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Herodotus · Histories §4.177.1

The Lotus-Eaters and the Lotus Fruit

Passage 741 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Describes the Lotus-eaters dwelling on a headland near the Gindanes, their diet consisting solely of the lotus fruit, and the characteristics of this fruit in terms of size, sweetness, and its use in winemaking.

§4.177.1ἀκτὴν δὲ προέχουσαν ἐς τὸν πόντον τούτων τῶν Γινδάνων νέμονται Λωτοφάγοι, οἳ τὸν καρπὸν μοῦνον τοῦ λωτοῦ τρώγοντες ζώουσι.
On a headland jutting out into the sea from the territory of these Gindanes dwell the Lotus-eaters, who live by eating only the fruit of the lotus.
ὁ δὲ τοῦ λωτοῦ καρπὸς ἐστὶ μέγαθος ὅσον τε τῆς σχίνου, γλυκύτητα δὲ τοῦ φοίνικος τῷ καρπῷ προσείκελος.
The fruit of the lotus is in size about as large as that of the mastic tree, and in sweetness it resembles the fruit of the date palm.
ποιεῦνται δὲ ἐκ τοῦ καρποῦ τούτου οἱ Λωτοφάγοι καὶ οἶνον.
The Lotus-eaters also make wine from this fruit.

Notes

  1. 4.177.1τούτων τῶν Γινδάνων — Genitive depending on the noun ἀκτὴν, indicating geographical proximity or possession, meaning "the headland (jutting out from the territory) of these Gindanes."
  2. 4.177.1μέγαθος, γλυκύτητα — Accusatives of respect (or limitation), meaning "in size" and "in sweetness" respectively, limiting the aspects in which the comparisons and resemblances are made.
  3. 4.177.1ὅσον τε τῆς σχίνου — A comparative expression. The genitive τῆς σχίνου metonoymically refers to the fruit of the mastic tree, with the noun καρπός being omitted ("about as large as [the fruit] of the mastic tree").

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §4.177.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.177.1

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