Humanitext Reader

Herodotus · Histories §8.112.1-8.112.3

Themistocles Extorts Money from the Island Cities

Passage 1420 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

During the siege of Andros, Themistocles extorted large sums of money from Carystus, Paros, and other islands through threats, acting secretly from the other generals. Paros successfully bought safety, but Carystus was ultimately not spared from disaster.

§8.112.1οὗτοι μὲν δὴ ταῦτα ὑποκρινάμενοι καὶ οὐ δόντες τὰ χρήματα ἐπολιορκέοντο.
So they, having made this reply and not giving the money, were besieged.
Θεμιστοκλέης δὲ, οὐ γὰρ ἐπαύετο πλεονεκτέων, ἐσπέμπων ἐς τὰς ἄλλας νήσους ἀπειλητηρίους λόγους αἴτεε χρήματα διὰ τῶν αὐτῶν ἀγγέλων, χρεώμενος τοῖσι καὶ πρὸς βασιλέα ἐχρήσατο, λέγων ὡς εἰ μὴ δώσουσι τὸ αἰτεόμενον, ἐπάξει τὴν στρατιὴν τῶν Ἑλλήνων καὶ πολιορκέων ἐξαιρήσει.
But Themistocles, for he did not cease from his greed, sent threatening messages to the other islands and demanded money through the same messengers whom he had also employed to the king, saying that if they did not give what was asked, he would bring the army of the Greeks and besiege and destroy them.
§8.112.2λέγων ταῦτα συνέλεγε χρήματα μεγάλα παρὰ Καρυστίων τε καὶ Παρίων, οἳ πυνθανόμενοι τήν τε Ἄνδρον ὡς πολιορκέοιτο διότι ἐμήδισε, καὶ Θεμιστοκλέα ὡς εἴη ἐν αἴνῃ μεγίστῃ τῶν στρατηγῶν, δείσαντες ταῦτα ἔπεμπον χρήματα. εἰ δὲ δὴ τινὲς καὶ ἄλλοι ἔδοσαν νησιωτέων, οὐκ ἔχω εἰπεῖν, δοκέω δὲ τινὰς καὶ ἄλλους δοῦναι καὶ οὐ τούτους μούνους.
By saying this he collected large sums of money from the Carystians and the Parians, who, learning both that Andros was being besieged because it had sided with the Medes, and that Themistocles was in the highest repute among the generals, and fearing these things, sent money. Now, whether any other islanders gave money I cannot say, but I think that some others also gave, and not these alone.
§8.112.3καίτοι Καρυστίοισί γε οὐδὲν τούτου εἵνεκα τοῦ κακοῦ ὑπερβολὴ ἐγένετο· Πάριοι δὲ Θεμιστοκλέα χρήμασι ἱλασάμενοι διέφυγον τὸ στράτευμα.
And yet, for the Carystians at least, no postponement of disaster resulted from this; but the Parians, having appeased Themistocles with money, escaped the army.
Θεμιστοκλέης μέν νυν ἐξ Ἄνδρου ὁρμώμενος χρήματα παρὰ νησιωτέων ἐκτᾶτο λάθρῃ τῶν ἄλλων στρατηγῶν.
Thus Themistocles, making Andros his base, acquired money from the islanders secretly from the other generals.

Notes

  1. §8.112.1χρεώμενος τοῖσι καὶ πρὸς βασιλέα ἐχρήσατο — The relative pronoun `τοῖσι` is an Ionic form where the dative article functions as a relative pronoun, referring back to the preceding `ἀγγέλων`. It means 'employing those [messengers] whom he had also employed in dealing with the king.'
  2. §8.112.2τήν τε Ἄνδρον ὡς πολιορκέοιτο... καὶ Θεμιστοκλέα ὡς εἴη... — A proleptic construction (anticipation) where the subjects of the object clauses (`τὴν Ἄνδρον` and `Θεμιστοκλέα`) are pulled forward into the accusative case as the direct objects of the participle `πυνθανόμενοι`. Literally, 'learning Andros, how it was being besieged... and Themistocles, how he was...'
  3. §8.112.3οὐδὲν τούτου εἵνεκα τοῦ κακοῦ ὑπερβολὴ ἐγένετο — The adverbial phrase `τούτου εἵνεκα` ('because of this,' i.e., their payment of money) is inserted between the elements of the noun phrase `τοῦ κακοῦ ὑπερβολή` ('postponement of disaster'). `ὑπερβολή` here means 'postponement, delay, or avoidance,' with `τοῦ κακοῦ` as a subjective/objective genitive. Thus, 'for the Carystians, no postponement of disaster occurred because of this.'

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §8.112.1-8.112.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.112.1-8.112.3

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