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Herodotus · Histories §7.1.1-7.1.3

Darius's War Preparations and the Revolt of Egypt

Passage 1046 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Upon receiving news of the defeat at Marathon, King Darius resolves to invade Greece and orders a massive military build-up, but during the preparations, Egypt revolts.

§7.1.1ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀγγελίη ἀπίκετο περὶ τῆς μάχης τῆς ἐν Μαραθῶνι γενομένης παρὰ βασιλέα Δαρεῖον τὸν Ὑστάσπεος, καὶ πρὶν μεγάλως κεχαραγμένον τοῖσι Ἀθηναίοισι διὰ τὴν ἐς Σάρδις ἐσβολήν, καὶ δὴ καὶ τότε πολλῷ τε δεινότερα ἐποίεε καὶ μᾶλλον ὅρμητο στρατεύεσθαι ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα.
When the news of the battle fought at Marathon reached King Darius, son of Hystaspes, though he had already been greatly incensed against the Athenians because of their invasion of Sardis, he then became even more deeply angered and was more than ever eager to march against Greece.
§7.1.2καὶ αὐτίκα μὲν ἐπηγγέλλετο πέμπων ἀγγέλους κατὰ πόλις ἑτοιμάζειν στρατιήν, πολλῷ πλέω ἐπιτάσσων ἑκάστοισι ἢ πρότερον παρέχειν, καὶ νέας τε καὶ ἵππους καὶ σῖτον καὶ πλοῖα.
And immediately he sent messengers to the various cities, ordering them to prepare an army, imposing on each a much larger tribute of ships, horses, food, and transports than before.
τούτων δὲ περιαγγελλομένων ἡ Ἀσίη ἐδονέετο ἐπὶ τρία ἔτεα, καταλεγομένων τε τῶν ἀρίστων ὡς ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα στρατευομένων καὶ παρασκευαζομένων.
While these orders were being circulated, Asia was kept in turmoil for three years, as the best men were being enrolled and prepared for the expedition against Greece.
§7.1.3τετάρτῳ δὲ ἔτεϊ Αἰγύπτιοι ὑπὸ Καμβύσεω δουλωθέντες ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ Περσέων.
But in the fourth year, the Egyptians, who had been enslaved by Cambyses, revolted from the Persians.
ἐνθαῦτα δὴ καὶ μᾶλλον ὅρμητο καὶ ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέρους στρατεύεσθαι.
Thereupon he was even more eager to march against both.

Notes

  1. §7.1.1κεχαραγμένον — The perfect passive participle (masculine accusative singular) of `χαράσσω` (to anger, exasperate). It agrees with the preceding accusative noun `βασιλέα Δαρεῖον`, modifying King Darius's prior state of mind.
  2. §7.1.1δεινότερα ἐποίεε — `δεινὸν ποιέω` is an idiomatic expression meaning "to be angry, to take something ill". While the middle voice `δεινὸν ποιεῖσθαι` is standard in Attic Greek, Herodotus (in Ionic Greek) uses the active imperfect `ἐποίεε` (= `ἐποίει`) with the same meaning.
  3. §7.1.2κατὰ πόλις — `πόλις` is the Ionic accusative plural form, corresponding to the Attic `πόλεις`. Used with the preposition `κατά`, it means "throughout the cities" or "city by city".
  4. §7.1.2ὡς ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα στρατευομένων — The combination of the conjunction `ὡς` with the participles `στρατευομένων` (and `παρασκευαζομένων`) expresses a subjective intention, purpose, or pretext ("as if for the purpose of marching against Greece").

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §7.1.1-7.1.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.1.1-7.1.3

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