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Herodotus · Histories §8.9.1

Greek Strategy Decision and Sortie to Test Persian Tactics

Passage 1311 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Upon hearing Scyllias' report, the Greeks decide to meet the Persian fleet sailing around Euboea and set sail in the late afternoon to test the enemy's strength and naval tactics.

§8.9.1τοῦτο δὲ ἀκούσαντες οἱ Ἕλληνες λόγον σφίσι αὐτοῖσι ἐδίδοσαν.
Upon hearing this, the Greeks exchanged opinions among themselves.
πολλῶν δὲ λεχθέντων ἐνίκα τὴν ἡμέρην ἐκείνην αὐτοῦ μείναντάς τε καὶ αὐλισθέντας, μετέπειτα νύκτα μέσην παρέντας πορεύεσθαι καὶ ἀπαντᾶν τῇσι περιπλεούσῃσι τῶν νεῶν.
After many things had been said, the decision prevailed to remain there and encamp for that day, and afterwards, having let midnight pass, to set sail and meet the ships that were sailing around.
μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο, ὡς οὐδείς σφι ἐπέπλεε, δείλην ὀψίην γινομένην τῆς ἡμέρης φυλάξαντες αὐτοὶ ἐπανέπλεον ἐπὶ τοὺς βαρβάρους, ἀπόπειραν αὐτῶν ποιήσασθαι βουλόμενοι τῆς τε μάχης καὶ τοῦ διεκπλόου.
After this, as no one sailed against them, they waited for the late afternoon of the day to come on, and then themselves sailed out against the barbarians, wishing to make trial of them both in battle and in the breakthrough maneuver.

Notes

  1. §8.9.1ἐνίκα — Used impersonally to mean 'the opinion prevailed' or 'it was decided'. The following infinitive phrases (πορεύεσθαι...) function as the subject/content of this decision.
  2. §8.9.1μείναντάς — Although the main verb is the impersonal `ἐνίκα`, the participles (μείναντάς, αὐλισθέντας, παρέντας) are in the accusative masculine plural to agree with the implied subject of the subsequent infinitives like `πορεύεσθαι`.
  3. §8.9.1φυλάξαντες — When the verb `φυλάσσω` (to watch, guard) takes an accusative of time (δείλην ὀψίην γινομένην) as its object, it means 'to wait for' or 'to watch for the arrival of' that time.
  4. §8.9.1τοῦ διεκπλόου — A technical term referring to 'diecplus', an ancient Greek naval maneuver of sailing through the enemy's line and turning to strike their vulnerable sides or sterns, or breaking their oars.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §8.9.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.9.1

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