HERODOTUS

from i.175, where they ocear more appropriately.105BOOK VIII. 104-106most honoured by Xerxes of all his eunuchs. Thepeople of Pedasa dwell above Halicarnassus. Thishappens among these people when :aught untowardis about to befall within a certain time all thosethat dwell about their city, the priestess of Athenethen grows a great beard. This had already happenedto them twice.105. Hermotimus, who came from this placePedasa, had achieved a fuller vengeance for wrongdone to him than had any man within my knowledge.Being taken captive by enemies and exposed forsale, he was bought by one Panionius of Chios, aman that had set himself to earn a livelihood out ofmost wicked practices ;he would procure beautifulboys and castrate and take them to Sardis andEphesus, where he sold them for a great price for;the foreigners value eunuchs more than perfect men,by reason of the full trust that they have in them.Now among the many whom Panionius had castratedin the way of trade was Hermotimus, who was not inall things unfortunate ;for he was brought fromSardis among other gifts to the king, and as timewent on he stood higher in Xerxes' favour than anyother eunuch.106. Now while the king was at Sardis and therepreparing to lead his Persian armament againstAthens, Hermotimus came for some business that hehad in hand down to the part of Mysia which isinhabited by Chians and called Atarneus, and therehe found Panionius. Perceiving who he was, heheld long and friendly converse with him; "it isto you," he said, "that I owe all this prosperity of1The words in brackets are probably an interpolation,