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Herodotus · Histories §7.8.1

Xerxes Summons Persian Nobles and Begins His Speech

Passage 1053 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

After subduing Egypt, Xerxes summons a special council of the Persian nobles to hear their advice and state his own intentions regarding the expedition against Athens.

§7.8.1Ξέρξης δὲ μετὰ Αἰγύπτου ἅλωσιν ὡς ἔμελλε ἐς χεῖρας ἄξεσθαι τὸ στράτευμα τὸ ἐπὶ τὰς Ἀθήνας, σύλλογον ἐπίκητον Περσέων τῶν ἀρίστων ἐποιέετο, ἵνα γνώμας τε πύθηται σφέων καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν πᾶσι εἴπῃ τὰ θέλει.
After the reduction of Egypt, when Xerxes was about to take in hand the army against Athens, he assembled a special council of the noblest Persians, so that he might learn their opinions and himself declare what he wished before them all.
ὡς δὲ συνελέχθησαν, ἔλεξεν Ξέρξης τάδε.
When they had assembled, Xerxes spoke as follows.

Notes

  1. §7.8.1ἐς χεῖρας ἄξεσθαι — Featuring the future middle infinitive ἄξεσθαι of the verb ἄγω, combined with the auxiliary verb ἔμελλε to express intention ('was about to'). The idiom ἐς χεῖρας ἄγεσθαι ('to take in hand', 'to undertake', or 'to bring under one's command') here refers to initiating the actual mobilization or preparation of the army against Athens.
  2. §7.8.1τὰ — An Ionic usage of the definite article serving as a relative pronoun, used here instead of the relative pronoun ἅ (neuter plural accusative, acting as the object of θέλει).

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §7.8.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.8.1

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