{He was crying out, and cutting himself with stones} ((886e)
kraz(936e) kai katakopt(936e) heauton lithois). Further vivid details by
Mark. Night and day his loud scream or screech could be heard
like other demoniacs (cf.  1:26  3:11  9:26 ). The verb for
cutting himself occurs here only in the N.T., though an old verb.
It means to _cut down_ (perfective use of kata-). We say _cut
up_, gash, hack to pieces. Perhaps he was scarred all over with
such gashes during his moments of wild frenzy night and day in
the tombs and on the mountains. Periphrastic imperfect active
with (886e) and the participles.