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Arrian · Periplus of the Euxine Sea §21.1-21.4

The Island of Achilles, Its Temple, and the Sacred Birds

Passage 21 of 25 · Greek

Summary

This section describes the 'Island of Achilles' (White Island) situated opposite the Psilon mouth, detailing its temple, ancient statue, goats, various dedications, and the extraordinary behavior of the seabirds that cleanse the temple with water and their wings.

§21.1κατὰ τοῦτο μάλιστα τὸ στόμα ἐπʼ εὐθὺ πλέοντι ἀνέμῳ ἀπαρκτίᾳ ἰδίως τό πέλαγος νῆσος πρόκειται, ἥντινα οἳ μὲν Ἀχιλλέως νῆσον, οἳ δὲ Δρόμον Ἀχιλλέως, οἳ δὲ Λευκὴν ἐπὶ τῆς χρόας ὀνομάζουσιν.
Exactly opposite this mouth, for one sailing straight into the open sea with the north wind, an island lies in front, which some call the Island of Achilles, others the Course of Achilles, and others Leuke from its color.
ταύτην λέγεται Θέτις ἀνεῖναι τῷ παιδί, καὶ ταύτην οἰκεῖν τὸν Ἀχιλλέα.
Thetis is said to have given up this island to her son, and Achilles is said to inhabit it.
καὶ νεώς ἐστιν ἐν αὐτῇ τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως, καὶ ξόανον τῆς παλαιᾶς ἐργασίας.
And there is in it a temple of Achilles, and a wooden statue of ancient workmanship.
§21.2ἡ δὲ νῆσος ἀνθρώπων μὲν ἐρήμη ἐστίν, νέμεται δὲ αἰξὶν οὐ πολλαῖς.
The island is deserted of humans, but is grazed by a few goats.
καὶ ταύτας ἀνατιθέναι λέγονται τῷ Ἀχιλλεῖ ὅσοι προσίσχουσι.
And those who land there are said to dedicate these to Achilles.
καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ ἀναθήματα ἀνάκειται ἐν τῷ νεῷ, φιάλαι καὶ δακτύλιοι καὶ λίθοι τῶν πολυτελεστέρων, καὶ ἐπιγράμματα, τὰ μὲν Ῥωμαῖκῶς τὰ Ἑλληνικῶς πεποιημένα ἐν ἄλλῳ καὶ ἄλλῳ μέτρῳ, ἔπαινοι τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως.
Many other offerings are dedicated in the temple: bowls, rings, and more precious stones, as well as epigrams, some composed in Latin and others in Greek, in various meters, in praise of Achilles.
ἔστιν δὲ ἃ καὶ §21.3τοῦ Πατρόκλου· καὶ γὰρ καὶ τὸν Πάτροκλον τιμῶσιν σὺν τῷ Ἀχιλλεῖ ὅσοι τῷ Ἀχιλλεῖ χαρίζεσθαι ἐθέλουσιν.
There are also some in honor of Patroclus; for indeed, all those who wish to please Achilles also honor Patroclus along with Achilles.
ὄρνιθες δὲ πολλοὶ αὐλίζονται ἐν τῇ νήσῳ, λάροι καὶ αἴθυιαι καὶ κορῶναι αἱ θαλάσσιαι τὸ πλῆθος οὐ σταθμητοί.
And many birds nest on the island: gulls, shearwaters, and sea crows, countless in number.
οὗτοι οἱ ὄρνιθες θεραπεύουσιν τοῦ Ἀχιλλέως τὸν §21.4νεών.
These birds tend the temple of Achilles.
ἕωθεν ὁσημέραι καταπέτονται ἐς τὴν θάλασσαν· ἔπειτα ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης βεβρεγμένοι τὰ πτερὰ σπουδῇ αὖ ἐσπέτονται ἐς τὸν νεών, καὶ ῥαίνουσιν τὸν νεών.
Every day at dawn they fly down to the sea; then from the sea, having wet their wings, they fly back in haste into the temple and sprinkle it.
ἐπειδὰν δὲ καλῶς ἔχῃ, οἳ δὲ ἐκκαλλύνουσιν αὖ τὸ ἔδαφος τοῖς πτεροῖς.
And when it is in good order, they in turn sweep the floor with their wings.
οἳ δὲ καὶ τάδε ἱστοροῦσιν. τῶν προσεσχηκότων τῇ
And some relate also these things: of those who have landed at...

Notes

  1. 21.1ἰδίως τό πέλαγος — Although the manuscripts read ἰδίως ('peculiarly'), this is highly likely a scribal corruption of εἰς (or its late spelling ἰς), meaning 'into the open sea' (εἰς τὸ πέλαγος). This translation follows the widely accepted emendation to εἰς τὸ πέλαγος.
  2. 21.1ταύτην λέγεται Θέτις ἀνεῖναι — The verb λέγεται ('it is said') functions here impersonally, governing two infinitive clauses with accusative subjects (Θέτις ἀνεῖναι and τὸν Ἀχιλλέα οἰκεῖν). While the first clause could be a personal construction (Θέτις λέγεται ἀνεῖναι, 'Thetis is said to have...'), the addition of the second clause forces a mixed impersonal construction.
  3. p.101νέμεται δὲ αἰξὶν οὐ πολλαῖς — The verb νέμεται is in the passive voice with 'the island' (ἡ δὲ νῆσος) as its subject, and the dative αἰξίν acts as the agent of the passive ('is grazed by goats'). Thus, it means 'the island is used as a pasture by a few goats.'
  4. 21.4οἳ δὲ — Although there is no preceding οἳ μέν, this οἳ δέ refers back to the 'birds.' It can mean either 'and they, in turn' (referring to the same birds performing the next action sequentially) or 'and others' (indicating a division of labor among the birds, where some sprinkle water and others sweep).

Cite this passage

Arrian, Periplus of the Euxine Sea §21.1-21.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0074.tlg004.humanitext-grc2:21.1-21.4

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