Herodotus' HISTORY BOOK 4 (MELPOMENE) Complete

Translated by G. Macaulay.

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16. Now of the land about which this account has been begun, no one knows precisely what lies beyond it: [20] for I am not able to hear of any one who alleges that he knows as an eye-witness; and even Aristeas, the man of whom I was making mention just now, even he, I say, did not allege, although he was composing verse, [21] that he went further than the Issedonians; but that which is beyond [20] them he spoke of by hearsay, and reported that it was the Issedonians who said these things. So far however as we were able to arrive at certainty by hearsay, carrying inquiries as far as possible, all this shall be told.

17. Beginning with the trading station of the Borysthenites,—for of the parts along the sea this is the central point of all Scythia,—beginning with this, the first regions are occupied by the Callipidai, who are Hellenic Scythians; and above these is another race, who are called Alazonians. [22] These last and the Callipidai in all other respects have the same customs as the Scythians, but they both sow corn and use it as food, and also onions, leeks, lentils and millet. Above the Alazonians dwell Scythians who till the ground, and these sow their corn not for food but to sell. Beyond them dwell the Neuroi; and beyond the Neuroi towards the North Wind is a region without inhabitants, as far as we know. These races are along the river Hypanis to the West of the Borysthenes; but after crossing the Borysthenes, first from the sea-coast is Hylaia, and beyond this as one goes up the river dwell agricultural Scythians, whom the Hellenes who live upon the river Hypanis call Borysthenites, calling themselves at the same time citizens of Olbia. [23] These agricultural Scythians occupy the region which extends Eastwards for a distance of three days' journey, [24] reaching to a river which is called Panticapes, and Northwards for a distance of eleven days' sail up the Borysthenes. Then immediately beyond [20] these begins the desert [25] and extends for a great distance; and on the other side of the desert dwell the Androphagoi, [26] a race apart by themselves and having no connection with the Scythians. Beyond [20] them begins a region which is really desert and has no race of men in it, as far as we know.

[20] {katuperthe}: "above," i.e. beyond them towards the North. Similarly when dealing with Libya the writer uses the same word of those further from the coast towards the South; see ch. 174.

[21] {en autoisi toisi epesi poieon}: "even in the verses which he composed," in which he might be expected as a poet to go somewhat beyond the literal truth.

[22] Or, "Alizonians."

[23] {'Olbiopolitas}.

[24] See ch. 101, where the day's journey is reckoned at 200 stades (23 English miles).

[25] The meaning of {eremos} here is not waste and barren land, but land without settled inhabitants.

[26] i.e. "Man-eaters."

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