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Herodotus · Histories §9.43.1-9.43.2

Mardonius's Misinterpreted Oracle and Bacis's Prophecy

Passage 1498 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Herodotus points out that the oracle mentioned by Mardonius actually concerned the Illyrians rather than the Persians, and instead presents the genuine prophecies of Bacis and Musaeus foretelling the Battle of Plataea.

§9.43.1τοῦτον δʼ ἔγωγε τὸν χρησμόν, τὸν Μαρδόνιος εἶπε ἐς Πέρσας ἔχειν, ἐς Ἰλλυριούς τε καὶ τὸν Ἐγχελέων στρατὸν οἶδα πεποιημένον, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐς Πέρσας.
But this oracle, which Mardonius said referred to the Persians, I know was made concerning the Illyrians and the army of the Enchelees, and not concerning the Persians.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν Βάκιδι ἐς ταύτην τὴν μάχην ἐστὶ πεποιημένα, §9.43.2" τὴν δʼ ἐπὶ Θερμώδοντι καὶ Ἀσωπῷ λεχεποίῃ Ἑλλήνων σύνοδον καὶ βαρβαρόφωνον ἰυγήν, τῇ πολλοὶ πεσέονται ὑπὲρ λάχεσίν τε μόρον τε τοξοφόρων Μήδων, ὅταν αἴσιμον ἦμαρ ἐπέλθῃ, " ταῦτα μὲν καὶ παραπλήσια τούτοισι ἄλλα Μουσαίῳ ἔχοντα οἶδα ἐς Πέρσας.
However, the oracle made by Bacis with reference to this battle is as follows: "And the gathering of the Greeks at the Thermodon and grassy Asopus and the barbarian cry, where many of the bow-bearing Medes shall fall, beyond fate and death, when the destined day shall come." I know that these and other similar oracles of Musaeus refer to the Persians.
ὁ δὲ Θερμώδων ποταμὸς ῥέει μεταξὺ Τανάγρης τε καὶ Γλίσαντος.
Now the river Thermodon flows between Tanagra and Glisas.

Notes

  1. 9.43.1ἔχειν ἐς — Meaning "to refer to" or "to concern." The intransitive use of ἔχω with the preposition ἐς indicates direction or reference.
  2. 9.43.2ὑπὲρ λάχεσίν τε μόρον τε — Meaning "beyond allotment (fate) and death." A poetic expression describing dying a premature or violent death that goes beyond one's normally allotted lifespan.
  3. 9.43.2λεχεποίῃ — The dative feminine singular of the adjective λεχέποιος ("grassy"). Although modifying Asopus (Ἀσωπός, a masculine noun), it either agrees with a feminine noun of place (such as land) understood, or poetic license treats the river or its valley as feminine.
  4. 9.43.2τὴν δʼ ἐπὶ Θερμώδοντι... Ἑλλήνων σύνοδον — This accusative phrase (τὴν ... σύνοδον ... καὶ ἰυγήν) functions either with an implied verb (such as "remember" or "I sing of") or as an accusative of exclamation/proclamation typical in prophetic poetry.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §9.43.1-9.43.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.43.1-9.43.2

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