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Σκυθικῆς γῆς. H. means that the coast of Scythia does not continue (in a straight line that of Thrace), but that ‘as there is a sweep made’ (κόλπου) the Thracian coast line ‘projects’ (πρόκειται), just as Egypt projects (ii. 12. 1) beyond the line of North Africa. ἐκδιδοῖ, ‘runs out’ into it; i. e. has its mouth in it (cf. 49. 3 n.). The lower course of the Ister is one of the most difficult points in Herodotean geography. As Niebuhr pointed out (K. S. pp. 156, 356, and map), H. conceives it as running due south (cf. Macan, vol. ii, Map, and p. 18). Niebuhr's arguments are: (1) The supposed correspondence of Ister and Nile (ii. 33. 2 n.). (2) In v. 9 the land to the north of the Ister is not Scythia or that of the Agathyrsi but ‘desert’, and (v. 10, by implication) ὑπὸ τὴν ἄρκτον. (3) Only in this way can be explained the great extent of the Thracians (v. 3). (4) The western boundary of Scythia (i. e. admittedly the Danube) runs at a right angle to the coast (101. 3). The last point seems decisive. Rawlinson says rightly that this view, viz. that the lower Danube runs south, is inconsistent with other parts of H., e. g. (1) the Danube receives from Scythia five tributaries, each west of the other (c. 49); the boundary therefore runs east and west, and not north and south; (2) the tributaries from the Haemus flow in from the south (c. 50), so the Danube must run east and west; (3) it runs into the sea ‘with its mouth facing south-east’ (εὖρον). But (1) and (2) only prove either that H. did not know these facts when he wrote c. 101, or, more probably, that he forgot them from a love of symmetry; and if the emphasis be laid on στόμα (§ 1), is rather for the south course than against it. Why mention the ‘mouth’, if the whole course were south-east? Macan well suggests that H.'s mistake is helped by his confusing the Danube and the Pruth, which latter river flows mainly north and south.
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