Book 4
Concerning the Hyperborean people, neither the Scythians nor any other inhabitants of these lands tell us anything, except perhaps the Issedones. And, I think, even they say nothing; for if they did, then the Scythians, too, would have told, just as they tell of the one-eyed men. But Hesiod speaks of Hyperboreans, and Homer too in his poem The Heroes' Sons,One of the “Cyclic” poems; a sequel to the “ +Thebaid (region (general)), Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Thebais” (story of the seven against Thebes [23.3333,38.325] (Perseus) Thebes). if that is truly the work of Homer.
But the Delians This Delian story about the Hyperboreans is additional evidence of the known fact that trade routes from the earliest times linked northern with southeastern Europe (continent)Europe. Amber in particular was carried from the Baltic Sea (sea), EuropeBaltic to the +Aegean Sea [25,38.5] (sea) Aegean. say much more about them than any others do. They say that offerings wrapped in straw are brought from the Hyperboreans to Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia; when these have passed Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia, each nation in turn receives them from its neighbors until they are carried to the +Adriatic Sea [16,43] (sea), Europe Adriatic sea, which is the most westerly limit of their journey;
from there, they are brought on to the south, the people of Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona being the first Greeks to receive them. From Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona they come down to the Melian gulf, and are carried across to +Euboea [23.833,38.566] (island), Nomos Evvoias, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Euboea, and one city sends them on to another until they come to Carystus; after this, +Andros [24.9,37.816] (inhabited place), Nisos Andros, Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Andros is left out of their journey, for Carystians carry them to +Nisos Tinos [25.166,37.583] (island), Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Tenos, and Tenians to Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos.
Thus (they say) these offerings come to Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos. But on the first journey, the Hyperboreans sent two maidens bearing the offerings, to whom the Delians give the names Hyperoche and Laodice, and five men of their people with them as escort for safe conduct, those who are now called Perpherees That is, probably, the Bearers. and greatly honored at Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos.
But when those whom they sent never returned, they took it amiss that they should be condemned always to be sending people and not getting them back, and so they carry the offerings, wrapped in straw, to their borders, and tell their neighbors to send them on from their own country to the next;
and the offerings, it is said, come by this conveyance to Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos. I can say of my own knowledge that there is a custom like these offerings; namely, that when the Thracian and Paeonian women sacrifice to the Royal Artemis, they have straw with them while they sacrifice.
I know that they do this. The Delian girls and boys cut their hair in honor of these Hyperborean maidens, who died at Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos; the girls before their marriage cut off a tress and lay it on the tomb, wound around a spindle
(this tomb is at the foot of an olive-tree, on the left hand of the entrance of the temple of Artemis); the Delian boys twine some of their hair around a green stalk, and lay it on the tomb likewise.
In this way, then, these maidens are honored by the inhabitants of Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos. These same Delians relate that two virgins, Arge and Opis, came from the Hyperboreans by way of the aforesaid peoples to Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos earlier than Hyperoche and Laodice;
these latter came to bring to Eileithyia the tribute which they had agreed to pay for easing child-bearing; but Arge and Opis, they say, came with the gods themselves, Apollo and Artemis, probably. and received honors of their own from the Delians.
For the women collected gifts for them, calling upon their names in the hymn made for them by +Olen (lake), Orebro, Sweden, Europe Olen of +Lycia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lycia; it was from Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos that the islanders and Ionians learned to sing hymns to Opis and Arge, calling upon their names and collecting gifts (this +Olen (lake), Orebro, Sweden, Europe Olen, after coming from +Lycia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lycia, also made the other and ancient hymns that are sung at Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos).
Furthermore, they say that when the thighbones are burnt in sacrifice on the altar, the ashes are all cast on the burial-place of Opis and Arge, behind the temple of Artemis, looking east, nearest the refectory of the people of +Kea [24.366,37.566] (island), Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Ceos.
I have said this much of the Hyperboreans, and let it suffice; for I do not tell the story of that Abaris, alleged to be a Hyperborean, who carried the arrow over the whole world, fasting all the while. But if there are men beyond the north wind, then there are others beyond the south.
And I laugh to see how many have before now drawn maps of the world, not one of them reasonably; for they draw the world as round as if fashioned by compasses, encircled by the Ocean river, and Asia (continent)Asia and Europe (continent)Europe of a like extent. For myself, I will in a few words indicate the extent of the two, and how each should be drawn.
The land where the Persians live extends to the southern sea which is called Red; beyond these to the north are the Medes, and beyond the Medes the Saspires, and beyond the Saspires the Colchians, whose country extends to the northern seaHere, the +Black Sea [38,42] (sea) Black Sea; in Hdt. 4.42, the “northern sea” is the Mediterranean Sea [30,31.5] (sea)Mediterranean. into which the Phasis river flows; so these four nations live between the one sea and the other.
But west of this region two peninsulas stretch out from it into the sea, which I will now describe.
On the north side one of the peninsulas begins at the +Poti [41.683,42.183] (inhabited place), regions under republican jurisdiction, Georgia, Asia Phasis and stretches seaward along the +Black Sea [38,42] (sea) Pontus and the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont, as far as Sigeum in the +Troas (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Troad; on the south side, the same peninsula has a seacoast beginning at the Myriandric gulf that is near +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia, and stretching seaward as far as the Triopian headland. On this peninsula live thirty nations.
This is the first peninsula. But the second, beginning with Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia, stretches to the +Red Sea [42,15] (sea) Red Sea, and is Persian land; and next, the neighboring land of Assyria; and after Assyria, Arabian Peninsula [45,25] (region (general)), AsiaArabia; this peninsula ends (not truly but only by common consent) at the Persian Gulf [53.83,25.583] (gulf), AsiaArabian Gulf, to which Darius brought a canal from the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile.
Now from the Persian country to +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia there is a wide and vast tract of land; and from +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia this peninsula runs beside our sea by way of the Syrian Palestine and Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, which is at the end of it; in this peninsula there are just three nations.
So much for the parts of Asia (continent)Asia west of the Persians. But what is beyond the Persians, and Medes, and Saspires, and Colchians, east and toward the rising sun, this is bounded on the one hand by the +Red Sea [42,15] (sea) Red Sea, and to the north by the +Caspian Sea [51,39] (sea) Caspian Sea and the Araxes river, which flows toward the sun's rising.
As far as +India [77,20] (nation), Asia India, Asia (continent)Asia is an inhabited land; but thereafter, all to the east is desolation, nor can anyone say what kind of land is there.
Such is Asia (continent)Asia, and such its extent. But Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya is on this second peninsula; for Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya comes next after Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt. The Egyptian part of this peninsula is narrow; for from our sea to the +Red Sea [42,15] (sea) Red Sea it is a distance of a hundred and twenty-five miles; that is, a thousand stades; but after this narrow part, the peninsula which is called Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya is very broad.
I wonder, then, at those who have mapped out and divided the world into Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya, Asia (continent)Asia, and Europe (continent)Europe; for the difference between them is great, seeing that in length Europe (continent)Europe stretches along both the others together, and it appears to me to be wider beyond all comparison.
For Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya shows clearly that it is bounded by the sea, except where it borders on Asia (continent)Asia. Necos king of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt first discovered this and made it known. When he had finished digging the canal which leads from the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile to the Persian Gulf [53.83,25.583] (gulf), AsiaArabian Gulf, he sent Phoenicians in ships, instructing them to sail on their return voyage past the Pillars of Heracles until they came into the northern sea and so to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt.
So the Phoenicians set out from the +Red Sea [42,15] (sea) Red Sea and sailed the southern sea; whenever autumn came they would put in and plant the land in whatever part of Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya they had reached, and there await the harvest;
then, having gathered the crop, they sailed on, so that after two years had passed, it was in the third that they rounded the pillars of Heracles and came to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt. There they said (what some may believe, though I do not) that in sailing around Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya they had the sun on their right hand.The detail which Herodotus does not believe incidentally confirms the story; as the ship sailed west round the Cape of +Good Hope (deserted settlement), Rio Arriba, New Mexico, United States, North and Central America Good Hope, the sun of the southern hemisphere would be on its right. Most authorities now accept the story of the circumnavigation.
Thus was the first knowledge of Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya gained. The next story is that of the Carthaginians: for as for Sataspes son of Teaspes, an Achaemenid, he did not sail around Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya, although he was sent for that purpose; but he feared the length and loneliness of the voyage and so returned without accomplishing the task laid upon him by his mother.
For he had raped the virgin daughter of Zopyrus son of Megabyzus; and when on this charge he was to be impaled by King Xerxes, Sataspes' mother, who was Darius' sister, interceded for his life, saying that she would impose a heavier punishment on him than Xerxes;
for he would be compelled to sail around Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya, until he completed his voyage and came to the Persian Gulf [53.83,25.583] (gulf), AsiaArabian Gulf. Xerxes agreed to this, and Sataspes went to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt where he received a ship and a crew from the Egyptians, and sailed past the Pillars of Heracles.
Having sailed out beyond them, and rounded the Libyan promontory called Solois,Probably Cape Cantin, in the latitude of Madeira. he sailed south; but when he had been many months sailing over the sea, and always more before him, he turned back and made sail for Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt.
Coming to King Xerxes from there, he related in his narrative that, when he was farthest distant, he sailed by a country of little men, who wore palm-leaf clothing; these, whenever he and his men put in to land with their ship, left their towns and fled to the hills; he and his men did no harm when they landed, and took nothing from the people except cattle.
As to his not sailing completely around Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya, the reason (he said) was that the ship could move no farther, but was stopped. But Xerxes did not believe that Sataspes spoke the truth, and, as the task appointed was unfulfilled, he impaled him, punishing him on the charge first brought against him.
This Sataspes had a eunuch, who as soon as he heard of his master's death escaped to +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, with a great hoard of wealth, of which a man of +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos got possession. I know the man's name but deliberately omit it.
But as to Asia (continent)Asia, most of it was discovered by Darius. There is a river, +Indus [67.75,24.416] (river), Asia Indus, second of all rivers in the production of crocodiles. Darius, desiring to know where this +Indus [67.75,24.416] (river), Asia Indus empties into the sea, sent ships manned by Scylax, a man of Caryanda, and others whose word he trusted;
these set out from the city of Caspatyrus and the Pactyic country, and sailed down the river toward the east and the sunrise until they came to the sea; and voyaging over the sea west, they came in the thirtieth month to that place from which the Egyptian king sent the above-mentioned Phoenicians to sail around Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya.
After this circumnavigation, Darius subjugated the Indians and made use of this sea. Thus it was discovered that Asia (continent)Asia, except the parts toward the rising sun, was in other respects like Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya.
But it is plain that none have obtained knowledge of Europe (continent)Europe's eastern or northern regions, so as to be able say if it is bounded by seas; its length is known to be enough to stretch along both Asia (continent)Asia and Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya.
I cannot guess for what reason the earth, which is one, has three names, all women's, and why the boundary lines set for it are the Egyptian Nile river and the Colchian Phasis river (though some say that the Maeetian Tanaïs river and the Cimmerian Ferries cp. Hdt. 4.12. are boundaries); and I cannot learn the names of those who divided the world, or where they got the names which they used.
For Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya is said by most Greeks to be named after a native woman of that name, and Asia (continent)Asia after the wife of Prometheus;The Fire-giver celebrated by Aeschylus and Shelley; Asia (continent)Asia is one of the principal characters in Prometheus Unbound. yet the Lydians claim a share in the latter name, saying that Asia (continent)Asia was not named after Prometheus' wife Asia (continent)Asia, but after Asies, the son of Cotys, who was the son of Manes, and that from him the Asiad clan at Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis also takes its name.
But as for Europe (continent)Europe, no men have any knowledge whether it is bounded by seas or not, or where it got its name, nor is it clear who gave the name, unless we say that the land took its name from the Tyrian Europa, having been (it would seem) before then nameless like the rest.