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Herodotus · Histories §7.75.1-7.75.2

Equipment and Origins of the Thracians of Asia

Passage 1138 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

On the clothing, arms, and origins of the Thracians of Asia (later Bithynians). Bassaces the son of Artabanus commanded them.

§7.75.1Θρήικες δὲ ἐπὶ μὲν τῇσι κεφαλῇσι ἀλωπεκέας ἔχοντες ἐστρατεύοντο, περὶ δὲ τὸ σῶμα κιθῶνας, ἐπὶ δὲ ζειρὰς περιβεβλημένοι ποικίλας, περὶ δὲ τοὺς πόδας τε καὶ τὰς κνήμας πέδιλα νεβρῶν, πρὸς δὲ ἀκόντιά τε καὶ πέλτας καὶ ἐγχειρίδια μικρά.
The Thracians went on the campaign wearing fox-skin caps on their heads, and tunics about their bodies, and over these they had thrown variegated cloaks, and on their feet and shins they wore sandals of fawn-skin, and besides they had javelins and light shields and small daggers.
§7.75.2οὗτοι δὲ διαβάντες μὲν ἐς τὴν Ἀσίην ἐκλήθησαν Βιθυνοί, τὸ δὲ πρότερον ἐκαλέοντο, ὡς αὐτοὶ λέγουσι, Στρυμόνιοι, οἰκέοντες ἐπὶ Στρυμόνι· ἐξαναστῆναι δὲ φασὶ ἐξ ἠθέων ὑπὸ Τευκρῶν τε καὶ Μυσῶν.
These, after crossing over into Asia, were called Bithynians, but formerly they were called Strymonians, as they themselves say, living by the Strymon; and they say they were driven out of their homes by the Teucrians and Mysians.
Θρηίκων δὲ τῶν ἐν τῇ Ἀσίῃ ἦρχε Βασσάκης ὁ Ἀρταβάνου.
In command of the Thracians in Asia was Bassaces the son of Artabanus.

Notes

  1. 7.75.1ζειρὰς περιβεβλημένοι — περιβεβλημένοι is a middle participle, taking the accusative ζειράς as a direct object in the sense of 'having put on (for oneself)'. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as a passive with a retained accusative, but in the context of describing military equipment, the middle voice indicating self-clothing is more natural.
  2. 7.75.2ἐξαναστῆναι — This is a second aorist active infinitive used intransitively with the meaning 'to be driven out' or 'to emigrate'. It forms part of an accusative with infinitive construction (A.C.I.) dependent on φασί, with the implied subject being the Strymonians. Although active in form, it conveys a passive sense ('to be expelled') as indicated by the agent construction ὑπό with the genitive.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §7.75.1-7.75.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.75.1-7.75.2

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