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Herodotus · Histories §7.10.1

Artabanus Steps Forward to Advise the King

Passage 1062 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

After Mardonius finishes his flattering speech, the other Persians remain silent, and Artabanus, the king's uncle, steps forward to speak.

§7.10.1Μαρδόνιος μὲν τοσαῦτα ἐπιλεήνας τὴν Ξέρξεω γνώμην ἐπέπαυτο·
Mardonius, having thus smoothed over the opinion of Xerxes, ceased speaking.
σιωπώντων δὲ τῶν ἄλλων Περσέων καὶ οὐ τολμώντων γνώμην ἀποδείκνυσθαι ἀντίην τῇ προκειμένῃ, Ἀρτάβανος ὁ Ὑστάσπεος, πάτρως ἐὼν Ξέρξῃ, τῷ δὴ καὶ πίσυνος ἐὼν ἔλεγε τάδε.
But while the other Persians remained silent and did not dare to express an opinion contrary to the one proposed, Artabanus the son of Hystaspes, who was an uncle to Xerxes, relying on this very fact, spoke as follows.

Notes

  1. §7.10.1ἐπιλεήνας — The participle ἐπιλεήνας (from ἐπιλεαίνω, aorist active participle) literally means 'smoothing over' or 'polishing,' used here metaphorically to describe flattering or glossing over Xerxes' opinion to make it more agreeable.
  2. §7.10.1τῷ — The dative τῷ is taken as a demonstrative pronoun (neuter singular) referring back to the fact of him being the king's uncle (πάτρως ἐὼν), serving as the complement to the adjective πίσυνος ('relying on, trusting in'). It could also be interpreted as a relative pronoun (masculine singular) referring to Xerxes ('relying on him/his favor'), but the former better emphasizes his confidence derived from his familial status.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §7.10.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.10.1

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