Trick |
Trickster Vocabulary |
Manipulation of signs? |
Successful? |
Sign Type |
Stage of Signification Process |
1.21.1–22.3 Thrasyboulos tricks Alyattes into thinking Miletos has plenty of food |
μηχανᾶται 1.21.1 |
no |
yes |
|
|
1.59.3–6 Peisistratos mutilates himself as if attacked |
μηχανᾶται τοιάδε 1.59.3ὁ δὲ δῆμος . . . ἐξαπατηθείς 1.59.5 |
yes |
yes |
object (body as signifier) |
transmission |
1.60.3–5 Phye and Peisistratos |
μηχανῶνται 1.60.3 |
yes |
yes |
object (body and clothing as signifiers) |
transmission |
1.80.2 Kyros’ trick of using camels against Lydian cavalry |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
1.96.2–98.2 Deiokes’ ruse to get power |
ἀνὴρ σοφός 1.96.2 |
no |
yes |
|
|
1.123.4 Harpagos and message in the hare |
ἐπιτεχνᾶται τοιόνδε 1.123.3 |
yes |
yes |
object (gift) |
transmission |
1.125.1–6 Kyros’ rise to power: forges letter from Astyages |
ἐφρόντιζε ὅτεῳ τρόπῳ σοφωτάτῳ Πέρσας ἀναπείσει ἀπίστασθαι 1.125.1 |
yes |
yes |
object (seal, writing) |
transmission |
1.187.1–5 Babylonian Nitokris and the trick grave |
ἀπάτην τοιήνδε τινὰ ἐμηχανήσατο 1.187.1 |
no |
yes |
|
|
1.191.1–6 Kyros takes Babylon by trick of diverting river |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
1.207.6–7 Kroisos’ advice to Kyros to trick Massagetai with wine |
τοιούτῳ φαρμάκῳ δολώσας 1.212.2 (Tomyris) |
no |
yes |
|
|
2.100.2–4 Egyptian Nitokris and flooding chamber |
δόλῳ διαφθεῖραι 2.100.2 |
no |
yes |
|
|
2.121.α.1 Architect of Rhampsinitos’ treasury |
τὸν δὲ ἐργαζόμενον ἐπιβουλεύοντα τάδε μηχανᾶσθαι 2.121.α.1 |
no |
yes |
|
|
2.121.δ.1–6 Master thief tricks guards to retrieve his brother’s body |
ἐπιτεχνήσασθαι τοιάδε 2.121.δ.1 |
no |
yes |
|
|
2.121.ε.1–3 Rhampsinitos devises way to trick master thief |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
2.121.ε.3–5 Master thief outwits Rhampsinitos again |
πολυτροπίῃ 2.121.ε.3, πολυφροσύνῃ, τόλμῃ 2.121.ζ.1 |
no |
yes |
|
|
2.133.1–5 Mykerinos and the oracle: Mykerinos makes 6 years into 12 by making nights into days with light |
ταῦτα δὲ ἐμηχανᾶτο 2.133.5 |
yes |
? |
oracle |
reception |
2.162.1 Soldier places helmet on Amasis’ head, declares him king |
|
yes |
yes |
object, gesture |
transmission |
2.172.1–5 Amasis and golden podaniptêr |
μετὰ δὲ σοφίῃ αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἄμασις, οὐκ ἀγνωμοσύνῃ, προσηγάγετο 2.172.2 |
yes |
yes |
object |
transmission |
Trick |
Trickster Vocabulary |
Manipulation of signs? |
Successful? |
Sign Type |
Stage of Signification Process |
3.1.3–5 Amasis tricks Kambyses by passing off Apries’ daughter as his own |
διαβεβλημένος 3.1.4 |
no |
yes |
|
|
3.4.1–2 Phanes outsmarts Amasis’ guards by getting them drunk |
σοφίῃ γάρ μιν περιῆλθε ὁ Φάνης 3.4.2 |
no |
yes |
|
|
3.16.6 Amasis’ final trick: has someone else’s corpse placed in his tomb to foil Kambyses |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
3.61 Pseudo-Smerdis |
|
yes |
yes (but see next entry) |
object (body), name |
transmission |
3.69.3 Otanes uses absence of ears to identify pseudo-Smerdis |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
3.85.1–3.86.2 Dareios and groom artificially produce agreed-upon sign: horse neighs |
σοφίην, μηχανῶ 3.85.1φάρμακα, σόφισμα, μηχανᾶσθαι 3.85.2 |
yes |
yes |
portent |
transmission |
3.123.2 Oroites tricks Maiandrios, messenger of Polykrates, into thinking he has great wealth |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
3.128.2–5 Bagaios, bodyguards, and killing of Oroites |
τάδε ἐμηχανήσατο, σοφίῃ καὶ μὴ βίῃ 3.127.2 |
yes |
yes |
object, writing |
transmission |
3.130.1–2 Dareios and Demokedes |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
3.153.1–158.2 Zopyros mutilates himself |
δόλον . . . ἐξέφαινε 3.158.2 |
yes |
yes |
object (body) |
transmission |
4.134.3 Dareios’ scheme (following Gobryas) to leave Scythia secretly |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
4.139.2 Histiaios tricks Scythians into thinking Ionians are destroying bridge over Istros. |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
4.146.4 Wives of Minyai exchanging clothes with husbands to get them out of jail |
δόλον 4.146.3 |
yes |
yes |
object (clothing) |
transmission |
4.154.3 Etearkhos uses open-ended oath on Themision |
ἀπατῇ 4.154.4 |
yes |
yes |
oath |
transmission |
4.154.4 Themision’s counter-manipulation |
|
yes |
yes |
oath |
reception |
4.201.1–3 Manipulation of oath by Amasis the Persian |
δόλῳ 4.201.1 |
yes |
yes |
oath |
transmission |
5.12.1–13.3 Two Paionian brothers aim for tyranny, device of sister |
|
no |
no |
|
|
5.20.1–5 Alexander dresses men as women, who kill Persians at banquet |
|
yes |
yes |
clothing |
transmission |
Trick |
Trickster Vocabulary |
Manipulation of signs? |
Successful? |
Sign Type |
Stage of Signification Process |
5.24.1–25.1 Dareios tricks Histiaios into leaving Miletos and coming to Sardis and Susa |
|
No |
yes |
|
|
5.35.3 Histiaios and the tattooed head of the messenger |
|
Yes |
yes |
object (body) |
transmission |
5.49.1–50.3 Aristagoras tries to deceive Kleomenes with map |
σοφός, διαβάλλων 5.50.2 |
Yes |
no |
object |
transmission |
5.63.1 Corruption of Pythia, Alkmaionidai and Kleisthenes (cf. 5.66.1) |
μηχανή 6.123.1 |
Yes |
yes |
oracle |
transmission |
5.106.3–107 Histiaios tricks Dareios |
διέβαλλε 5.107 |
No |
yes |
|
|
6.62.1–2 Ariston’s manipulation of oath |
μηχανᾶται δὴ τοιάδε 6.62.1 τῆς ἀπάτης τῇ παραγωγῇ 6.62.2 |
yes |
yes |
oath |
transmission |
6.65.3 Leotykhides swears falsely in public oath |
|
No |
yes |
|
|
6.66.1–3 Kleomenes and Kobon corrupt Pythia |
|
Yes |
yes |
oracle |
transmission |
6.77.3 Argives detect and make use of Spartan signals |
|
Yes |
yes |
military signal |
reception |
6.78.1–2 Kleomenes’ counter-manipulation and change of code |
|
Yes |
yes |
military signal |
transmission |
6.79.1–2 Kleomenes tricks Argives into coming out of hiding |
|
No |
yes |
|
|
6.125.3–5 Alkmeon and gold dust |
|
No |
yes |
|
|
6.115, 6.121–124 Flashing shield shown at Marathon to Persian fleet as sign to sail to Athens |
|
No |
no |
military signal |
|
7.6.3 Onomakritos inserts false oracles into collection of Musaios |
|
Yes |
no |
oracle |
transmission |
7.6.4 Onomakritos at Susa recites oracles selectively |
|
Yes |
yes |
oracle |
transmission |
7.15.3 Artabanos wears Xerxes’ clothing in order that the same dream appear to him |
|
Yes |
yes |
object (clothing) |
transmission |
7.239.3 Demaratos and the wax tablet |
μηχανᾶται τοιάδε 7.239.3 |
Yes |
yes |
object |
transmission |
8.5.1–3 Themistokles tricks Eurybiades and Adeimantos into staying, keeps remainer of money for himself |
|
No |
yes |
|
|
8.22.1–3 Themistokles uses inscription to invite Ionians to desert |
|
Yes |
yes |
writing |
transmission |
Trick |
Trickster Vocabulary |
Manipulation of signs? |
Successful? |
Sign Type |
Stage of Signification Process |
8.24.1–25.2 Xerxes’ ruse to conceal true number of dead |
|
No |
no |
|
|
8.27.3 Tellias uses chalk on Phocians for mutual identification |
σοφίζεται . . . τοιόνδε 8.27.3 |
Yes |
yes |
object (body) |
transmission |
8.28 Phocians devise trap for Thessalian cavalry |
|
No |
yes |
|
|
8.75.1–3 Themistokles’ secret message to Xerxes |
|
No |
yes |
|
|
8.87.2–4 Artemisia sinks an allied ship to fool Greek pursuer and Xerxes |
|
No |
yes |
|
|
8.109.1–5 Themistokles talks Athenians out of immediate pursuit of Persians to Hellespont |
διέβαλλε 8.110.1 |
no |
yes |
|
|
8.137.5 Perdikkas and the circle of sun |
|
yes |
yes |
gesture |
reception |
9.33.4–5 Teisamenos gets Spartans to make him and brother citizens |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
9.34.1–2 Melampous gets the Argives to give him and brother part of kingdom |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
9.94.1–3 People of Apollonia cheat Euenios out of full compensation |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
9.98.2–4 Leotykhidas imitates Themistokles (8.22.1–3) re Ionians |
|
no |
yes |
|
|
9.110.2–112 Amestris’ manipulation of traditional Persian birthday promise |
|
yes |
yes |
oath |
transmission |
9.116.2–3 Artayktes uses ambiguous words: pays lip service to truth |
διεβάλετο 9.116.2 |
yes |
yes |
ainetic speech |
transmission |
9.120.2–4 Artayktes interprets portent: attempts to secure own release |
|
yes |
no |
portent |
reception |