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When they came to Didyma [27.233,37.35] (historic site), Aydin Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Branchidae , Aristodicus, speaking for all, put this question to the oracle: “Lord, Pactyes the Lydian has come to us a suppliant fleeing a violent death at the hands of the Persians; and they demand him of us, telling the men of Kyme [24.1167,38.6333] (Perseus) Cyme to surrender him.
When they came to Didyma [27.233,37.35] (historic site), Aydin Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Branchidae , Aristodicus, speaking for all, put this question to the oracle: “Lord, Pactyes the Lydian has come to us a suppliant fleeing a violent death at the hands of the Persians; and they demand him of us, telling the men of Kyme [24.1167,38.6333] (Perseus) Cyme to surrender him.
[2] But we, as much as we fear the
Persian power, have not dared give up this suppliant of ours until it is clearly made known to us by you whether we are to do this or not.” Thus
Aristodicus inquired; and the god again gave the same answer, that
Pactyes should be surrendered to the
Persians.
[3] With that
Aristodicus did as he had already decided; he went around the temple, and took away the sparrows and all the families of nesting birds that were in it. But while he was doing so, a voice (they say) came out of the inner shrine calling to
Aristodicus, and saying, “Vilest of men, how dare you do this? Will you rob my temple of those that take refuge with me?”
[4] Then
Aristodicus had his answer ready: “Lord,” he said, “will you save your own suppliants, yet tell the men of
Kyme [24.1167,38.6333] (Perseus)
Cyme
to deliver up theirs?” But the god replied, “Yes, I do command them, so that you may perish all the sooner for your impiety, and never again come to inquire of my oracle about giving up those that seek refuge with you.”
Histories. Herodotus. ed. A.D. Godley. Cambridge. 1920-1925.
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