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Herodotus · Histories §7.178.1-7.178.2

The Delphic Oracle and Worship of the Winds

Passage 1241 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

While the Greek forces prepare for defense, the terrified Delphians consult the oracle and are told to pray to the winds. They share this oracle with other Greeks, earning their lasting gratitude, and establish an altar to worship the winds.

§7.178.1οἱ μὲν δὴ Ἕλληνες κατὰ τάχος ἐβοήθεον διαταχθέντες, Δελφοὶ δʼ ἐν τούτῳ τῷ χρόνῳ ἐχρηστηριάζοντο τῷ θεῷ ὑπὲρ ἑωυτῶν καὶ τῆς Ἑλλάδος καταρρωδηκότες, καί σφι ἐχρήσθη ἀνέμοισι εὔχεσθαι· μεγάλους γὰρ τούτους ἔσεσθαι τῇ Ἑλλάδι συμμάχους.
The Greeks, having been distributed to their posts, went to bring aid with speed; meanwhile, during this time, the Delphians, having become terrified for themselves and for Greece, consulted the oracle of the god, and it was declared to them that they should pray to the winds, for these would be powerful allies for Greece.
§7.178.2Δελφοὶ δὲ δεξάμενοι τὸ μαντήιον πρῶτα μὲν Ἑλλήνων τοῖσι βουλομένοισι εἶναι ἐλευθέροισι ἐξήγγειλαν τὰ χρησθέντα αὐτοῖσι, καί σφι δεινῶς καταρρωδέουσι τὸν βάρβαρον ἐξαγγείλαντες χάριν ἀθάνατον κατέθεντο.
And the Delphians, having received the oracle, first reported the things declared to them to those of the Greeks who wished to be free; and by reporting this to them, who were in terrible fear of the barbarian, they laid up an undying gratitude.
μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα οἱ Δελφοὶ τοῖσι ἀνέμοισι βωμόν τε ἀπέδεξαν ἐν Θυίῃ, τῇ περ τῆς Κηφισοῦ θυγατρὸς Θυίης τὸ τέμενος ἐστί, ἐπʼ ἧς καὶ ὁ χῶρος οὗτος τὴν ἐπωνυμίην ἔχει, καὶ θυσίῃσι σφέας μετήισαν.
After this, the Delphians established an altar for the winds in Thyia, precisely where the sacred precinct of Thyia, daughter of Cephisus, is situated, after whom this place also has its name, and they propitiated them with sacrifices.

Notes

  1. §7.178.1μεγάλους γὰρ τούτους ἔσεσθαι — An infinitive clause in indirect speech reporting the oracle's content (or its rationale). The subject accusative of the future infinitive ἔσεσθαι is the demonstrative pronoun τούτους, which refers to the ἀνέμοισι (the winds) in the preceding clause.
  2. §7.178.2χάριν ἀθάνατον κατέθεντο — An aorist middle form of the idiomatic expression χάριν κατατίθεμαι (to lay up gratitude, to confer a favor). It means 'they laid up an undying gratitude/obligation'.
  3. §7.178.2μετήισαν — The third-person plural imperfect of μέτειμι (here meaning 'to approach with worship, to propitiate'). The object σφέας (them) refers back to the winds.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §7.178.1-7.178.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.178.1-7.178.2

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