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Herodotus · Histories §7.183.1-7.183.3

Greek Retreat to Chalcis and Persian Advance to Sepias

Passage 1246 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The Greeks retreat from Artemision upon learning of the enemy's approach, while the Persian fleet, after marking a dangerous reef, sails in full force toward Sepias.

§7.183.1ταῦτα οἱ Ἕλληνες οἱ ἐπʼ Ἀρτεμισίῳ στρατοπεδευόμενοι πυνθάνονται παρὰ πυρσῶν ἐκ Σκιάθου· πυθόμενοι δὲ καὶ καταρρωδήσαντες ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἀρτεμισίου μετορμίζοντο ἐς Χαλκίδα, φυλάξοντες μὲν τὸν Εὔριπον, λείποντες δὲ ἡμεροσκόπους περὶ τὰ ὑψηλὰ τῆς Εὐβοίης.
The Greeks stationed at Artemision learned of these things by fire-signals from Skiathos; and having learned them and fallen into great fear, they moved their anchorage from Artemision to Chalcis, intending to guard the Euripos, while leaving day-watchmen on the heights of Euboea.
§7.183.2τῶν δὲ δέκα νεῶν τῶν βαρβάρων τρεῖς ἐπήλασαν περὶ τὸ ἕρμα τὸ μεταξὺ ἐὸν Σκιάθου τε καὶ Μαγνησίης, καλεόμενον δὲ Μύρμηκα.
Of the ten barbarian ships, three sailed towards the reef which lies between Skiathos and Magnesia, called Myrmex.
ἐνθαῦτα οἱ βάρβαροι ἐπειδὴ στήλην λίθου ἐπέθηκαν κομίσαντες ἐπὶ τὸ ἕρμα, ὁρμηθέντες αὐτοὶ ἐκ Θέρμης, ὥς σφι τὸ ἐμποδὼν ἐγεγόνεε καθαρόν, ἐπέπλεον πάσῃσι τῇσι νηυσί, ἕνδεκα ἡμέρας παρέντες μετὰ τὴν βασιλέος ἐξέλασιν ἐκ Θέρμης.
There, after the barbarians had brought a stone pillar and set it up on the reef, they themselves set out from Therma, and when the obstacle had become clear to them, they sailed with all their ships, eleven days having elapsed after the king's departure from Therma.
§7.183.3τὸ δὲ ἕρμα σφι κατηγήσατο ἐὸν ἐν πόρῳ μάλιστα Πάμμων Σκύριος.
It was Pammon of Scyros who had pointed out to them the reef, which lay directly in their course.
πανημερὸν δὲ πλέοντες οἱ βάρβαροι ἐξανύουσι τῆς Μαγνησίης χώρης ἐπὶ Σηπιάδα τε καὶ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν τὸν μεταξὺ Κασθαναίης τε πόλιος ἐόντα καὶ Σηπιάδος ἀκτῆς.
Sailing the whole day, the barbarians completed their passage of the Magnesian territory to Sepias and the beach that lies between the city of Casthanaea and the promontory of Sepias.

Notes

  1. 7.183.1φυλάξοντες μὲν... λείποντες δὲ — The future participle `φυλάξοντες` expresses purpose ('in order to guard'), whereas the present participle `λείποντες` with which it is contrasted expresses a concomitant circumstance ('while leaving'). Note the asymmetrical use of tenses and functions despite being paired by μὲν... δὲ.
  2. 7.183.2ὥς σφι τὸ ἐμποδὼν ἐγεγόνεε καθαρόν — Meaning 'when the obstacle in their way had become clear to them.' It refers to the fact that the danger of the reef was eliminated once they had set up a stone pillar on it as a landmark. `τὸ ἐμποδὼν` is a nominalized expression meaning 'that which is in the way,' and `καθαρόν` functions predicatively.
  3. 7.183.3τὸ δὲ ἕρμα σφι κατηγήσατο ἐὸν — The verb `κατηγέομαι` (to point out, show) takes a supplementary participle (`ἐὸν`, agreeing with the neuter noun `ἕρμα`) to form a construction meaning 'pointed out that the reef was...'. Thus, it means 'pointed out to them that the reef lay (in their course).'

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §7.183.1-7.183.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.183.1-7.183.3

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