The histories of Herodotus;

276 HERODOTUS—BOOK V, TERPSICHORE [3-8
names, according to their respective regions, but all observe
similar customs in every respect, except the Getae, the Trausi,
and those who dwell above the Crestonaeans. Of these, what
are the customs of the Getae, who pretend to be immortal, I
have already described. The Trausi, in all other respects, observe
the same usages as the rest of the Thracians ; but with
regard to one born among them, or that dies, they do as follows
: The relatives, seating themselves round one that is
newly born, bewail him, deploring the many evils he must
needs fulfil, since he has been born ; enumerating the various
sufferings incident to mankind : but one that dies they bury
in the earth, making merry and rejoicing, recounting the many
evils from which being released, he is now in perfect bliss.
Those above the Crestonaeans do as follows : Each man has
several wives ; when, therefore, a husband dies, a great contest
arises among the wives, and violent disputes among their
friends, on this point, which of them was most loved by him.
She who is adjudged to have been so, and is so honoured,
having been extolled both by men and women, is slain on the
tomb by her own nearest relative, and when slain is buried with
her husband ; the others deem this a great misfortune, for this
is the utmost disgrace to them. There is, moreover, this custom
among the rest of the Thracians : they sell their children
for exportation. They keep no watch over their unmarried
daughters, but suffer them to have intercourse with what men
they choose. But they keep a strict watch over their wives,
and purchase them from their parents at high prices. To be
marked with punctures is accounted a sign of noble birth ; to
be without punctures, ignoble. To be idle is most honourable
; but to be a tiller of the soil, most dishonourable ; to live
by war and rapine is most glorious. These are the most remarkable
of their customs. They worship the following gods
only : Mars, Bacchus, and Diana. But their kings, to the ex-
ception of the other citizens, reverence Mercury most of all
they swear by him only, and say that they are them-
the gods ;
selves sprung from Mercury. The funerals of the wealthy
among them are celebrated in this manner: They expose the
corpse during three days : and having slain all kinds of victims,
they feast, having first made lamentation. Then they
bury them, having first burned them, or at all events placing
them under ground; then having thrown up a mound, they
celebrate all kinds of games, in which the greatest rewards
are adjudged to single combat, according to the estimation
in which they are held. Such are the funeral rites of the
Thracians.