Humanitext Reader

Herodotus · Histories §5.79.1-5.79.2

The Oracle to Thebes and its Interpretation

Passage 848 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The Thebans seek an oracle to take vengeance on Athens and are told to entreat those "nearest" to them, but they question its meaning since their closest neighbors are already fighting alongside them.

§5.79.1οὗτοι μέν νυν ταῦτα ἔπρησσον. Θῃβαῖοι δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐς θεὸν ἔπεμπον, βουλόμενοι τίσασθαι Ἀθηναίους.
While the former were doing these things, the Thebans after this sent to the god, wishing to take vengeance on the Athenians.
ἡ δὲ Πυθίη ἀπὸ σφέων μὲν αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔφη αὐτοῖσι εἶναι τίσιν, ἐς πολύφημον δὲ ἐξενείκαντας ἐκέλευε τῶν ἄγχιστα δέεσθαι.
But the Pythia said that vengeance was not possible for them from themselves alone, but she ordered them to bring the oracle to the place of many voices and to entreat those who were nearest to them.
§5.79.2ἀπελθόντων ὦν τῶν θεοπρόπων, ἐξέφερον τὸ χρηστήριον ἁλίην ποιησάμενοι· ὡς ἐπυνθάνοντο δὲ λεγόντων αὐτῶν τῶν ἄγχιστα δέεσθαι, εἶπαν οἱ Θηβαῖοι ἀκούσαντες τούτων οὐκ ὦν ἄγχιστα ἡμέων οἰκέουσι Ταναγραῖοί τε καὶ Κορωναῖοι καὶ Θεσπιέες;
When the messengers of the oracle had returned, therefore, they held an assembly and published the oracle; and when they heard it saying that they should entreat those who were nearest, the Thebans said on hearing this: "Do not the Tanagraeans, the Coronaeans, and the Thespians dwell nearest to us?
καὶ οὗτοί γε ἅμα ἡμῖν αἰεὶ μαχόμενοι προθύμως συνδιαφέρουσι τὸν πόλεμον· τί δεῖ τούτων γε δέεσθαι;
And these, indeed, always fighting eagerly together with us, share in carrying on the war; what need is there to entreat them?
ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον μὴ οὐ τοῦτο ᾖ τὸ χρηστήριον.
Nay, rather, may this not be the meaning of the oracle."

Notes

  1. 5.79.1ἀπὸ σφέων μὲν αὐτῶν — The preposition `ἀπό` with the genitive means "by their own resources" or "on their own," modifying the following dative `αὐτοῖσι` (dative of agent/possessor), indicating that vengeance is impossible for the Thebans acting alone.
  2. 5.79.1ἐς πολύφημον δὲ ἐξενείκαντας — The participle `ἐξενείκαντας` (aorist active accusative plural) is in the accusative as the logical subject of the infinitive `δέεσθαι` dependent on `ἐκέλευε`. `πολύφημος` ("of many voices") is used substantively (or with a noun like `ἀγορή` omitted) as riddling oracle language to mean "the public assembly."
  3. 5.79.2μὴ οὐ τοῦτο ᾖ τὸ χρηστήριον — The construction `μὴ οὐ` with the subjunctive (`ᾖ`) expresses a cautious or apprehensive negative assertion ("may this not be... / I suspect this is not..."). The Thebans are questioning whether the "nearest ones" mentioned in the oracle might refer to something other than their literal geographical neighbors.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §5.79.1-5.79.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.79.1-5.79.2

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