Herodotus · Histories §9.95.1

The Seer Deiphonus and the Name of Evenius

Passage 1550 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The narrative relates that Deiphonus, said to be Evenius' son, practiced divination for the Corinthian army, along with a rumor that he falsely assumed the name without being his actual son.

§9.95.1τούτου δὴ ὁ Δηίφονος ἐὼν παῖς τοῦ Εὐηνίου ἀγόντων Κορινθίων ἐμαντεύετο τῇ στρατιῇ.

Deiphonus, being the son of this Evenius, practiced divination for the army, the Corinthians having brought him.

ἤδη δὲ καὶ τόδε ἤκουσα, ὡς ὁ Δηίφονος ἐπιβατεύων τοῦ Εὐηνίου οὐνόματος ἐξελάμβανε ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα ἔργα, οὐκ ἐὼν Εὐηνίου παῖς.

But I have already heard this other account, that Deiphonus, making use of Evenius' name, undertook jobs throughout Greece, though he was not actually Evenius' son.

Notes

9.95.1ἀγόντων Κορινθίων — Genitive absolute construction. The transitive verb `ἄγω` (to lead, bring) is used here in the sense of bringing someone along or employing them as a seer for the campaign.
9.95.1ἐπιβατεύων — Governing the genitive `τοῦ Εὐηνίου οὐνόματος`, it means 'relying upon,' 'making trade of,' or 'falsely assuming' another's name.
9.95.1ἐξελάμβανε — Imperfect of `ἐκλαμβάνω` (to undertake on contract), indicating his habitual or ongoing business of taking up jobs of divination throughout Greece.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §9.95.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.95.1

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