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Herodotus · Histories §8.85.1-8.85.3

Battle Formations at Salamis and Samian Captains

Passage 1393 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

This passage describes the battle positions of both sides at Salamis, the reaction of the Ionians to Themistocles' instructions, and the rewards given to the Samians Theomestor and Phylacus for their service to the Persian king.

§8.85.1κατὰ μὲν δὴ Ἀθηναίους ἐτετάχατο Φοίνικες (οὗτοι γὰρ εἶχον τὸ πρὸς Ἐλευσῖνός τε καὶ ἑσπέρης κέρας), κατὰ δὲ Λακεδαιμονίους Ἴωνες· οὗτοι δʼ εἶχον τὸ πρὸς τὴν ἠῶ τε καὶ τὸν Πειραιέα.
Opposite the Athenians were stationed the Phoenicians (for these held the wing facing toward Eleusis and the west), and opposite the Lacedaemonians were the Ionians; these held the wing facing toward the east and the Piraeus.
ἐθελοκάκεον μέντοι αὐτῶν κατὰ τὰς Θεμιστοκλέος ἐντολὰς ὀλίγοι, οἱ δὲ πλεῦνες οὔ.
However, of them only a few, in accordance with the instructions of Themistocles, fought half-heartedly, but the majority did not.
§8.85.2ἔχω μέν νυν συχνῶν οὐνόματα τριηράρχων καταλέξαι τῶν νέας Ἑλληνίδας ἑλόντων, χρήσομαι δὲ αὐτοῖσι οὐδὲν πλὴν Θεομήστορός τε τοῦ Ἀνδροδάμαντος καὶ Φυλάκου τοῦ Ἱστιαίου, Σαμίων ἀμφοτέρων.
Now, though I am able to list the names of many trierarchs who captured Greek ships, I shall make no use of them except for Theomestor, the son of Androdamas, and Phylacus, the son of Histiaeus, both of whom were Samians.
§8.85.3τοῦδε δὲ εἵνεκα μέμνημαι τούτων μούνων, ὅτι Θεομήστωρ μὲν διὰ τοῦτο τὸ ἔργον Σάμου ἐτυράννευσε καταστησάντων τῶν Περσέων, Φύλακος δὲ εὐεργέτης βασιλέος ἀνεγράφη καὶ χώρῃ ἐδωρήθη πολλῇ.
And I mention these two alone for this reason, because Theomestor, on account of this deed, became tyrant of Samos, established by the Persians, while Phylacus was registered as a benefactor of the king and was presented with much land.
οἱ δʼ εὐεργέται βασιλέος ὀροσάγγαι καλέονται Περσιστί.
Now, the benefactors of the king are called 'orosangae' in Persian.

Notes

  1. §8.85.1ἐτετάχατο — Third-person plural pluperfect indicative passive of the verb τάσσω (to station). It features the characteristic Ionic ending -ατο, equivalent to τεταγμένοι ἦσαν in Attic.
  2. §8.85.2ἔχω ... καταλέξαι — The verb ἔχω followed by an infinitive (here, the aorist infinitive καταλέξαι) expresses ability, meaning "to be able to".
  3. §8.85.3καταστησάντων τῶν Περσέων — Genitive absolute construction formed by the active aorist participle of καθίστημι (to establish/appoint) and the genitive noun οἱ Πέρσαι (the Persians), denoting the agents behind the establishment of his tyranny.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §8.85.1-8.85.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.85.1-8.85.3

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