Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Herodotus and de Selincourt

Here is a collection of quotes from my edition of Herodotus' Histories with explanatory footnotes provided by translator Aubrey de Selincourt. I originally compiled the quotes as an email to Lucas, to share the wonderful dialogue between the frequently ridiculous Greek man-about-town and his extremely literal-minded British editor.


For example,
H: He was caught trying to raise a revolt amongst the Egyptians, and as soon as his guilt was known by Cambyses, he drank bull’s blood and died on the spot.
A: Suicide by drinking bull’s blood is common enough in ancient literature, the more surprising in that the drink is not fatal, as could easily have been demonstrated (one assumes).

More available here: Herodotus and de Selincourt.

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