1. The specter of human sacrifice haunted ancient Greek mythology, especially when it was dramatized in the form of Greek tragedy. Among the more famous of these narratives was the story of Iphigenia, the oldest daughter of Agamemnon, the king who led the Greek forces to the Trojan War. He faced the divine command to sacrifice Iphigenia on the altar to the goddess Artemis in order get his troops to the war, a horror Euripides developed into a tragedy called Iphigenia at Aulis. In an earlier play, however, Euripides had made an adventure story out of a version of the myth where Iphigenia escapes the sacrifice and is transported to the far-off land of the Taurians. There she serves the goddess Artemis as a priestess. Many years later, her younger brother, Orestes, and his best friend, Pylades, arrive in the land of the Taurians, unaware that Iphigenia is even alive. Paradoxically, Iphigenia is supposed to make a human sacrifice of any foreigners to come to the temple. When she realizes that her newest victims are in fact fellow Greeks, she agrees to spare Pylades, so that he may deliver a message back to her family in Greece (not yet realizing that her own brother is right before her). To be sure that Pylades will in fact deliver her message, she demands that he swear an oath, and so begins one of the most famous recognition scenes in world literature:

ORESTES ἦ κἀντιδώσεις τῷδε τοὺς αὐτοὺς λόγους;

IPHIGENIA τί χρῆμα δράσειν ἢ τί μὴ δράσειν; λέγε.

ORESTES ἐκ γῆς ἀφήσειν μὴ θάνοντα βαρβάρου.

Iphigenia agrees. Orestes then asks whether the king of the Taurians will agree to the plan.

IPHIGENIA ναί· πείσω σφε...

Orestes then says that the swearing of the oath can go on. Iphigenia makes Pylades swear that he will give the messages to her friends.

PYLADES τοῖς σοῖς φίλοισι γράμματ’ ἀποδώσω τάδε.

IPHIGENIA κἀγὼ σὲ σώσω...

Pylades then worries that if there is an accident and the letter is lost, he will not be able to deliver the message. He says in part, if there is a shipwreck:

PYLADES ...σῶμα δ’ ἐκσώσω μόνον.

Iphigenia then says she will read the letter aloud to Pylades, so that he can either deliver the letter or relay the message.

IPHIGENIA λόγῳ φράσω σοι πάντ’ ἀπαγγεῖλαι φίλοις... τὸ σῶμα σώσας τοὺς λόγους σώσεις ἐμοί.

Iphigenia begins reading the letter aloud, a letter wherein she is writing to Orestes and explaining how she herself is still alive. At one point Orestes shouts out:

ORESTES Πυλάδη, τί λέξω;

Iphigenia ignores the interruptions and insists on reading the letter to the end, at which point Pylades declares:

PYLADES τὸν δ’ ὅρκον ὃν κατώμοσ’ ἐμπεδώσομεν. ἰδού, φέρω σοι δέλτον ἀποδίδωμί τε, Ὀρέστα, τῆσδε σῆς κασιγνήτης πάρα.

selections from Euripides Iphigenia in Tauris 737-92

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    Notes

    makes a yes/no question

    κἀντιδώσεις = καὶ ἀντιδώσεις. ἀντιδίδωμι, ἀντιδώσω give in return

    λόγους (acc pl)

    δράσειν δράω, δράσω do

    λέγε a command, from λέγω, λέξω

    θάνοντα θάνων, θάνοντος, ὁ dead

    γῆς (gen sg) γῆ, γῆς, ἡ earth, land.

    βαρβάρου (gen sg) ἡ foreign, barbarian, modifying γῆς.

    ναί yes

    σφε (acc sg) him

    σοῖς (dat pl) ὁ your

    φίλοισι (dat pl) φίλος, φίλου, ὁ friend, family

    γράμματ’ γράμμα, γράμματος, τό letter, writing

    κἀγώ = καὶ ἐγώ

    σέ (acc sg)

    ἐκσώσω ~ σώσω

    μόνον only

    λόγῳ (dat sg) λόγος, λόγου, ὁ word

    φράσω φράζω, φράσω declare

    πάντ’ = πάντα (acc pl) τό everything

    ἀπαγγεῖλαι (inf act) ἀπαγγέλω report

    φίλοις (dat pl) φίλος, φίλου, ὁ friend, family

    σώσας (nom sg) by saving

    ἐμοί (dat sg) me

    ὅρκον (acc sg) ὅρκος, ὅρκου, ὁ oath

    κατώμοσ’ (1st sg) swore

    ἐμπεδώσομεν ἐμπεδόω ἐμπεδώσω establish, accomplish

    ἰδού Look!

    φέρω carry

    σοι (dat sg) you

    δέλτον (acc sg) δέλτος, δέλτου, ἡ tablet

    Ὀρέστα vocative case, indicating a direct form of address.

    σῆς (gen sg) ἡ your

    κασιγνήτης (gen sg) κασιγνήτη, κασιγνήτης, ἡ sister

    πάρα = παρά (the shift in accent indicates that it is postpositive, i.e., the nouns that it governs precede, rather than follow, the preposition)

    New Vocabulary

    Verb stems ending in a labial (-π, -β, -φ)

    ἅπτω ἅψω touch

    γράφω γράψω write, draw

    λείπω λείψω leave

    πέμπω πέμψω send

    τρέπω τρέψω turn

    τρέφω θρέψω nourish

     

    Verb stems ending in a dental (-δ, -θ and -ζ)

    θαυμάζω θαυμάσω wonder, marvel

    κατασκευάζω κατασκευάσω equip, supply

    ὀνομάζω ὀνομάσω call by name

    πείθω πείσω persuade

    σῴζω, σώσω save

    φράζω φράσω tell

     

    Verb stems ending in a palatal (-κ, -γ, -χ)

    ἄγω ἄξω lead, bring, pass (time)

    ὑπάγω ὑπάξω go away

    ἄρχω ἄρξω begin, lead, rule (+ gen.)

    ὑπάρχω exist, be, belong to

    διδάσκω, διδάξω teach

    διώκω διώξω pursue

    ἥκω ἥξω have come, be present

    λέγω λέξω say, tell

     

    Verb stems ending in -ττ/-σσ

    πράττω πράξω (πράσσω πράξω) do

    τάττω τάξω (τάσσω τάξω) arrange

    ὑποτάττω ὑποτάξω (ὑποτάσσω ὑποτάξω) subordinate, subject

    φυλάττω φυλάξω (φυλάσσω φυλάξω) watch, guard, defend

    Previous Vocabulary

    ἄγω ἄξω lead, bring, pass (time)

    ἀγών ἀγῶνος ὁ contest

    αἷμα αἵματος τό blood

    αἰών αἰῶνος ὁ age, eternity

    ἀκούω hear

    ἀλλά but

    ἁμαρτάνω miss, fail, make a mistake

    ἀμφί (prep. + gen.) around, for the sake of; (prep. + dat.) around, near; (prep. + acc.) around, about

    ἀνά (prep. + dat.) upon; (prep. + acc.) up, through

    ἀναβαίνω walk up, go aboard, enter

    ἀναγιγνώσκω read

    ἀνίστημι, ἀναστήσω raise, appoint

    ἀντί (prep. + gen.) opposite, instead of, for the sake of

    ἀπό (prep. + gen.) from

    ἀποδίδωμι, ἀποδώσω give back

    ἀποθνῄσκω die

    ἀπόλλυμι ἀπολέω kill, destroy

    ἀπολύω, ἀπολύσω release, divorce, forgive

    ἅπτω ἅψω touch

    ἄρα therefore

    ἄρχω ἄρξω begin, lead, rule (+ gen.)

    ἄρχων ἄρχοντος ὁ ruler

    αὐτός αὐτή αὐτό self, same, he/she/it

    ἀφίημι, ἀφήσω send forth; let go, allow

    βαίνω walk, come, go

    βουλεύω, βουλεύσω deliberate, resolve

    γάρ for

    γιγνώσκω know; Koine: γινώσκω

    γράμμα γράμματος τό letter

    γράφω γράψω write, draw

    δαίμων δαίμονος ὁ divinity

    δέ and, but

    δείκνυμι, δείξω show

    διά (prep. + gen.) through; (prep. + acc.) because of

    διδάσκω, διδάξω teach

    δίδωμι, δώσω give

    διό therefore

    διώκω διώξω pursue

    εἰ, εἴπερ if

    εἰς/ἐς (prep. + acc.) into

    εἰμί be

    εἴτε…εἴτε either…or

    ἐκ (prep. + gen.) from

    ἐκεῖνος ἐκείνη ἐκεῖνο that

    ἐλαύνω drive, set in motion

    ἐλπίς ἐλπίδος ἡ hope

    ἐν (prep. + dat.) in

    ἐπεί after, since, when

    ἐπί (prep. + gen.) on, at; (prep. + dat.) on, for the purpose of, because of; (prep. + acc.) against

    ἐπιγιγνώσκω know, recognize, understand

    ἐπιτίθημι, ἐπιθήσω put on

    εὑρίσκω, εὑρήσω find

    ἕως until, while

    ζεύγνυμι ζεύξω yoke, join together

    but

    ἥκω ἥξω have come, be present

    ἡγεμών ἡγεμόνος ὁ guide, commander

    θαυμάζω θαυμάσω wonder, marvel

    θέλημα θέλματος τό will, wish, desire

    θνῄσκω die

    θύω, θύσω sacrifice

    ἵημι, ἥσω throw

    ἵνα where

    ἵστημι, στήσω stand

    καθίστημι, καταστήσω set down, establish

    καί and

    κατά (prep. + gen.) down, against; (prep. + acc.) down, along, according to

    καταλαμβάνω seize, catch up to, arrest

    κατασκευάζω κατασκευάσω equip, supply

    κελεύω, κελεύσω order

    κλαίω, κλαύσω cry out

    κωλύω, κωλύσω prevent

    λαμβάνω take, grab; receive, get

    λανθάνω, λήσω escape notice of

    λέγω, λέξω say, tell

    λείπω, λείψω leave

    λύω, λύσω loosen, destroy

    μανθάνω learn

    μέν…δέ on the one hand... on the other hand

    μετά (prep. + gen.) with; (prep. + acc.) after, behind

    μέχρι until

    μή no, not (moods other than indicative)

    μήτε and not (with moods other than indicative)

    μήτε…μήτε neither…nor (with moods other than indicative)

    μίγνυμι, μίξω mix

    μιμνήσκω, μνήσω remind

    μυριάς μυριάδος ἡ ten thousand; countless

    νύξ νυκτός ἡ night

    ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε this

    ὄμνυμι swear (an oath); swear to

    ὄνομα ὀνόματος τό name

    ὀνομάζω ὀνομάσω call by name

    ὅθεν from where

    ὅς, ἥ, ὅ who, which, that

    ὅσπερ, ἥπερ, ὅπερ the same/very one(s) who, which, that

    ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι anyone who, anything which, whoever, whatever

    ὅτε when

    ὅτι because

    οὐ, οὐκ, οὐχ no, not (indicative mood)

    οὖν therefore

    οὖς, ὠτός τό ear

    οὔτε and not (with indicative mood)

    οὔτε…οὔτε neither…nor (with indicative mood)

    παῖς, παιδός ὁ child

    παρά (prep. + gen.) from; (prep. + dat.) with, near; (prep. + acc.) to, throughout, against

    παραδίδωμι, παραδώσω hand over, deliver

    παραλαμβάνω take, receive, accept

    πάρειμι be present

    παρίστημι, παραστήσω present

    πατρίς πατρίδος ἡ fatherland

    παύω, παύσω stop

    πείθω πείσω persuade

    πέμπω πέμψω send

    περί (prep. + gen.) about; (prep. + dat.) about; (prep. + acc.) near, around

    περισσεύω, περισσεύσω be left over, increase, exceed

    πίνω drink

    πιστεύω, πιστεύσω trust, rely on, believe in (+ dat.)

    πνεῦμα πνεύματος τό wind, breath, spirit

    πορεύω, πορεύσω carry

    πούς, ποδός ὁ foot

    πρᾶγμα πράγματος τό thing; (pl.) circumstances, affairs, business

    πράττω πράξω (πράσσω πράξω) do

    πρίν (w/indicative verbs) until; (w/infinitive verbs) before

    πρό (prep. + gen.) before, in front of

    πρός (prep. + gen.) toward, (swear) by; (prep. + dat.) by, in addition to; (prep. + acc.) toward

    προστίθημι, προσθήσω add to

    ῥήγνυμι, ῥήξω break, shatter

    ῥῆμα ῥήματος τό word, saying

    σκεδάννυμι, σκεδάσω scatter, disperse

    σπέρμα σπέρματος τό seed, offspring

    στόμα στόματος τό mouth

    συμβαίνω happen, agree, result

    σύν (prep. + dat.) with (the help of)

    σχῆμα σχήματος τό form, appearance

    σῴζω, σώσω save

    σῶμα σώματος τό body

    τάττω τάξω (τάσσω τάξω) arrange

    τε and

    τέμνω cut

    τίθημι, θήσω put, make

    τις, τι (enclitic) someone, something, anyone, anything

    τίς, τί who? what? which?

    τοίνυν therefore

    τρέπω τρέψω turn

    τρέφω θρέψω nourish

    τυγχάνω meet (+gen)

    ὕδωρ, ὕδατος τό water

    ὑπάγω ὑπάξω go away

    ὑπάρχοντα ὑπαρχόντων τά circumstances, property

    ὑπάρχω, ὑπάρξω exist, be, belong to

    ὑπέρ (prep. + gen.) over, on behalf of; (prep. + acc.) above, over, beyond

    ὑπό (prep. + gen.) under, by; (prep. + dat.) under; (prep. + acc.) under

    ὑπολαμβάνω take up, reply, suppose

    ὑποτάττω ὑποτάξω (ὑποτάσσω ὑποτάξω) subordinate, subject

    φημί, φήσω say, assert

    φράζω φράσω tell

    φυλάττω φυλάξω (φυλάσσω φυλάξω) watch, guard, defend

    φύω, φύσω produce, bring forth, grow

    φῶς, φωτός τό light

    χρῆμα χρήματος τό thing; (pl.) money

    ὡς as

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