Herodotus · Histories §4.63.1

Scythian Rejection and Refusal to Rear Pigs

Passage 627 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Summarizes the sacrificial customs of the Scythians and explains that they make no use of pigs and refuse to rear them in their country.

§4.63.1θυσίαι μέν νυν αὗταί σφι κατεστᾶσι.

These, then, are the sacrifices established for them.

ὑσὶ δὲ οὗτοι οὐδὲν νομίζουσι, οὐδὲ τρέφειν ἐν τῇ χώρῃ τὸ παράπαν θέλουσι.

But these people make no use at all of pigs, nor are they willing to breed them in their country at all.

§4.63.1ὑσὶ ... νομίζουσι — The verb νομίζω (which usually takes an accusative) here takes the dative (ὑσὶ) in the sense of 'to make customary use of' or 'to employ.' The word οὐδέν is an adverbial accusative meaning 'at all' or 'in no way.'

Herodotus, Histories §4.63.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.63.1

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