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Herodotus · Histories §8.69.1-8.69.2

Reactions to Artemisia's Advice and Xerxes' Decision

Passage 1377 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The contrasting reactions of the allies to Artemisia's advice are described, along with Xerxes' decision to praise her counsel but ultimately order obedience to the majority.

§8.69.1ταῦτα λεγούσης πρὸς Μαρδόνιον, ὅσοι μὲν ἦσαν εὔνοοι τῇ Ἀρτεμισίῃ, συμφορὴν ἐποιεῦντο τοὺς λόγους ὡς κακόν τι πεισομένης πρὸς βασιλέος, ὅτι οὐκ ἔα ναυμαχίην ποιέεσθαι·
When she said this to Mardonius, all those who were well-disposed to Artemisia made her words a matter of concern, fearing that she would suffer some harm from the king because she did not allow them to fight a sea-battle.
οἳ δὲ ἀγαιόμενοί τε καὶ φθονέοντες αὐτῇ, ἅτε ἐν πρώτοισι τετιμημένης διὰ πάντων τῶν συμμάχων, ἐτέρποντο τῇ ἀνακρίσι ὡς ἀπολεομένης αὐτῆς.
On the other hand, those who resented and envied her, because she was honored among the first of all the allies, rejoiced at her answer, thinking that she would be ruined.
§8.69.2ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀνηνείχθησαν αἱ γνῶμαι ἐς Ξέρξην, κάρτα τε ἥσθη τῇ γνώμῃ τῇ Ἀρτεμισίης, καὶ νομίζων ἔτι πρότερον σπουδαίην εἶναι τότε πολλῷ μᾶλλον αἴνεε.
When these opinions were reported to Xerxes, he was highly pleased with the opinion of Artemisia, and having already considered her an excellent woman beforehand, he then praised her much more.
ὅμως δὲ τοῖσι πλέοσι πείθεσθαι ἐκέλευε, τάδε καταδόξας, πρὸς μὲν Εὐβοίῃ σφέας ἐθελοκακέειν ὡς οὐ παρεόντος αὐτοῦ, τότε δὲ αὐτὸς παρεσκεύαστο θεήσασθαι ναυμαχέοντας.
Nevertheless, he ordered them to obey the majority, thinking this: that near Euboea they had played the coward on purpose because he was not present, but now he had prepared himself to watch them fighting.

Notes

  1. §8.69.1ταῦτα λεγούσης — Genitive absolute construction with the logical subject Ἀρτεμισίης (Artemisia) omitted as it is clear from the context.
  2. §8.69.1ὡς κακόν τι πεισομένης — The conjunction ὡς with the future participle πεισομένης (from πάσχω, feminine genitive singular, with Artemisia as the implied subject) expresses the subjective concern or expectation of the people that she would suffer something bad.
  3. §8.69.1ὅτι οὐκ ἔα — ἔα is the imperfect 3rd person singular (Ionic dialect) of ἐάω (to allow, let be). Here, the imperfect tense expresses a resistance or attempt to prevent, meaning "because she would not allow / was opposing" the sea-battle.
  4. §8.69.2ὡς οὐ παρεόντος αὐτοῦ — The combination of the conjunction ὡς with the genitive absolute (παρεόντος, present participle of πάρειμι; αὐτοῦ referring to Xerxes). It indicates the King's subjective reasoning or belief that they had slacked off because he himself was not present.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §8.69.1-8.69.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.69.1-8.69.2

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