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Herodotus · Histories §6.64.1

Accession of Demaratus and Feud with Cleomenes

Passage 966 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The origin of Demaratus' name, Ariston's death, and Demaratus' accession are recorded, introducing how his ongoing conflicts with Cleomenes led to the revelation of his birth secret, which was destined to deprive him of his kingship.

§6.64.1διὰ τοῦτο μέν οἱ τὸ οὔνομα Δημάρητος ἐτέθη· χρόνου δὲ προϊόντος Ἀρίστων μὲν ἀπέθανε, Δημάρητος δὲ ἔσχε τὴν βασιληίην.
For this reason, on the one hand, the name Demaratus was given to him; but as time went on, Ariston died, and Demaratus held the kingship.
ἔδεε δέ, ὡς ἔοικε, ἀνάπυστα γενόμενα ταῦτα καταπαῦσαι Δημάρητον τῆς βασιληίης διὰ τὰ Κλεομένεϊ διεβλήθη μεγάλως πρότερόν τε ὁ Δημάρητος ἀπαγαγὼν τὴν στρατιὴν ἐξ Ἐλευσῖνος, καὶ δὴ καὶ τότε ἐπʼ Αἰγινητέων τοὺς μηδίσαντας διαβάντος Κλεομένεος.
But it was destined, as it seems, that these things, having become known, should remove Demaratus from his kingship, because of the matters in which he had come into great conflict with Cleomenes, namely, both previously when Demaratus led the army away from Eleusis, and especially at that time when Cleomenes crossed over against those of the Aeginetans who had medized.

Notes

  1. §6.64.1ἔδεε δέ, ὡς ἔοικε, ἀνάπυστα γενόμενα ταῦτα καταπαῦσαι Δημάρητον τῆς βασιληίης — The impersonal verb ἔδεε takes the infinitive καταπαῦσαι as its subject (or complement). The semantic subject of this infinitive is the neuter plural phrase ἀνάπυστα γενόμενα ταῦτα ('these things having become known'), and its accusative object is Δημάρητον ('Demaratus'). τῆς βασιληίης is a genitive of separation governed by καταπαύω ('to remove someone from something').
  2. §6.64.1διὰ τὰ — The word τὰ following the preposition διὰ functions as the neuter plural relative pronoun ἅ in the Ionic dialect, forming a relative clause that includes its antecedent (equivalent to διὰ ταῦτα ἅ, 'because of the things which...'). The verb διεβλήθη inside the relative clause is passive but, accompanied by the dative Κλεομένεϊ, expresses the active sense of entering into conflict or enmity with someone.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §6.64.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.64.1

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