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Herodotus · Histories §4.30.1-4.30.2

The Inability to Breed Mules in Elis and Their Mating Practice

Passage 594 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The discussion shifts from Scythian cold to the curious fact that mules cannot be bred in Elis, describing the Eleans' practice of driving their mares to neighbouring lands for mating.

§4.30.1ἐνθαῦτα μέν νυν διὰ τὰ ψύχεα γίνεται ταῦτα.
In those parts, then, these things happen because of the cold.
θωμάζω δέ (προσθήκας γὰρ δή μοι ὁ λόγος ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐδίζητο) ὅτι ἐν τῇ Ἠλείῃ πάσῃ χώρῃ οὐ δυνέαται γίνεσθαι ἡμίονοι, οὔτε ψυχροῦ τοῦ χώρου ἐόντος οὔτε ἄλλου φανεροῦ αἰτίου οὐδενός.
But I wonder (for indeed my narrative has sought additions from the very beginning) that in the whole land of Elis mules cannot be bred, though the country is not cold, nor is there any other obvious cause.
φασὶ δὲ αὐτοὶ Ἠλεῖοι ἐκ κατάρης τευ οὐ γίνεσθαι σφίσι ἡμιόνους, §4.30.2ἀλλʼ ἐπεὰν προσίῃ ἡ ὥρη κυΐσκεσθαι τὰς ἵππους, ἐξελαύνουσι ἐς τοὺς πλησιοχώρους αὐτάς, καὶ ἔπειτά σφι ἐν τῇ τῶν πέλας ἐπιεῖσι τοὺς ὄνους, ἐς οὗ ἂν σχῶσι αἱ ἵπποι ἐν γαστρί· ἔπειτα δὲ ἀπελαύνουσι.
The Eleans themselves say that it is because of a certain curse that mules are not bred among them; but when the season comes for the mares to conceive, they drive them out into the neighbouring territories, and then, in the land of their neighbours, they let the asses loose upon them, until the mares have conceived; and then they drive them back.

Notes

  1. §4.30.1προσθήκας — Meaning "additions, digressions, or insertions." This is a famous self-referential statement by Herodotus, indicating that his historical narrative (ὁ λόγος) naturally seeks and welcomes digressions.
  2. §4.30.1οὔτε ψυχροῦ τοῦ χώρου ἐόντος — A genitive absolute construction (subject: τοῦ χώρου, participle: ἐόντος). The subsequent phrase οὔτε ἄλλου φανεροῦ αἰτίου οὐδενός also functions as a genitive absolute with the participle [ἐόντος] being understood, coordinating two negative circumstantial clauses of cause or concession.
  3. §4.30.2ἐς οὗ ἂν σχῶσι — The phrase ἐς οὗ (derived from ἐς ὃ χρόνον) functions as a conjunction meaning "until." It is followed by ἄν and the aorist subjunctive (σχῶσι), indicating a future event of indefinite time. The idiom σχῶσι ἐν γαστρί means "to conceive."

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §4.30.1-4.30.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.30.1-4.30.2

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