Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Adolf Wahrmund (Translator), 6.27

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Da geschah es, daß in Einer Nacht an den meisten
Hermesbildern, die nach Landessitte in der Stadt Athen als viereckige
Fignren aus Stein in großer Zahl sowohl an den Thoren der
Privathäuser, als auch bei den Tempeln ausgestellt waren, die Gesichter ¹²³
verstümmelt wurden. Die Thäter kannte Niemand, es wurde ihnen
aber von Staatswegen unter Aussetzung großer Preise^)
nachgeforscht, und man beschloß dazu noch, wenn Jemand sonst einen
verübten Religionsfrevel wisse, der könne ihn ohne Furcht für seine
Person anzeigen, sei er nun Bürger, oder Fremder, oder Sklave. Die
Sache wurde für um so wichtiger gehalten, als darin ein Vorzeichen
für den Seezug 49) zu liegen schien, und man in ihr zugleich das
Werk einer Verschwörung sehen wollte, die auf Umwälzung der Ver- '
fassung und Umsturz der Volksregierung gerichtet sei.

History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides. Adolf Wahrmund (Translator). Stuttgart. 1864.

Current edition First1KGreek

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs (German) (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Wahrmund, Adolf, translator. Stuttgart: Krais and Hoffmann, 1864.)

Editions (1)

Ἱστορίαι Perseus (Thucydides. Historiae, Vol 1-2. Jones, Henry Stuart, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1910. (1942 printing).) — 6.27.1 focus

[1] ἐν δὲ τούτῳ, ὅσοι Ἑρμαῖ ἦσαν λίθινοι ἐν τῇ πόλει τῇ Ἀθηναίων (εἰσὶ δὲ κατὰ τὸ ἐπιχώριον, ἡ τετράγωνος ἐργασία, πολλοὶ καὶ ἐν ἰδίοις προθύροις καὶ ἐν ἱεροῖς), μιᾷ νυκτὶ οἱ πλεῖστοι περιεκόπησαν τὰ πρόσωπα.

[2] καὶ τοὺς δράσαντας ᾔδει οὐδείς, ἀλλὰ μεγάλοις μηνύτροις δημοσίᾳ οὗτοί τε ἐζητοῦντο καὶ προσέτι ἐψηφίσαντο, καὶ εἴ τις ἄλλο τι οἶδεν ἀσέβημα γεγενημένον, μηνύειν ἀδεῶς τὸν βουλόμενον καὶ ἀστῶν καὶ ξένων καὶ δούλων.

[3] καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα μειζόνως ἐλάμβανον· τοῦ τε γὰρ ἔκπλου οἰωνὸς ἐδόκει εἶναι καὶ ἐπὶ ξυνωμοσίᾳ ἅμα νεωτέρων πραγμάτων καὶ δήμου καταλύσεως γεγενῆσθαι.

Translations (9)

The History of the Grecian War Perseus (Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.) — 6.27.1 focus

[1] In the meantime the Mercuries of stone throughout the whole city of Athens (now there were many of these of square stone set up by the law of the place, and many in the porches of private houses and in the temples) had in one night most of them their faces pared.

[2] And no man knew who had done it; and yet great rewards out of the treasury had been propounded to the discoverers, and a decree made that if any man knew of any other profanation, he might boldly declare the same, were he citizen, stranger, or bondman.

[3] And they took the fact exceedingly to heart as ominous to the expedition and done withal upon conspiracy for alteration of the state and dissolution of the democracy.

History of the Peloponnesian War Perseus (Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Crawley, Richard, translator. London and Toronto: J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd.; New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1914.) — 6.27.1 focus

[1] In the midst of these preparations all the stone Hermae in the city of Athens , that is to say the customary square figures so common in the doorways of private houses and temples, had in one night most of them their faces mutilated.

[2] No one knew who had done it, but large public rewards were offered to find the authors; and it was further voted that any one who knew of any other act of impiety having been committed should come and give information without fear of consequences, whether he were citizen, alien, or slave.

[3] The matter was taken up the more seriously, as it was thought to be ominous for the expedition, and part of a conspiracy to bring about a revolution and to upset the democracy.

Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs First1KGreek (Thucydides. Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Kriegs. Braun, Theodor, translator. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1917.) — 6.27 focus

Zu der Zeit aber wurden in der Stadt den meisten
jener viereckigen tseinernen Hermen, wie sie nach LandeSsitte
vielfach an den Eingängen der Bürgerhäuser und der Tempel
tsehen, in einer Nacht die Gesichter abgeschlagen, und niemand
wußte, wer daS getan hatte. Man forschte nach den Tätern,
setzte von Staats wegen hohe Belohnungen für die Angeber
auS und beschloß zugleich, daß jeder, der um einen anderweit
verübten derartigen Frevel wisse und ihn zur Anzeige brächte,
straflos bleiben sollte, er sei Bürger, Fremder oder Sklave.
Die Sache wurde sehr ernst genommen; denn man glaubte,
sie sei von Vorbedeutung für den Feldzug, oder sie hinge mit
einer Verschwörung zusammen, die eS auf Verfassungsände
rungen und den Sturz der Demokratie abgesehen habe.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponèse First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése, Vol. 1-2. Zévort, Marie Charles, translator. Paris: Charpentier, 1852.) — 6.27 focus

XXVII. On était au milieu de ces préparatifs, lorsque, dans une même nuit, la plupart des Hermès de pierre qui sont à Athènes eurent la face mutilée. Ces Hermès sont des figures carrées placées en grand nombre, suivant un usage local, soit aux vestibules des maisons particulières, soit dans les fieux sacrés. Personne ne connaissait les coupables¹; mais on en faisait activement la recherche; de grandes récompenses étaient offertes au nom de l’État aux dénonciateurs; on avait en outre décrété que si quelqu’un, citoyen, étranger ou esclave, avait connaissance de quelque autre impiété, il eût à la dénoncer hardiment. On donna une grande importance à cette affaire; car on y voyait un présage pour l’expédition, et en même ²³ temps on la rattachait à un complot pour changer la face des choses et abolir le gouvernement populaire.

Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése First1KGreek (Thucydides. Histoire de la Guerre du Péloponnése. Bétant, Élie-Ami, translator. Paris: Librairie de L. Hachette, 1863.) — 6.27 focus

Sur ces entrefaites, il arriva qu’en une seule nuit les Hermès de pierre¹, figures quadrangulaires qui, suivant l'usage du pays, sont'placées en grand nombre devant les temples et les édifices particuliers, se trouvèrent pour la plupart mutilés au visage. Nul ne savait les auteurs de cette profanation ; la ville promit de fortes récompenses à qui les découvrirait. On invita aussi tout citoyen, étranger ou esclave, qui aurait connaissance de quelque autre sacrilège commis, à le déclarer librement. Cette affaire prit des proportions considérer blés ; on y voyait un présage relatif à l'expédition, un complot organisé pour bouleverser l’État et pour abolir la démocratie.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.) — 6.27.1 focus

[1] But in the meantime the stone statues of Hermes in the city of Athens—they are the pillars of square construction which according to local custom stand in great numbers both in the doorways of private houses and in sacred places—nearly all had their faces mutilated on the same night.

[2] No one knew the perpetrators, but great rewards were publicly offered for their detection; and it was voted, besides, that if anyone, citizen or stranger or slave, knew of any other profanation that had been done, whoever would might fearlessly give information. The matter was taken very seriously;

[3] for it seemed to be ominous for the expedition and to have been done withal in furtherance of a conspiracy with a view to a revolution and the overthrow of the democracy.

History of the Peloponnesian War First1KGreek (Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.) — 6.27.1 focus

[1] In the mean time, of all the stone Mercuries in the city of Athens, (they are, according to the fashion of the country, those well—known square figures, numerous both in private and sacred door—ways,) the greater part had their faces mutilated in one night. The perpetrators of this offence were known to no one;

[2] but search was made for them, with great rewards for information offered at the public expense. Moreover, the people voted, that if any one knew any other act of impiety to have been committed, whoever wished, whether citizen, alien, or slave, should without fear give information of it. And they took the matter up more seriously ¹ than it deserved;

[3] for it was considered to be an omen of the expedition, and also to have been done on the strength of a conspiracy for bringing about a revolution, and for putting down the democracy.

Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci First1KGreek (Historia Belli Peloponnesiaci. Haase, Friedrich, translator. Paris: Firmin Didot, 1869.) — 6.27.1 focus

[1] Interea vero quotquot lapidea Mercurii simulacra Athenis erant (sunt autem more patrio, forma quadrata, multa quum in privatarum aedium vestibulis, tum in templis), una nocte pleraque vultu circumcisa sunt.

[2] Cujus facinoris auctores nemo sciebat, sed et isti magnis praemiis pro indicio propositis publice quaerebantur, et praeterea decreverunt, ut, si quis aliquod aliud piaculum admissum sciret, quilibet sive civis sive peregrinus sive servus hoc sine timore indicaret.

[3] Atque rem in majus interpretabantur; nam et expeditionis omen esse videbatur, et simul etiam per conjurationem factum esse rerum novandarum statusque popularis evertendi causa.

La storia di Tucidide First1KGreek (Thucydides. Della storia di Tucidide volgarizzata libri otto. Anonymous translator. Florence: Tipografia Galileiana, 1835.) — 6.27 focus

Ma frattanto che davano opera agli apparecchiamenti , quanti Mercuri di pietra erano in Atene ebbero la maggior parte smozzicata la faccia in una sola notte. Sono essi un lavoro di figura quadrangolare, e secondo l’usanza del paese trovansene dimoiti negli atrii delle case e nei luoghi sacri. Nissuno sapeva i rei di tal misfatto, ma erano essi inquisiti, proposti pubblicamente grandi premii a chi li scoprisse; e di più fu fatto un decreto col quale davasi l’impunità a chiunque cittadino, forestiero oservo, manifestasse qualsivoglia altro sacrilegio che sapesse essere stato commesso. E davano maggior peso a questa cosa perchè pareva un malagurio per la spedizione, ed insieme fatta per congiura di tentar cose nuove ed abolire lo stato popolare.

Notes on the current edition

History of the Peloponnesian War

1. 46) DemostratoS nach Plutarch, Nikias, Kap. 12.

2. 47) 7000 Talente nach den Rednern, doch siehe Krüger, Studien II, S. 253.

3. 415 v.
Chr.

Commentary

Commentary on Thucydides: Book 6 (Thucydides, Book VI. Marchant, Edgar C., editor. London: Macmillan and Company, 1909.) focus

τε ]—cf. c. 94, 2 n. As Stahl says, there is no parallel in Thuc. to such a ‘trajection’ of τε as this for τοὺς ὶππἐας ἥκοντάς τε.

Ἐπιπολῶν —Epipolae includes all the high ground west of Achradina which was not within the fortifications of the city.

σφᾶς —should strictly speaking be σφεῖς: but the accus. marks the contrast—here with Ἀθηναῖοι—more strongly when the pronoun is far from the subject to which it refers.

τὰς προσβάσεις —i.e. the approaches at the western end. It is strange that the Syr. had not posted a guard here before; but still stranger that the A. afterwards, when they gained Epipolae, left the approaches open.

αὐτῶν = τῶν Ἐπιπολῶν. κατὰ ταῦτα= ‘by this road.’

δυνηθῆναι —sc. λαθεῖν ἀναβάντες. The reason for this confidenee is given in what follows.

ἐξήρτηται κτλ —‘the rest of Epipolae (with the exception of the western extremity) is elevated and slopes down to the city, and inwards ( i.e. ab urbe, as Bauer explains) it is exposed to view,’ because it rises gently. (1) ἐξήρτηται= suspensa est. Stahl and others read ἐξῆρται, arguing that the Schol. read it, for his note begins μὴ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐξῆρθαι καὶ μετεωρίσθαι ὰκουέσθω. But, as Classen says, this does not settle the reading. (2) μέχρι τῆς πόλεως and ἔσω are the opposite one of the other; for ἔσω=landwards from the city.

ἐπιπολῆς —‘above.’

τὸν λειμῶνα —north of the confluence of the Anapus and Cyane.

ἐτύγχανον . . παρειληφότες — with the tenses here contrast ἔλαθον σχόντες in c. 97, 1, and φθάνει (historic pres.= ἔφθασεν ) ἀναβάς. See M. T. §§ 144, 146, 147, 887. The aor. partic. expresses time coineident with the aor. of these verbs.

οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἑρμοκράτη —see cc 72, 5, 73, 1. Freeman thinks that Thuc. gives the names prematurely in c. 73, 1, and that the election had only just taken place. But Thuc. means that the election took place in the winter, and the new generals only entered on office in the spring, with the beginning of the new campaign.

λογάδας —see on c. 66, 2. In c. 100 λογάδες and ἐκλεκτοί occur together.

ὅπως . . εἶεν . . παραγίγνωνται —cf. VII. 17 ὅπως . . ἀποπειράσωσι . . κωλύοιεν. ‘As the two forms are equally correct, we sometimes find both in the same sense.’ M.T. § 321.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.27

Adolf Wahrmund (Translator)

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