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γαμβρός is any connexion by marriage, here a ‘brother-in-law’ (74. 4); H. as usual gives a personal motive; for other reasons cf. 46. 1 n.


The story may be true in outline (cf. Morier, J. R. G. S. vii. 242, for wars in the East caused by nomad migrations). No doubt many Scyths remained in Media, when the main body had been expelled or annihilated (106. 1 n.). The story of the Thyestean banquet (§ 5), however, is suspiciously reminiscent of the story of Harpagus (c. 119) and of the myth of Tantalus.

For the Scythian bow cf. iv. 9. 5 n.; cf. Plat. Leg. 795 A, who says the S. were ambidextrous in its use, and Jer. v. 16 ‘their quiver is an open sepulchre’.

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