' the coastal area).
  3. 4.170.1οὐκ ἥκιστα ἀλλὰ μάλιστα — A rhetorical emphasis ('not least but most', a form of litotes) asserting strongly that, far from being the least, they are preeminently the most skilled at (or devoted to) chariot-driving among the Libyans.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §4.170.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.170.1

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