Translatum Greek Translation Forum

[river]

Μολὼν λαβέ (Molon lave) -> Come and take them, from Plutarch's Apophthegmata Laconica
What is the source of the quote "molon lave?"

[wings]

Dear "river",

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You can find the answer to your question at: http://www.translatum.gr/forum/index.php/topic,281.0.html

Thanks in advance for your understanding,

Vicky

[river]

I was looking for the source of the quote, not the translation. The few hints as to the source that I have dredged up on the Web point to Herodotus, but Herodotus does not relate this part of the story in the relevant section of Book 7 of The Histories (at least I've not been able to find it in two different translations).Thanks for you help. If this is too much, please disregard.

[user7]

"Molon lave" (Μολών λαβέ, Come and take them) is found in Plutarch's Apophthegmata Laconica.

Πάλιν δε του Ξέρξου γράψαντος "πέμψον τα όπλα", αντέγραψε "μολών λαβέ".

When Xerxes wrote "Send the arms / weapons", he (Leonidas) wrote back "Come and get them".