Volume 1

Herodotus : the fourth, fifth, and sixth books / With introduction, notes, appendices, indices, maps by Reginald Walter Macan.

Herodotus

Date:: 1895

Credit: Herodotus : the fourth, fifth, and sixth books / With introduction, notes, appendices, indices, maps by Reginald Walter Macan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

463/528 (page 335)

$Tipvv6o<;, Se ev rovra rw Keerai ^HcrtTreia ovvofxa, fxeraL'^- fuov ov fieya aTroXiirovre^i l^ovto avriou tolctl AaKeSaL/MOVLOtaL. ivOavra By ol 'Apyetot ryv puev e/c rov cjiavepov pid'^yv ovk 5 €(f>o^€OVTO, dWd pLy B6X(p alpeOicoai' Kal yap By cr<pi e? tovto to rrpyypLa el'^e to '^pyarypiov to eiriKOLva e'^pyae y Yivdly tovtol(tL re Kal XliXycrLOLo-L, \eyov wSe* ttXV orav y OyXeia tov dpaeva vLKycracra e^eXdar) Kal kvBo^ ev 'ApyeioiaLv apyrai, i Cp. Tol 5’ M QlvI daXia-ffijs lepa pi^ov \ ravpovs irafifi^Xavai ivoalx^ovt Kvavoxalry, Od. 3. 5 f. The Erasinos lay to the S.W. of Argos, and Thyrea still further S. Nauplia, Tiryns, and Sepeia or Hesepeia to the S.E. The bottoms used on this occasion to cross the gulf of Argos were supplied in part from Sikyon and Aigina, c. 92 infra. They must have been summoned in good time, even if the galleys from Sikyon were run across the isthmos (cp. Thuc. 3. 15, 8, 7. 8). It looks as if we had in this passage an imperfect and distorted tradition of a brilliant strategic combination, projected and carried out by Kleomenes, the demon- stration on the Erasinos being a feint to draw the Argives from the city. It was then perhaps an inversion of the plan pursued in 509 B.c. against Athens. Cp. 5. 63 supra. 77. 3. jwraixK-iov, c. 1\2 infra. Near enough to hear the herald, who, per- haps, on this occasion was marked out for the service by his loud voice (c. 60 supra). But see note on irpocn}- fialvoi, 1. 16 infra. 6. 4<}>optovTo. The Argives were not afraid of a pitched battle with the Spartans, they were afraid of a ruse, because the oracle had warned them that “when the female prevailed over the male, driving him out and getting glory of Argives, women in Argos would deface themselves, and posterity would have to say; ‘ dread wreathed serpent j)erished by spear o’ercome.’ ” 7. 4irtK0iva. The trapevOriKT] is XliX-rprlovs has been given, c. 19 supra. 9. dXX’ 8rav ktX. It cannot be denied that this oracle is obscure enough “ to be regarded as a genuine Pythian response ” (see Rawlinson, note ad 1.). Cp. 7. 111. It is obscure enough .to have been really prophetic ; in fact there have been many genuine prophecies less obscure. It does not, however, follow that “it is hopeless to attempt a rational explanation of this oracle ” : on the contrary, rational ex- planations are not far to seek. A. Favourable to Argos. She of Argos shall defeat and drive out him of Lakedaimon, but it will cost the Argive women dear: ’twill be a Kadmean victory: posterity will account that day the ruin of Argive power. The only doubt that could arise would be : who was the female of Argos : but the goddess (Hera) supplies the answer. B. Unfavourable to Argos. Sparta (female) shall conquer Argos (male), (but see infra). The women of Argos shall make lamentation. Posterity will date the ruin of Argos from that day. The only obscurity left in this case lies in the word i^eXacr]. In neither case is it easy to see how the oracle should rouse a suspicion of a ruse or trick, though a trick was certainly per- petrated on the Argives. Taking either of these interpretations the oracle would be a remarkable pre- diction, and substantially consonant with the event. The first interpreta- tion, however, promises victory of a kind to Argos for which there is no room or justification in the narrative of Hdt., unless indeed the fii’st lines be applied to the expulsion of Kleomenes by Hera (c. 82 infra), and form a sort of liarepop Trpbrepov. The second inter- retation leaves nothing to be desired ut an explanation of i^eXda-p, and even this might be found by referring i} O-ZiXeia to Hera, and quoting c. 82 irfra, as above. The authenticity and genu- inely prophetic character of the response will then stand and fall with the credi- bility of the events narrated in c. S2infra. They are incredible, see notes ad 1. c. C. There is a third possible explana- tion of the oracle, which leaves no$