The Eunuch of Xerxes

§4§l -·=»+«=·-§r §0§l The Eunuch§r §0§l of§r §0§l Xerxes§r §f..§r§0§l -=-§r §0 by§r §f..§r§0§l Herodotus§r §4§l -·=»+«=·-§r

§4§l -·=»+«=·-§r §0 A book extract§r §0 from§r §0§l The Real World§r §0§l -=-§r §0 Originally written§r §0 around§r §0§l 500 BCE§r §4§l -·=»+«=·-§r

Hermotimus came originally from Pedasus, and we know of no case where a man has taken a more fearful revenge for an injury than he did. He was put up for sale as a prisoner of war and brought by a Chian called Panionius, a man who made his living by the

unholy trade of castrating any good-looking boys he could get hold of, and taking them to Sardis or Ephesus, where he sold them at a high price - for it is a fact that among the barbarians eunuchs are valued as being specially trustworthy in every way.

Amongst the many boys whom Panionius, in the course of his trade, had treated in this way, was Hermotimus. Nevertheless, he was not without his share of luck; for he was taken from Sardis and sent with a number of other things as a present to the king,

and in the course of time came to be valued by Xerxes more highly than any other of his eunuchs. At the time when Xerxes was at Sardis at the start of his march to Athens, Hermotimus had gone on business to Atarneus, a port of Mysia which belongs to

Chios. Here he happened to meet Panionius. He at once recognized him, and in a long and apparently friendly conversation told him of all the happy results of their previous relationship, and promised to do as much for him in return, if only he

would bring his family to Sardis and settle there. Panionius was delighted, and brought his wife and children accordingly. Then, having got him and his whole household into his power, Hermotimus said: 'No man ever earned his living by an unholier trade

than you. What harm had I, or anyone connected with me, ever done to you or yours that you should have made me a nothing instead of a man? Doubtless you hoped to hide your beastly practices from the eyes of the gods; but they are just, and for your

vile crime have delivered you into my power, so that you cannot now complain of the vengeance I am about to take.' Then, having told him what he thought of him, he sent for Panionius' sons - four in number - and forced him to

castrate them with his own hand. That done, the boys were compelled to do the same to their father. In this way, retribution and Hermotimus overtook Panionius.

§4§l -·=»+«=·-§r §0 An extract from§r §0§l The Histories§r §f..§r§0§l -=-§r §f.§r§0 Translated by§r §f.§r §0§l Aubrey de§r §0§l Sélincourt§r §4§l -·=»+«=·-§r

§4§l -·=»+«=·-§r §0§l Transcribed§r §0§l by§r §fꞌꞌ§r§4§l Maester Lodish§r §4§l -=-§r §0 12th of July§r §f.§r§0 2020§r §4§l -·=»+«=·-§r