Pindar Pythian 4: the divine clod

ΑΡΚΕΣΙΛΑΩΙ ΚΥΡΗΝΑΙΩΙ

ΑΡΜΑΤΙ

Α΄Σάμερον μὲν χρή σε παρ᾿ ἀνδρὶ φίλῳ

στᾶμεν, εὐίππου βασιλῆι Κυράνας,

ὄφρα κωμάζοντι σὺν Ἀρκεσίλᾳ,

Μοῖσα, Λατοίδαισιν ὀφειλόμενον Πυ-

θῶνί τ᾿ αὔξῃς οὖρον ὕμνων,

ἔνθα ποτὲ χρυσέων Διὸς αἰετῶν πάρεδρος

5 οὐκ ἀποδάμου Ἀπόλλωνος τυχόντος ἱέρεα

χρῆσεν οἰκιστῆρα Βάττον

καρποφόρου Λιβύας, ἱεράν

νᾶσον ὡς ἤδη λιπὼν κτίσσειεν εὐάρματον

πόλιν ἐν ἀργινόεντι μαστῷ,

καὶ τὸ Μηδείας ἔπος ἀγκομίσαι

10ἑβδόμᾳ καὶ σὺν δεκάτᾳ γενεᾷ Θή-

ραιον, Αἰήτα τό ποτε ζαμενής

παῖς ἀπέπνευσ᾿ ἀθανάτου στόματος, δέσ-

ποινα Κόλχων. εἶπε δ᾿ οὕτως

ἡμιθέοισιν Ἰάσονος αἰχματᾶο ναύταις·

“Κέκλυτε, παῖδες ὑπερθύμων τε φωτῶν καὶ θεῶν·

φαμὶ γὰρ τᾶσδ᾿ ἐξ ἁλιπλά-

κτου ποτὲ γᾶς Ἐπάφοιο κόραν

15ἀστέων ῥίζαν φυτεύσεσθαι μελησιμβρότων

Διὸς ἐν Ἄμμωνος θεμέθλοις.

ἀντὶ δελφίνων δ᾿ ἐλαχυπτερύγων ἵπ-

πους ἀμείψαντες θοάς,

ἁνία τ᾿ ἀντ᾿ ἐρετμῶν δί-

φρους τε νωμάσοισιν ἀελλόποδας.

κεῖνος ὄρνις ἐκτελευτάσει μεγαλᾶν πολίων

20ματρόπολιν Θήραν γενέσθαι, τόν ποτε

Τριτωνίδος ἐν προχοαῖς

λίμνας θεῷ ἀνέρι εἰδομένῳ γαῖαν διδόντι

ξείνια πρῴραθεν Εὔφαμος καταβαίς

δέξατ᾿—αἰσίαν δ᾿ ἐπί οἱ Κρονίων

Ζεὺς πατὴρ ἔκλαγξε βροντάν—

Β΄ἁνίκ᾿ ἄγκυραν ποτὶ χαλκόγενυν

25ναῒ κριμνάντων ἐπέτοσσε, θοᾶς Ἀρ-

γοῦς χαλινόν· δώδεκα δὲ πρότερον

ἁμέρας ἐξ Ὠκεανοῦ φέρομεν νώ-

των ὕπερ γαίας ἐρήμων

ἐννάλιον δόρυ, μήδεσιν ἀνσπάσσαντες ἁμοῖς.

τουτάκι δ᾿ οἰοπόλος δαίμων ἐπῆλθεν, φαιδίμαν

ἀνδρὸς αἰδοίου πρόσοψιν

θηκάμενος· φιλίων δ᾿ ἐπέων

30ἄρχετο, ξείνοις ἅτ᾿ ἐλθόντεσσιν εὐεργέται

δεῖπν᾿ ἐπαγγέλλοντι πρῶτον.

ἀλλὰ γὰρ νόστου πρόφασις γλυκεροῦ

κώλυεν μεῖναι. φάτο δ᾿ Εὐρύπυλος Γαι-

αόχου παῖς ἀφθίτου Ἐννοσίδα

ἔμμεναι· γίνωσκε δ᾿ ἐπειγομένους· ἂν

δ᾿ εὐθὺς ἁρπάξαις ἀρούρας

35δεξιτερᾷ προτυχὸν ξένιον μάστευσε δοῦναι.

οὐδ᾿ ἀπίθησέ νιν, ἀλλ᾿ ἥρως ἐπ᾿ ἀκταῖσιν θορών,

χειρί οἱ χεῖρ᾿ ἀντερείσαις

δέξατο βώλακα δαιμονίαν.

πεύθομαι δ᾿ αὐτὰν κατακλυσθεῖσαν ἐκ δούρατος

ἐναλίαν βᾶμεν σὺν ἅλμᾳ

Β΄ἁνίκ᾿ ἄγκυραν ποτὶ χαλκόγενυν

25ναῒ κριμνάντων ἐπέτοσσε, θοᾶς Ἀρ-

γοῦς χαλινόν· δώδεκα δὲ πρότερον

ἁμέρας ἐξ Ὠκεανοῦ φέρομεν νώ-

των ὕπερ γαίας ἐρήμων

ἐννάλιον δόρυ, μήδεσιν ἀνσπάσσαντες ἁμοῖς.

τουτάκι δ᾿ οἰοπόλος δαίμων ἐπῆλθεν, φαιδίμαν

ἀνδρὸς αἰδοίου πρόσοψιν

θηκάμενος· φιλίων δ᾿ ἐπέων

30ἄρχετο, ξείνοις ἅτ᾿ ἐλθόντεσσιν εὐεργέται

δεῖπν᾿ ἐπαγγέλλοντι πρῶτον.

ἀλλὰ γὰρ νόστου πρόφασις γλυκεροῦ

κώλυεν μεῖναι. φάτο δ᾿ Εὐρύπυλος Γαι-

αόχου παῖς ἀφθίτου Ἐννοσίδα

ἔμμεναι· γίνωσκε δ᾿ ἐπειγομένους· ἂν

δ᾿ εὐθὺς ἁρπάξαις ἀρούρας

35δεξιτερᾷ προτυχὸν ξένιον μάστευσε δοῦναι.

οὐδ᾿ ἀπίθησέ νιν, ἀλλ᾿ ἥρως ἐπ᾿ ἀκταῖσιν θορών,

χειρί οἱ χεῖρ᾿ ἀντερείσαις

δέξατο βώλακα δαιμονίαν.

πεύθομαι δ᾿ αὐτὰν κατακλυσθεῖσαν ἐκ δούρατος

ἐναλίαν βᾶμεν σὺν ἅλμᾳ

40ἑσπέρας ὑγρῷ πελάγει σπομέναν. ἦ

μάν νιν ὤτρυνον θαμά

λυσιπόνοις θεραπόντεσ-

σιν φυλάξαι· τῶν δ᾿ ἐλάθοντο φρένες·

καί νυν ἐν τᾷδ᾿ ἄφθιτον νάσῳ κέχυται Λιβύας

εὐρυχόρου σπέρμα πρὶν ὥρας. εἰ γὰρ οἴ-

κοι νιν βάλε πὰρ χθόνιον

Ἀίδα στόμα, Ταίναρον εἰς ἱερὰν Εὔφαμος ἐλθών,

45υἱὸς ἱππάρχου Ποσειδάωνος ἄναξ,

τόν ποτ᾿ Εὐρώπα Τιτυοῦ θυγάτηρ

τίκτε Καφισοῦ παρ᾿ ὄχθαις,

Γ΄τετράτων παίδων κ᾿ ἐπιγεινομένων

αἷμά οἱ κείναν λάβε σὺν Δαναοῖς εὐ-

ρεῖαν ἄπειρον· τότε γὰρ μεγάλας

ἐξανίστανται Λακεδαίμονος Ἀργεί-

ου τε κόλπου καὶ Μυκηνᾶν.

50νῦν γε μὲν ἀλλοδαπᾶν κριτὸν εὑρήσει γυναικῶν

ἐν λέχεσιν γένος, οἵ κεν τάνδε σὺν τιμᾷ θεῶν

νᾶσον ἐλθόντες τέκωνται

φῶτα κελαινεφέων πεδίων

δεσπόταν· τὸν μὲν πολυχρύσῳ ποτ᾿ ἐν δώματι

Φοῖβος ἀμνάσει θέμισσιν

55Πύθιον ναὸν καταβάντα χρόνῳ

ὑστέρῳ, νάεσσι πολεῖς ἀγαγὲν Νεί-

λοιο πρὸς πῖον τέμενος Κρονίδα.”

ἦ ῥα Μηδείας ἐπέων στίχες· ἔπτα-

ξαν δ᾿ ἀκίνητοι σιωπᾷ

ἥροες ἀντίθεοι πυκινὰν μῆτιν κλύοντες.

ὦ μάκαρ υἱὲ Πολυμνάστου, σὲ δ᾿ ἐν τούτῳ λόγῳ

60χρησμὸς ὤρθωσεν μελίσσας

Δελφίδος αὐτομάτῳ κελάδῳ·

ἅ σε χαίρειν ἐστρὶς αὐδάσαισα πεπρωμένον

βασιλέ᾿ ἄμφανεν Κυράνᾳ,

δυσθρόου φωνᾶς ἀνακρινόμενον ποι-

νὰ τίς ἔσται πρὸς θεῶν.

ἦ μάλα δὴ μετὰ καὶ νῦν,

ὥτε φοινικανθέμου ἦρος ἀκμᾷ,

65παισὶ τούτοις ὄγδοον θάλλει μέρος Ἀρκεσίλας·

τῷ μὲν Ἀπόλλων ἅ τε Πυθὼ κῦδος ἐξ

Ἀμφικτιόνων ἔπορεν

ἱπποδρομίας. ἀπὸ δ᾿ αὐτὸν ἐγὼ Μοίσαισι δώσω

καὶ τὸ πάγχρυσον νάκος κριοῦ· μετὰ γάρ

κεῖνο πλευσάντων Μινυᾶν, θεόπομ-

ποί σφισιν τιμαὶ φύτευθεν.

Δ΄τίς γὰρ ἀρχὰ δέξατο ναυτιλίας,

71τίς δὲ κίνδυνος κρατεροῖς ἀδάμαντος

δῆσεν ἅλοις; θέσφατον ἦν Πελίαν

ἐξ ἀγαυῶν Αἰολιδᾶν θανέμεν χεί-

ρεσσιν ἢ βουλαῖς ἀκνάμπτοις.

ἦλθε δέ οἱ κρυόεν πυκινῷ μάντευμα θυμῷ,

πὰρ μέσον ὀμφαλὸν εὐδένδροιο ῥηθὲν ματέρος

75τὸν μονοκρήπιδα πάντως

ἐν φυλακᾷ σχεθέμεν μεγάλᾳ,

εὖτ᾿ ἂν αἰπεινῶν ἀπὸ σταθμῶν ἐς εὐδείελον

χθόνα μόλῃ κλειτᾶς Ἰαολκοῦ,

ξεῖνος αἴτ᾿ ὦν ἀστός. ὁ δ᾿ ἦρα χρόνῳ

ἵκετ᾿ αἰχμαῖσιν διδύμαισιν ἀνὴρ ἔκ-

παγλος· ἐσθὰς δ᾿ ἀμφοτέρα νιν ἔχεν,

80ἅ τε Μαγνήτων ἐπιχώριος ἁρμό-

ζοισα θαητοῖσι γυίοις,

ἀμφὶ δὲ παρδαλέᾳ στέγετο φρίσσοντας ὄμβρους·

οὐδὲ κομᾶν πλόκαμοι κερθέντες ᾤχοντ᾿ ἀγλαοί,

ἀλλ᾿ ἅπαν νῶτον καταίθυσ-

σον. τάχα δ᾿ εὐθὺς ἰὼν σφετέρας

ἐστάθη γνώμας ἀταρβάκτοιο πειρώμενος

85ἐν ἀγορᾷ πλήθοντος ὄχλου.

τὸν μὲν οὐ γίνωσκον· ὀπιζομένων δ᾿ ἔμ-

πας τις εἶπεν καὶ τόδε·

“Οὔ τί που οὗτος Ἀπόλλων,

οὐδὲ μὰν χαλκάρματός ἐστι πόσις

Ἀφροδίτας· ἐν δὲ Νάξῳ φαντὶ θανεῖν λιπαρᾷ

Ἰφιμεδείας παῖδας, Ὦτον καὶ σέ, τολ-

μάεις Ἐπιάλτα ἄναξ.

90καὶ μὰν Τιτυὸν βέλος Ἀρτέμιδος θήρευσε κραιπνόν,

ἐξ ἀνικάτου φαρέτρας ὀρνύμενον,

ὄφρα τις τᾶν ἐν δυνατῷ φιλοτά-

των ἐπιψαύειν ἔραται.”

Ε΄τοὶ μὲν ἀλλάλοισιν ἀμειβόμενοι

γάρυον τοιαῦτ᾿· ἀνὰ δ᾿ ἡμιόνοις ξε-

στᾷ τ᾿ ἀπήνᾳ προτροπάδαν Πελίας

95ἵκετο σπεύδων· τάφε δ᾿ αὐτίκα παπτά-

ναις ἀρίγνωτον πέδιλον

δεξιτερῷ μόνον ἀμφὶ ποδί. κλέπτων δὲ θυμῷ

δεῖμα προσήνεπε· “Ποίαν γαῖαν, ὦ ξεῖν᾿, εὔχεαι

πατρίδ᾿ ἔμμεν; καὶ τίς ἀνθρώ-

πων σε χαμαιγενέων πολιᾶς

ἐξανῆκεν γαστρός; ἐχθίστοισι μὴ ψεύδεσιν

100καταμιάναις εἰπὲ γένναν.”

τὸν δὲ θαρσήσαις ἀγανοῖσι λόγοις

ὧδ᾿ ἀμείφθη· “Φαμὶ διδασκαλίαν Χεί-

ρωνος οἴσειν. ἀντρόθε γὰρ νέομαι

πὰρ Χαρικλοῦς καὶ Φιλύρας, ἵνα Κενταύ-

ρου με κοῦραι θρέψαν ἁγναί.

εἴκοσι δ᾿ ἐκτελέσαις ἐνιαυτοὺς οὔτε ἔργον

105οὔτ᾿ ἔπος ἐκτράπελον κείνοισιν εἰπὼν ἱκόμαν

οἴκαδ᾿, ἀρχαίαν κομίζων

πατρὸς ἐμοῦ, βασιλευομέναν

οὐ κατ᾿ αἶσαν, τάν ποτε Ζεὺς ὤπασεν λαγέτᾳ

Αἰόλῳ καὶ παισὶ τιμάν.

πεύθομαι γάρ νιν Πελίαν ἄθεμιν λευ-

καῖς πιθήσαντα φρασίν

110ἁμετέρων ἀποσυλᾶ-

σαι βιαίως ἀρχεδικᾶν τοκέων·

τοί μ᾿, ἐπεὶ πάμπρωτον εἶδον φέγγος, ὑπερφιάλου

ἁγεμόνος δείσαντες ὕβριν, κᾶδος ὡσ-

είτε φθιμένου δνοφερόν

ἐν δώμασι θηκάμενοι μίγα κωκυτῷ γυναικῶν,

κρύβδα πέμπον σπαργάνοις ἐν πορφυρέοις,

115νυκτὶ κοινάσαντες ὁδόν, Κρονίδᾳ

δὲ τράφεν Χείρωνι δῶκαν.

Ϝ´

ἀλλὰ τούτων μὲν κεφάλαια λόγων

ἴστε. λευκίππων δὲ δόμους πατέρων, κε-

δνοὶ πολῖται, φράσσατέ μοι σαφέως·

Αἴσονος γὰρ παῖς ἐπιχώριος οὐ ξεί-

ναν ἱκάνω γαῖαν ἄλλων.

φὴρ δέ με θεῖος Ἰάσονα κικλῄσκων προσαύδα.”

120ὣς φάτο· τὸν μὲν ἐσελθόντ᾿ ἔγνον ὀφθαλμοὶ πατρός·

ἐκ δ᾿ ἄρ᾿ αὐτοῦ πομφόλυξαν

δάκρυα γηραλέων γλεφάρων,

ἃν περὶ ψυχὰν ἐπεὶ γάθησεν ἐξαίρετον

γόνον ἰδὼν κάλλιστον ἀνδρῶν.

καὶ κασίγνητοί σφισιν ἀμφότεροι

125ἤλυθον κείνου γε κατὰ κλέος· ἐγγὺς

μὲν Φέρης κράναν Ὑπερῇδα λιπών,

ἐκ δὲ Μεσσάνας Ἀμυθάν· ταχέως δ᾿ Ἄ-

δματος ἷκεν καὶ Μέλαμπος

εὐμενέοντες ἀνεψιόν. ἐν δαιτὸς δὲ μοίρᾳ

μειλιχίοισι λόγοις αὐτοὺς Ἰάσων δέγμενος

ξείνι᾿ ἁρμόζοντα τεύχων

πᾶσαν ἐυφροσύναν τάνυεν

130ἀθρόαις πέντε δραπὼν νύκτεσσιν ἔν θ᾿ ἁμέραις

ἱερὸν εὐζοίας ἄωτον.

ἀλλ᾿ ἐν ἕκτᾳ πάντα λόγον θέμενος σπου-

δαῖον ἐξ ἀρχᾶς ἀνήρ

συγγενέσιν παρεκοινᾶθ᾿

οἱ δ᾿ ἐπέσποντ᾿. αἶψα δ᾿ ἀπὸ κλισιᾶν

ὦρτο σὺν κείνοισι· καί ῥ᾿ ἦλθον Πελία μέγαρον·

135ἐσσύμενοι δ᾿ εἴσω κατέσταν· τῶν δ᾿ ἀκού-

σαις αὐτὸς ὑπαντίασεν

Τυροῦς ἐρασιπλοκάμου γενεά· πραῢν δ᾿ Ἰάσων

μαλθακᾷ φωνᾷ ποτιστάζων ὄαρον

βάλλετο κρηπῖδα σοφῶν ἐπέων·

“Παῖ Ποσειδᾶνος Πετραίου,

Ζ΄ἐντὶ μὲν θνατῶν φρένες ὠκύτεραι

140κέρδος αἰνῆσαι πρὸ δίκας δόλιον τρα-

χεῖαν ἑρπόντων πρὸς ἔπιβδαν ὅμως·

ἀλλ᾿ ἐμὲ χρὴ καὶ σὲ θεμισσαμένους ὀρ-

γὰς ὑφαίνειν λοιπὸν ὄλβον.

εἰδότι τοι ἐρέω· μία βοῦς Κρηθεῖ τε μάτηρ

καὶ θρασυμήδεϊ Σαλμωνεῖ· τρίταισιν δ᾿ ἐν γοναῖς

ἄμμες αὖ κείνων φυτευθέν-

τες σθένος ἀελίου χρύσεον

145λεύσσομεν. Μοῖραι δ᾿ ἀφίσταντ᾿, εἴ τις ἔχθρα πέλει

ὁμογόνοις αἰδῶ καλύψαι.

οὐ πρέπει νῷν χαλκοτόροις ξίφεσιν

οὐδ᾿ ἀκόντεσσιν μεγάλαν προγόνων τι-

μὰν δάσασθαι. μῆλά τε γάρ τοι ἐγώ

καὶ βοῶν ξανθὰς ἀγέλας ἀφίημ᾿ ἀ-

γρούς τε πάντας, τοὺς ἀπούρας

150ἁμετέρων τοκέων νέμεαι πλοῦτον πιαίνων·

κοὔ με πονεῖ τεὸν οἶκον ταῦτα πορσύνοντ᾿ ἄγαν·

ἀλλὰ καὶ σκᾶπτον μόναρχον

καὶ θρόνος, ᾧ ποτε Κρηθεΐδας

ἐγκαθίζων ἱππόταις εὔθυνε λαοῖς δίκας—

τὰ μὲν ἄνευ ξυνᾶς ἀνίας

155λῦσον, ἄμμιν μή τι νεώτερον ἐξ αὐ-

τῶν ἀναστάῃ κακόν.”

ὣς ἄρ᾿ ἔειπεν, ἀκᾷ δ᾿ ἀντ-

αγόρευσεν καὶ Πελίας· “Ἔσομαι

τοῖος· ἀλλ᾿ ἤδη με γηραιὸν μέρος ἁλικίας

ἀμφιπολεῖ· σὸν δ᾿ ἄνθος ἥβας ἄρτι κυ-

μαίνει· δύνασαι δ᾿ ἀφελεῖν

μᾶνιν χθονίων. κέλεται γὰρ ἑὰν ψυχὰν κομίξαι

160Φρίξος ἐλθόντας πρὸς Αἰήτα θαλάμους

δέρμα τε κριοῦ βαθύμαλλον ἄγειν,

τῷ ποτ᾿ ἐκ πόντου σαώθη

Η΄ἔκ τε ματρυιᾶς ἀθέων βελέων.

ταῦτά μοι θαυμαστὸς ὄνειρος ἰὼν φω-

νεῖ. μεμάντευμαι δ᾿ ἐπὶ Κασταλίᾳ,

εἰ μετάλλατόν τι· καὶ ὡς τάχος ὀτρύ-

νει με τεύχειν ναῒ πομπάν.

165τοῦτον ἄεθλον ἑκὼν τέλεσον· καί τοι μοναρχεῖν

καὶ βασιλευέμεν ὄμνυμι προήσειν. καρτερός

ὅρκος ἄμμιν μάρτυς ἔστω

Ζεὺς ὁ γενέθλιος ἀμφοτέροις.”

σύνθεσιν ταύταν ἐπαινήσαντες οἱ μὲν κρίθεν·

ἀτὰρ Ἰάσων αὐτὸς ἤδη

170ὤρνυεν κάρυκας ἐόντα πλόον

φαινέμεν παντᾷ. τάχα δὲ Κρονίδαο

Ζηνὸς υἱοὶ τρεῖς ἀκαμαντομάχαι

ἦλθον Ἀλκμήνας θ᾿ ἑλικογλεφάρου Λή-

δας τε, δοιοὶ δ᾿ ὑψιχαῖται

ἀνέρες, Ἐννοσίδα γένος, αἰδεσθέντες ἀλκάν,

ἔκ τε Πύλου καὶ ἀπ᾿ ἄκρας Ταινάρου· τῶν μὲν κλέος

175ἐσλὸν Εὐφάμου τ᾿ ἐκράνθη

σόν τε, Περικλύμεν᾿ εὐρυβία.

ἐξ Ἀπόλλωνος δὲ φορμιγκτὰς ἀοιδᾶν πατήρ

ἔμολεν, εὐαίνητος Ὀρφεύς.

πέμπε δ᾿ Ἑρμᾶς χρυσόραπις διδύμους υἱ-

οὺς ἐπ᾿ ἄτρυτον πόνον,

τὸν μὲν Ἐχίονα, κεχλά-

δοντας ἥβᾳ, τὸν δ᾿ Ἔρυτον. ταχέες

180ἀμφὶ Παγγαίου θεμέθλοις ναιετάοντες ἔβαν,

καὶ γὰρ ἑκὼν θυμῷ γελανεῖ θᾶσσον ἔν-

τυνεν βασιλεὺς ἀνέμων

Ζήταν Κάλαΐν τε πατὴρ Βορέας, ἄνδρας πτεροῖσιν

νῶτα πεφρίκοντας ἄμφω πορφυρέοις.

τὸν δὲ παμπειθῆ γλυκὺν ἡμιθέοι-

σιν πόθον ἔνδαιεν Ἥρα

Θ΄ναὸς Ἀργοῦς, μή τινα λειπόμενον

186τὰν ἀκίνδυνον παρὰ ματρὶ μένειν αἰ-

ῶνα πέσσοντ᾿, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ καὶ θανάτῳ

φάρμακον κάλλιστον ἑᾶς ἀρετᾶς ἅ-

λιξιν εὑρέσθαι σὺν ἄλλοις.

ἐς δ᾿ Ἰαολκὸν ἐπεὶ κατέβα ναυτᾶν ἄωτος,

λέξατο πάντας ἐπαινήσαις Ἰάσων. καί ῥά οἱ

190μάντις ὀρνίχεσσι καὶ κλά-

ροισι θεοπροπέων ἱεροῖς

Μόψος ἄμβασε στρατὸν πρόφρων· ἐπεὶ δ᾿ ἐμβόλου

κρέμασαν ἀγκύρας ὕπερθεν,

χρυσέαν χείρεσσι λαβὼν φιάλαν

ἀρχὸς ἐν πρύμνᾳ πατέρ᾿ Οὐρανιδᾶν ἐγ-

χεικέραυνον Ζῆνα, καὶ ὠκυπόρους

195κυμάτων ῥιπὰς ἀνέμους τ᾿ ἐκάλει νύ-

κτας τε καὶ πόντου κελεύθους

ἄματά τ᾿ εὔφρονα καὶ φιλίαν νόστοιο μοῖραν·

ἐκ νεφέων δέ οἱ ἀντάυσε βροντᾶς αἴσιον

φθέγμα· λαμπραὶ δ᾿ ἦλθον ἀκτῖ-

νες στεροπᾶς ἀπορηγνύμεναι.

ἀμπνοὰν δ᾿ ἥρωες ἔστασαν θεοῦ σάμασιν

200πιθόμενοι· κάρυξε δ᾿ αὐτοῖς

ἐμβαλεῖν κώπαισι τερασκόπος ἁδεί-

ας ἐνίπτων ἐλπίδας·

εἰρεσία δ᾿ ὑπεχώρη-

σεν ταχειᾶν ἐκ παλαμᾶν ἄκορος.

σὺν Νότου δ᾿ αὔραις ἐπ᾿ Ἀξείνου στόμα πεμπόμενοι

ἤλυθον· ἔνθ᾿ ἁγνὸν Ποσειδάωνος ἕσ-

σαντ᾿ ἐνναλίου τέμενος,

205φοίνισσα δὲ Θρηϊκίων ἀγέλα ταύρων ὑπᾶρχεν,

καὶ νεόκτιστον λίθων βωμοῖο θέναρ.

ἐς δὲ κίνδυνον βαθὺν ἱέμενοι

δεσπόταν λίσσοντο ναῶν,

Ι΄συνδρόμων κινηθμὸν ἀμαιμάκετον

ἐκφυγεῖν πετρᾶν. δίδυμαι γὰρ ἔσαν ζω-

αί, κυλινδέσκοντό τε κραιπνότεραι

210ἢ βαρυγδούπων ἀνέμων στίχες· ἀλλ᾿ ἤ-

δη τελευτὰν κεῖνος αὐταῖς

ἡμιθέων πλόος ἄγαγεν. ἐς Φᾶσιν δ᾿ ἔπειτεν

ἤλυθον, ἔνθα κελαινώπεσσι Κόλχοισιν βίαν

μεῖξαν Αἰήτᾳ παρ᾿ αὐτῷ.

πότνια δ᾿ ὀξυτάτων βελέων

ποικίλαν ἴυγγα τετράκναμον Οὐλυμπόθεν

215ἐν ἀλύτῳ ζεύξαισα κύκλῳ

μαινάδ᾿ ὄρνιν Κυπρογένεια φέρεν

πρῶτον ἀνθρώποισι λιτάς τ᾿ ἐπαοιδὰς

ἐκδιδάσκησεν σοφὸν Αἰσονίδαν,

ὄφρα Μηδείας τοκέων ἀφέλοιτ᾿ αἰ-

δῶ, ποθεινὰ δ᾿ Ἑλλὰς αὐτάν

ἐν φρασὶ καιομέναν δονέοι μάστιγι Πειθοῦς,

220καὶ τάχα πείρατ᾿ ἀέθλων δείκνυεν πατρωίων·

σὺν δ᾿ ἐλαίῳ φαρμακώσαισ᾿

ἀντίτομα στερεᾶν ὀδυνᾶν

δῶκε χρίεσθαι, καταίνησάν τε κοινὸν γάμον

γλυκὺν ἐν ἀλλάλοισι μεῖξαι.

ἀλλ᾿ ὅτ᾿ Αἰήτας ἀδαμάντινον ἐν μέσ-

σοις ἄροτρον σκίμψατο

225καὶ βόας, οἱ φλόγ᾿ ἀπὸ ξαν-

θᾶν γενύων πνέον καιομένοιο πυρός,

χαλκέαις δ᾿ ὁπλαῖς ἀράσσεσκον χθόν᾿ ἀμειβόμενοι·

τοὺς ἀγαγὼν ζεύγλᾳ πέλασσεν μοῦνος. ὀρ-

θὰς δ᾿ αὔλακας ἐντανύσαις

ἤλαυν᾿, ἀνὰ βωλακίας δ᾿ ὀρόγυιαν σχίζε νῶτον

γᾶς. ἔειπεν δ᾿ ὧδε· “Τοῦτ᾿ ἔργον βασιλεύς,

230ὅστις ἄρχει ναός, ἐμοὶ τελέσαις

ἄφθιτον στρωμνὰν ἀγέσθω,

ΙΑ΄ κῶας αἰγλᾶεν χρυσέῳ θυσάνῳ.”

ὣς ἄρ᾿ αὐδάσαντος ἀπὸ κρόκεον ῥί-

ψαις Ἰάσων εἷμα θεῷ πίσυνος

εἴχετ᾿ ἔργου· πῦρ δέ νιν οὐκ ἐόλει παμ-

φαρμάκου ξείνας ἐφετμαῖς.

σπασσάμενος δ᾿ ἄροτρον, βοέους δήσαις ἀνάγκᾳ

235ἔντεσιν αὐχένας ἐμβάλλων τ᾿ ἐριπλεύρῳ φυᾷ

κέντρον αἰανὲς βιατὰς

ἐξεπόνησ᾿ ἐπιτακτὸν ἀνήρ

μέτρον. ἴυξεν δ᾿ ἀφωνήτῳ περ ἔμπας ἄχει

δύνασιν Αἰήτας ἀγασθείς.

πρὸς δ᾿ ἑταῖροι καρτερὸν ἄνδρα φίλας

240ὤρεγον χεῖρας, στεφάνοισί τέ νιν ποί-

ας ἔρεπτον, μειλιχίοις τε λόγοις

ἀγαπάζοντ᾿. αὐτίκα δ᾿ Ἀελίου θαυ-

μαστὸς υἱὸς δέρμα λαμπρόν

ἔννεπεν, ἔνθα νιν ἐκτάνυσαν Φρίξου μάχαιραι·

ἔλπετο δ᾿ οὐκέτι οἱ κεῖνόν γε πράξασθαι πόνον.

κεῖτο γὰρ λόχμᾳ, δράκοντος

δ᾿ εἴχετο λαβροτατᾶν γενύων,

245ὃς πάχει μάκει τε πεντηκόντερον ναῦν κράτει,

τέλεσεν ἃν πλαγαὶ σιδάρου.

μακρά μοι νεῖσθαι κατ᾿ ἀμαξιτόν· ὥρα

γὰρ συνάπτει· καί τινα

οἶμον ἴσαμι βραχύν· πολ-

λοῖσι δ᾿ ἄγημαι σοφίας ἑτέροις.

κτεῖνε μὲν γλαυκῶπα τέχναις ποικιλόνωτον ὄφιν,

250ὦ Ἀρκεσίλα, κλέψεν τε Μήδειαν σὺν αὐ-

τᾳ, τὰν Πελιαοφόνον·

ἔν τ᾿ Ὠκεανοῦ πελάγεσσι μίγεν πόντῳ τ᾿ ἐρυθρῷ

Λαμνιᾶν τ᾿ ἔθνει γυναικῶν ἀνδροφόνων·

ἔνθα καὶ γυίων ἀέθλοις ἐπεδεί-

ξαντο ἶν᾿ ἐσθᾶτος ἀμφίς,

ΙΒ΄καὶ συνεύνασθεν. καὶ ἐν ἀλλοδαπαῖς

255σπέρμ᾿ ἀρούραις τουτάκις ὑμετέρας ἀ-

κτῖνος ὄλβου δέξατο μοιρίδιον

ἆμαρ ἢ νύκτες· τόθι γὰρ γένος Εὐφά-

μου φυτευθὲν λοιπὸν αἰεί

τέλλετο· καὶ Λακεδαιμονίων μιχθέντες ἀνδρῶν

ἤθεσιν ἔν ποτε Καλλίσταν ἀπῴκησαν χρόνῳ

νᾶσον· ἔνθεν δ᾿ ὔμμι Λατοί-

δας ἔπορεν Λιβύας πεδίον

260σὺν θεῶν τιμαῖς ὀφέλλειν, ἄστυ χρυσοθρόνου

διανέμειν θεῖον Κυράνας

ὀρθόβουλον μῆτιν ἐφευρομένοις.

γνῶθι νῦν τὰν Οἰδιπόδα σοφίαν· εἰ

γάρ τις ὄζους ὀξυτόμῳ πελέκει

ἐξερείψειεν μεγάλας δρυός, αἰσχύ-

νοι δέ οἱ θαητὸν εἶδος,

265καὶ φθινόκαρπος ἐοῖσα διδοῖ ψᾶφον περ᾿ αὐτᾶς,

εἴ ποτε χειμέριον πῦρ ἐξίκηται λοίσθιον,

ἢ σὺν ὀρθαῖς κιόνεσσιν

δεσποσύναισιν ἐρειδομένα

μόχθον ἄλλοις ἀμφέπει δύστανον ἐν τείχεσιν,

ἑὸν ἐρημώσαισα χῶρον.

270ἐσσὶ δ᾿ ἰατὴρ ἐπικαιρότατος, Παι-

άν τέ σοι τιμᾷ φάος.

χρὴ μαλακὰν χέρα προσβάλ-

λοντα τρώμαν ἕλκεος ἀμφιπολεῖν.

ῥᾴδιον μὲν γὰρ πόλιν σεῖσαι καὶ ἀφαυροτέροις·

ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ χώρας αὖτις ἕσσαι δυσπαλὲς

δὴ γίνεται, ἐξαπίνας

εἰ μὴ θεὸς ἁγεμόνεσσι κυβερνατὴρ γένηται.

275τὶν δὲ τούτων ἐξυφαίνονται χάριτες.

τλᾶθι τᾶς εὐδαίμονος ἀμφὶ Κυρά-

νας θέμεν σπουδὰν ἅπασαν.

ΙΓ΄τῶν δ᾿ Ὁμήρου καὶ τόδε συνθέμενος

ῥῆμα πόρσυν᾿· ἄγγελον ἐσλὸν ἔφα τι-

μὰν μεγίσταν πράγματι παντὶ φέρειν·

αὔξεται καὶ Μοῖσα δι᾿ ἀγγελίας ὀρ-

θᾶς. ἐπέγνω μὲν Κυράνα

280καὶ τὸ κλεεννότατον μέγαρον Βάττου δικαιᾶν

Δαμοφίλου πραπίδων. κεῖνος γὰρ ἐν παισὶν νέος,

ἐν δὲ βουλαῖς πρέσβυς ἐγκύρ-

σαις ἑκατονταετεῖ βιοτᾷ,

ὀρφανίζει μὲν κακὰν γλῶσσαν φαεννᾶς ὀπός,

ἔμαθε δ᾿ ὑβρίζοντα μισεῖν,

285οὐκ ἐρίζων ἀντία τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς,

οὐδὲ μακύνων τέλος οὐδέν. ὁ γὰρ και-

ρὸς πρὸς ἀνθρώπων βραχὺ μέτρον ἔχει.

εὖ νιν ἔγνωκεν· θεράπων δέ οἱ, οὐ δρά-

στας ὀπαδεῖ. φαντὶ δ᾿ ἔμμεν

τοῦτ᾿ ἀνιαρότατον, καλὰ γινώσκοντ᾿ ἀνάγκᾳ

ἐκτὸς ἔχειν πόδα. καὶ μὰν κεῖνος Ἄτλας οὐρανῷ

290προσπαλαίει νῦν γε πατρῴ-

ας ἀπὸ γᾶς ἀπό τε κτεάνων·

λῦσε δὲ Ζεὺς ἄφθιτος Τιτᾶνας. ἐν δὲ χρόνῳ

μεταβολαὶ λήξαντος οὔρου

ἱστίων. ἀλλ᾿ εὔχεται οὐλομέναν νοῦ-

σον διαντλήσαις ποτέ

οἶκον ἰδεῖν, ἐπ᾿ Ἀπόλλω-

νός τε κράνᾳ συμποσίας ἐφέπων

295θυμὸν ἐκδόσθαι πρὸς ἥβαν πολλάκις, ἔν τε σοφοῖς

δαιδαλέαν φόρμιγγα βαστάζων πολί-

ταις ἡσυχίᾳ θιγέμεν,

μήτ᾿ ὦν τινι πῆμα πορών, ἀπαθὴς δ᾿ αὐτὸς πρὸς ἀστῶν·

καί κε μυθήσαιθ᾿, ὁποίαν, Ἀρκεσίλα,

εὗρε παγὰν ἀμβροσίων ἐπέων,

πρόσφατον Θήρᾳ ξενωθείς.

    One of the chief treatments of the Argonautic legend before Apollonius was that by the Boeotian post Pindar, in his Fourth Pythian Ode. The more one reads this poem, the more one becomes aware that Apollonius must have known it intimately. Many of the elements that go to make the Argonautica are already present: Medea is already a dominant character-her speech opens Pindar's poem, there is a catalogue of heroes who come to assist Jason, key phrases such as μειλιχίοισι λόγοις (Pind. P. 4.128) make an appearance; see further Studies in the Reception of Pindar in Ptolemaic Poetry, Alexandros Kampakoglou 2019; The Poets of Alexandria, Susan Stephens, 2018.

    1 –3. Invocation of the Muse:

    1: σάμερον μέν: the use of μέν, without an answering particle emphasises the opening word of the Ode. χρή: the poet speaks of his poetic task in terms of obligation or necessity. The obligation is commonly alleged by the poet to arise from the merit of the victor or else from the performance of great deeds, the fame of which can only be adequately perpetuated by the poet. The real obligation is of course the one entailed by the commission.

    1-2: παρ’ άνδρί φίλῳ / στάμεν: similar to the opening of Argonautica Book 3.1-2: Εί δ’ άγε νΰν, Ερατώ, παρά θ’ϊστασο καί μον ένισπε. Although άνδρί φίλῳ need not imply that Pindar is intimate with the King. The poet often refers to a victor as a friend, it perhaps implies more than the fact that he has received a commission from the person concerned.

    2: στάμεν: this Doric form of the infinitive (< ἵστημι) is attested only here:

    2: εὐΐππου . . . Κυράνας: is a genitive of place. The adjective is particularly appropriate for Cyrene, since Libya was famous for its horses (and chariots) in antiquity.

    2: κωμάζοντι σὺν Ἀρκεσίλᾳ: dat. sing. participle agreeing with the name of the King. A κώμος was normally accompanied by a flute and could be either a stationary celebration or a procession moving from one place to another. Pindar is supplying the song part of the revelry. By placing the name of the Cyrenaean king both here at the end of the second verse from the beginning and again at the end of the second verse before the conclusion of the ode (298) as well as at the opening (65) and the close (250) of the Colchian narrative, Pindar makes it serve as a frame not only for the whole ode but also for the central episode within it and thus gives it special prominence.

    3: Μοῖσα: the Aeolic form of the noun. Λατοίδαισιν: The plural here includes Artemis explicitly and Leto implicitly, i. e. the triad who presided over the games at Delphi. όφειλόμενον: in an ode celebrating a victory praise is naturally due to the gods in whose honour (and their cult-seat at which) the games are held. Moreover, divinities are considered in some way ultimately responsible for success at the games over which they preside. The mention of Πυθώνι here serves both to identify the place where the victory was won and to provide the setting for the myth which follows. αὔξῃς: pres. subj. act. 2nd. sg. αὐξάνω, after ὄφρα.

    3 (f): ούρον ύμνων: the “breeze of song” refers to the physical act of singing which accompanies the victor in his celebration. The image is also appropriate here in the prooemium of an ode which will narrate the voyage of the Argonauts.

    4 (a), ένθα ποτέ: it is a traditional device of early Greek poetry, once the subject has been stated, to introduce a narrative by means ofa relative clause.

    4 (b). χρυσέων Διὸς αἰετῶν πάρεδρος: Pindar told elsewhere (cf. fr. 54) the story of how two eagles were sent by Zeus, one from the West and the other from the East, to locate the centre of the earth. Their meeting at Delphi was marked by a white stone called the όμφαλός At some point two golden eagles were set up on either side of the stone. which are still represented on stone relief carvings of the 4th cent. However, they were allegedly carried off at the time of the Sacred War (356–346 B. C.) when the Phocians seized Delphi.

    4 (e ). πάρεδρος: Pindar, who often uses this word of a person occupying a seat of honour.

    5 (a) ούκ άποδάμου ’Απόλλωνος τυχόντος: genitive absolute. Since Apollo was known to have many cult centres among the Hyperboreans {Py. 10. 34–36), all of which he would be presumed to visit from time to time, it could not be assumed that he would always be present to prompt the προφήτις.

    6: χρήσεν ... / ... ώς ... κτίσσειεν: the subordinate clause is final: “proclaimed Battus as colonizer . . . so that he might found.

    6 (c). καρποφόρου: The Cyrenaica was often mentioned in antiquity for its fertility.

    6 (d). Λιβύας: Battus is more properly called the oecist of Cyrene, but Pindar prefers to avoid repetition.

    6 –7 (b). ἱεράν / νᾶσον: in Homer Ιερός, a common epithet of cities, is used twice of islands: Euboea (II. 2. 535) and Έχινάων (= Echinades) ... ίεράων | νήσων II. 2. 625–26). Among the Lipari Islands the one known today as Vulcano was once called 'Ιερά and was thought to be the site of Hephaestus’ forge because of its volcanic activity (cf. Th. 3. 88. 3). The “holy island” here is Thera (cf. 10) which like Vulcano may well have been called ιερά because of volcanic activity.

    7 (a) νάσον ... λιπών: to say that people leave a place, like saying that they drink the water of a particular stream, is sometimes a more elaborate way of identifying their home.

    7 (b). ώς: normally first in its clause but the postponement may be seen as influencing the word placed in front of it. ήδη: not “at once” but “in the end.”

    7 (e). εύάρματον: Having called Cyrene εὐίππου, Pindar again alludes to Arcesilaus’ victory and by the choice of epithet now suggests that it was in the chariot-race.

    8: πόλιν ἐν ἀργινόεντι μαστῷ: The use of this epithet, which Homer applied to two cities in the Catalogue ofShips, is one of the many examples of color epicus in this ode. Whether the hill on which Cyrene was originally settled was white in Pindar’s day or not, there is no reason why he should not describe it as such in Battus’ time, especially since he calls it a μαστός, the choice of which word would itself naturally suggest by association an epithet meaning “white”.

    9–11. καί . . . Κόλχων: often Pindar does not conclude a sentence at the end of a strophe. This type of enjambement not only helps to bind the strophes together, but it also serves to emphasize the part which is placed at the beginning of the new strophe.

    9: τὸ Μηδείας ἔπος ἀγκομίσαι: “bring back safe, i.e. redeem, fulfil:” aor. opt. act. 3rd. sg. <ἀνακομίζω.

    9-10: ἔπος . . . Θήραιον: “prophecy spoken on Thera.”

    10:ἑβδόμᾳ καὶ σὺν δεκάτᾳ γενεᾷ: the word order is unusual. γενεά: in early Greece reckoning by generations offered one of the main ways of establishing some sort of chronology. This was often important not only for historical but also contemporary political purposes as well. Naturally mythology and imagination were used to fill in gaps. About 500 B. C. (or some time before) Hecataeus of Miletus attempted to systematize existing chronologies in his Genealogiae, which included the Argonauts among others. Apollonius Rhodius is less precise: at 4. 1751–52 Iason, interpreting Euphemus’ dream, tells him of the island (Thera), iv’ όπλότεροι παίδων σέθεν έννάσσονται / παϊδες.

    10-11: Αἰήτα τό ποτε ζαμενὴς / παῖς: The prefix ζα-, an epic and Aeolic equivalent of δια-, has an intensifying function as in ζαής, ζάθεος, ζάκοτος, etc. The final element -μενής is the adjectival suffix derived from μένος: “which the high-spirited child of Aietes: Αἰήτα: masc. gen. sg. (doric, aeolic) <Αἰήτης.

    11 (a), άπέπνευσ’ άθανάτου στόματος: a variant of the poetic phrase used to describe the act of speaking in which the organ ofspeech from which the sound comes is mentioned together with a verb ofmotion or articulation; (II. 1. 249 άπό γλώσσης ... ρέεν αύδή.) άπέπνευσ’: not elsewhere used with έπος or a synonym of it.

    11 (d). δέσποινα Κόλχων: Medea is not just a “Colchian princess”, but the “mistress of the Colchians”, i. e. δέσποινα emphasizes Medea’s status and power.

    12 (a), ήμιθέοισιν Ίάσονος αίχματάο ναύταις: what the nautical metaphor in 3 suggested and the references to the island of Thera in 6 –7 and 10 vaguely implied is now made explicit. We are to hear of a voyage, in fact of the most famous of all mythical voyages, that of the Argo, which is here indirectly but clearly mentioned. αἰχμᾱτᾶο, (spearman, warrior): masc gen sg (epic doric) <αἰχμητής.

    12 (d). ναύταις: in substantival apposition to ήμιθέοισιν together with which it frames Ίάσονος αίχματάο. Pindar begins the story of the Argonautic expedition in the form of a speech (13 —56) and then resumes it later as a narrative (70-262).

    Read More

    The whole story, as often in Pindar, is told in regressive order: (1) colonization of Libya, (2) encounter of Euphemus with Eurypylus, (3) Iason and the expedition to Colchis. Whereas Iason dominates the story in the narrative proper, Eu­ phemus, the ancestor of the Cyrenaean royal family, is at the centre of the story in Medea’s speech. Her speech serves to focus initial attention upon this one Argonaut, who, though never lost sight of later (cf. 175, 256), nevertheless must thereafter play a subordinate role in Iason’s great adventure. The speech falls into five distinct sections: (a) 13 –20, Colonization from Thera to Libya, (b) 20–37, Encounter of Euphemus with Triton/Eurypylus, (c) 38–49, Explanation of the Delay in Coloni­ zation, (d) 50–53, Euphemus, the Ancestor of the Battiads, on Lemnos, (e) 53 –56, Oracle given to Battus. Significantly, in Apollonius Rhodius, who is not concerned with glorifying the Battiad dynasty, the prophecy regarding Euphemus and the clod is reduced to a brief interpretation by Iason to Euphemus of the latter’s dream (4. 1749–54). 13-20. Colonisation from Thera to Libya. Having brought the Argonauts to Thera so that the island can serve as the setting for Medea’s speech. Pindar now provides his equivalent of a foundation oracle couched in appropriately riddling language. We move with one leap from Thera to Libya, the future goal of the Theran colonization and likewise the place where the original token ofsovereignty over the land was received.

    13: κέκλυτε: (hear): aor. imperat. act. 2nd. pl. <κλύω.

    13:παϊδες ύπερθύμων τε φωτών καί θεών: the Argonauts are a select crew: some are ήμίθεοι in the strict sense, while the rest, like Iason, are sons of distinguished (this is the implication of the Homeric ύπερθύμων) mortal fathers.

    14 (a), άλιπλάκτου . . . γᾶς: “sea-beaten land.” The use of the epithet here is not merely decorative, since it prepares us for 17–18 in which the transformation of the islanders into landsmen is described in oracular fashion.

    14 (c). Έπάφοιο κόραν: in Medea’s oracular language the land of Libya appears as its eponymous heroine, who is here called the daughter of Epaphus.

    15 ἀστέων ῥίζαν: ῥίζα can be used of anything from which something springs or grows metaphorical usage of the word is especially common in early Greek in the sphere of the family;

    16: Διὸς ἐν Ἄμμωνος θεμέθλοις: Although at a considerable distance from the capital, the oracle of Zeus Ammon was a noted feature of the region of Cyrene.

    20: Τριτωνίδος ἐν προχοαῖς: Pindar’s account of the Argonauts’ return is as follows. After leaving Colchis (on the southeastern end of the Black Sea) by the Phasis River, they crossed Oceanus and the Red Sea (perhaps the Indian Ocean and our Red Sea), returned to Oceanus, traveled overland for twelve days to Libya and Lake Tritonis, through whose outflow they reached the Mediterranean, stopping at Thera and Lemnos on their way to Iolcus.

    33: Εὐρύπυλος Γαιαόχου παῖς ἀφθίτου Ἐννοσίδα: Triton, son of Poseidon, calls himself here by the name of Libya’s first king, Eurypylus. Lake Tritonis means “Triton’s Lake.”

    42: ἐν τᾷδ᾿. . . νάσῳ: Thera.

    44: Ταίναρον εἰς ἱερὰν: At the southern tip of Lacedaemon, where an entrance to Hades was supposed to be.

    46: Καφισοῦ παρ᾿ ὄχθαις: Near Orchomenus in Boeotia (cf. Ol. 14.1–5).

    49: ἐξανίστανται . . . Μυκηνᾶν: As part of the mass migrations of the twelfth century.

    50: ἀλλοδαπᾶν κριτὸν εὑρήσει γυναικῶν: The women of Lemnos, with whom the Argonauts slept on their way home to Iolcus (cf. 254–257).

    51: τέκωνται / φῶτα: Battus.

    52: κελαινεφέων πεδίων: Unlike much of the surrounding area, Cyrene receives some rainfall.

    59: μάκαρ υἱὲ Πολυμνάστου: Battus.

    61:μελίσσας Δελφίδος: The Pythia, the priestess through whom Apollo conveyed his oracles. “Spontaneous” indicates that she answered before she was asked the question. For Battus’ stammer and consultation of the Pythia, see Hdt. 4.155.

    66: ἐξ Ἀμφικτιόνων: The officials overseeing the Pythian games (schol).

    69: Μινυᾶν: The Minyae, the Battidae, or both. The Minyae were from Orchomenus (cf. Ol. 14.4).

    74: ὀμφαλὸν εὐδένδροιο ῥηθὲν ματέρος: Delphi, the navel of Gaea, Earth.

    80: Μαγνήτων: Magnesia was the easternmost district of Thessaly, between the Peneius River and the Gulf of Pagasae, including Iolcus and Mt. Pelion.

    88: χαλκάρματός . . . πόσις: Ares.

    89: Ὦτον καὶ σέ, τολμάεις Ἐπιάλτα ἄναξ: Two gigantic brothers who tried to scale heaven by piling Ossa on Olympus and Pelion on them; they were killed by Apollo (cf. Od. 11.307–320) or Artemis (cf. Apollod. 1.7.4).

    90: Τιτυὸν: The giant Tityus was slain by Artemis (and confined in Hades) for attempting to rape her mother Leto on her way to Delphi (cf. Od. 11.576–581).

    99: πολιᾶς ἐξανῆκεν γαστρός: The scholia gloss πολιᾶς as “old,” hence respectful in tone, but others take it to be insulting.

    103: πὰρ Χαρικλοῦς καὶ Φιλύρας: Chariclo was Chiron’s wife, Philyra his mother.

    107: λαγέτᾳ / Αἰόλῳ See Media, genealogy of Aeolus. Tyro was married to her uncle Cretheus, thus making Aeson and Pelias half-brothers.

    109: λευκαῖς πιθήσαντα φρασίν: the meaning of the phrase is in doubt. Glosses include “evil” (Hesychius), “shallow” (schol.), or “empty” (schol.).

    126: Φέρης κράναν Ὑπερῇδα λιπών: In the Thessalian city of Pherae (Strabo 9.5.18).

    138: Ποσειδᾶνος Πετραίου: Poseidon was called Περαῖος by the Thessalians for splitting the mountains to create the valley of Tempe (schol.).

    141: μία βοῦς Κρηθεῖ τε μάτηρ: Enarea, wife of Aeolus.

    152: Κρηθεΐδας: Aeson.

    160: ἑὰν ψυχὰν κομίξαι: i.e. call back his soul to rest in a cenotaph at home.

    163: ματρυιᾶς: Ino, who in some versions falsely accused Phrixus of being in love with her; he escaped across the sea to Colchis on the back of the ram with the golden fleece.

    172: τρεῖς ἀκαμαντομάχαι: son of Alcmene, and Castor and Polydeuces, sons of Leda.

    175-6: Εὐφάμου . . . Περικλύμεν᾿ εὐρυβία: Euphamus is from Taenarus (cf. 43–44); Periclymenus is the son of Neleus from Pylos. Their hair was presumably tied up in a knot; others render “high-plumed.”

    180: ἀμφὶ Παγγαίου θεμέθλοις: A mountain in Thrace.

    202: ἐπ᾿ Ἀξείνου στόμα: The Black Sea, also called (euphemistically) the Hospitable (Euxine) Sea.

    206: λίθων βωμοῖο θέναρ:The hollowed top of the altar held the fire upon which the animal parts were burned.

    207-8: συνδρόμων κινηθμὸν . . . πετρᾶν: The Symplegades. At Od. 12.61–72 Homer refers to Jason’s passing through the “Planctae” on his return voyage.

    210: ἐς Φᾶσιν: River at the eastern end of the Black Sea where Colchis is located.

    214: ποικίλαν ἴυγγα: The iynx, a love charm intended to instill a responsive passion in the person desired as a lover, consisted of a wryneck attached to a small wheel.

    239-40: Ἀελίου θαυμαστὸς υἱὸς: Aeetes (cf. Od. 10.135–139).

    255: ἐσθᾶτος ἀμφίς: The games held by Hypsipyle (cf. Ol. 4.19–23). Before the Argonauts arrived the women of Lemnos had killed their husbands (cf. Aesch. Cho. 631 ff.).

    253: ἀρούραις: i.e. women’s wombs.

    258: Καλλίσταν: “Fairest,” i.e. Thera (cf. Hdt. 4.147.4).

    263: τὰν Οἰδιπόδα σοφίαν: Proverbial for his ability to understand riddles.

    268: μόχθον ἄλλοις ἀμφέπει δύστανον ἐν τείχεσιν: Arcesilas does not recall Damophilus, he will serve a master in another city.

    270: Παιάν τέ σοι τιμᾷ φάος: Apollo the healer.

    278: τιμὰν μεγίσταν πράγματι παντὶ φέρειν: Cf. Il. 15.207.

    289: κεῖνος Ἄτλας: i.e. Damophilus.

    294: ἐπ᾿ Ἀπόλλωνός τε κράνᾳ: In Cyrene (cf. Hdt. 6.158 and Call. Hymn 2.88).

    298: παγὰν ἀμβροσίων ἐπέων: The immortal verses are Pindar’s. The closing lines constitute a sphragis, in which the poet alludes to himself and predicts the immortality of his poem through future performance (cf. Bacch. 3.96–98).

     

    σήμερον to-day

    μέν as while whereas

    χρή imp: ἔχρην/χρῆν it is necessary

    σύ σοῦ σοί σέ you (sg.)

    παρά from/by/to the side of

    ἀνήρ ἀνδρός ὁ, man

    φίλος –η –ον, dear beloved one's own

    ἵστημι στήσω ἔστησα (or ἔστην) ἕστηκα ἕσταμαι ἐστάθην, make to stand set

    εὔιππος (Ep. ἐΰιππος) –ον, well-horsed delighting in horses

    βασιλεύς βασιλέως ὁ, king

    Κυρήνη –ης ἡ, Cyrene

    ὄφρα so that until

    κωμάζω κωμάσω ἐκώμασα κεκώμακα ἐκωμάσθην, to go about with a party of revellers to revel make merry

    σύν with in company with

    Ἀρκεσίλαος –ου ὁ, Arcesilaus (name)

    Μοῦσα –ης ἡ, Muse

    Λητοΐδης –ου ὁ, son of Leto

    ὀφείλω ὀφειλήσω ὤφελον ὠφείληκα ––– ὠφειλήθην, to owe be obliged

    Πυθών –ῶνος ἡ, Pytho the region of Delphi

    τε and

    αὐξάνω αὐξήσω ηὔξησα ηὔξηκα ηὔξημαι ηὐξήθην, increase pas. grow

    οὖρος –ου ὁ, a fair wind

    ὕμνος –ου ὁ, a hymn festive song

    ἔνθα there thither; where whither

    ποτέ (ποτ’ ποθ’) when?; at some time ever once

    χρύσεος –η –ον, golden gold-inlaid

    Ζεύς διός ὁ, Zeus

    ἀετός –οῦ ὁ, (Ion. αἰετός) an eagle

    πάρεδρος –ον, sitting beside; standing beside

    οὐκ οὐχ οὐκι οὐχι not

    ἀπόδημος –ον, away from one's country from home abroad

    Ἀπόλλων –ωνος ὁ, Apollo

    τυγχάνω τεύξομαι ἔτυχον τετύχηκα ––– ––– happen meet obtain

    ἵέρεια –ας ἡ, priestess

    χράω χρήσω ἔχρησα ––– κέχρημαι ἐχρήσθην, to proclaim or direct by oracle (mid. χράομαι)

    οἰκιστήρ –ῆρος ὁ, Founder colonizer

    Βάττος ὁ, Battus (name)

    καρποφόρος –ον, fruit-bearing fruitful

    Λιβύη ἡ, Libya the north part of Africa

    ἱερός ο–ά] –όν holy

    νῆσος –ου ἡ, island

    ὡς as as if how; to

    ἤδη already by this time

    λείπω λείψω ἔλιπον λέλοιπα λέλειμμαι ἐλείφθην, leave

    κτίζω κτίσω ἔκτισα ––– ἔκτισμαι ἐκτίσθην, build found create

    εὐάρματος –ον, with beauteous car

    πόλις –εως ἡ, city

    ἐν in on

    ἀργινόεις –εσσα –εν, white

    μαστός –οῦ ὁ, one of the breasts

    καί and

    ὁ, ἡ, τό the

    Μήδειος –α –ον, Mede

    ἔπος –ους τό word

    ἀνακομίζω ἀνακομιῶ ἀνεκόμισα ἀνακεκόμικα ἀνακεκόμισμαι ἀνεκομίσθην, to carry up

    ἕβδομος –η –ον, seventh

    δέκατος –η –ον, tenth

    γενεά ᾶς Ion. γενεή ῆς ἡ, race stock family

    Θήραιος Of Thera

    Αἰήτης –ου ὁ, Aeetes

    ζαμενής –ές very strong mighty raging

    παῖς παιδός ὁ/ἡ, child slave

    ἀποπνέω ἀποπνευσοῦμαι/ἀποπνεύσομαι ἀπέπνευσα ἀποπέπνευκα ἀποπέπνευσμαι ἀπεπνεύσθην, to breathe forth

    ἀθάνατος –ον, immortal deathless

    στόμα –ατος τό the mouth organ of speech

    δέσποινα –ης ἡ, mistress lady

    Κόλχος ὁ, a Colchian

    εἶπον aor. for λέγω and φημί said (aor. for λέγω)

    δέ but and

    οὕτως in this way so thus

    ἡμίθεος –ου ὁ, a half-god demigod

    Ἰάσων –ονος ὁ, Jason an Aiolid son of Aison of Iolkos leader of the Argonauts reared by Cheiron

    αἰχμητής –οῦ ὁ, a spearman

    ναύτης –ου ὁ, sailor

    κλύω ––– κέκλυκα ––– ––– ––– hearken

    ὑπέρθυμος –ον, high-spirited high-minded daring

    φώς φωτός ὁ, man

    θεός –οῦ ὁ, (gen./dat. θεόφιν) god

    φημί φήσω ἔφησα ––– ––– ––– say

    γάρ for (explanatory)

    ὅδε ἥδε τόδε this that

    ἐκ out of

    ἁλίπληκτος –ον, sea-beaten

    γαῖα –ας ἡ, earth

    Ἔπαφος –ου ὁ, Epaphus

    κόρη –ης ἡ, girl

    ἄστυ ἄστεως τό town

    ῥίζα –ης ἡ, a root

    φυτεύω φυτεύσω ἐφύτευσα πεφύτευκα πεφύτευμαι ἐφυτεύθην, to plant

    μελησίμβροτος –ον, an object of care

    Ἄμμων –ωνος ὁ, Zeus-Ammon

    θέμεθλα –ων τά the foundations lowest part bottom

    ἀντί opposite over against

    δελφίς –ῖνος ὁ, the dolphin

    ἐλαχυπτέρυξ –υγος short-finned

    ἵππος –ου ὁ, horse mare

    ἀμείβω ἀμείψω ἤμειψα ἤμειφα ἤμειμμαι ἠμείφθην, change respond

    θοός –ή –όν swift

    ἡνία (ἁνία) –ων τά or ἡνία (ἁνία) ἡ, reins bridle

    ἐρετμός ὁ, rowing

    δίφρος –ου ὁ, the chariot (board); seat

    νωμάω νωμήσω νώμησα νενώμηκα νενώμημαι ἐνωμήθην, to deal out distribute

    ἀελλόπους –ποδος storm footed

    ἐκεῖνος –η –ον, that one

    ὄρνις ὄρνιθος ὁ/ἡ, bird omen

    ἐκτελευτάω ἐκτελευτήσω ἐξετελεύτησα ἐκτετελεύτηκα ––– ἐξετελευτήθην, to bring quite to an end accomplish

    μέγας μεγάλη μέγα big great

    μητρόπολις –εως ἡ, the mother-state

    θήρα Thera

    γίγνομαι γενήσομαι ἐγενόμην γέγονα γεγένομαι ––– be born become happen

    Τριτωνίς –δος ἡ, Tritonis

    προχοή –ῆς ἡ, outpouring

    λίμνη (λίμνα) –ης ἡ, pool swamp

    εἴδομαι εἴσομαι εἰσάμην are visible appear

    δίδωμι δώσω ἔδωκε δέδωκα δέδομαι ἐδόθην, give grant

    ξένιος –α –ον, belonging to a friend and guest hospitable

    πρῴραθεν from the ship's head from the front

    εὔφημος –ον, uttering sounds of good omen

    καταβαίνω καταβήσομαι κατέβην καταβέβηκα ––– ––– step down go down

    δέχομαι δέξομαι ἐδεξάμην ––– δέδεγμαι –εδέχθην, receive take await

    αἴσιος [–α] –ον, boding well auspicious

    ἐπί on upon

    Κρονίων –ωνος ὁ, son of Cronus

    πατήρ πατρός ὁ, father

    κλάζω κλάγξω ἔκλαγξα κέκλαγγα ––– ––– to make a sharp piercing sound

    βροντή –ῆς ἡ, thunder

    ἡνίκα at the time when

    ἄγκυρα anchor

    πρός from at towards

    χαλκόγενυς –υ with teeth of brass

    ναί yes

    κρήμνημι to hang be suspended

    τόσσαις to happen

    Ἀργώ –οῦς ἡ, the ship named Argo

    χαλινός –οῦ ὁ, a bridle bit

    δώδεκα/δυώδεκα twelve

    πρότερος –α –ον, before in front earlier

    ἡμέρα –ας ἡ, day time

    ὠκεανός –οῦ ὁ, Oceanus

    φέρω οἴσω ἤνεγκα ἐνήνοχα ἐνήνεγμαι ἠνέχθην, bear carry

    νῶτον –ου τό (or νῶτος ὁ) the back

    ὑπέρ over beyond on behalf of

    ἐρῆμος –η –ον, lone lonely desert

    ἐνάλιος [–α] –ον, in on of the sea

    δόρυ δόρατος τό spear

    μῆδος –ους τό counsels plans arts schemes

    ἀνασπάω ἀνασπάσω ἀνέσπασα ἀνέσπακα ἀνέσπασμαι ἀνεσπάσθην, to draw up pull up

    ἐμός –ή –όν my

    τουτάκι at this time

    οἰοπόλος –ον, traversed by sheep

    δαίμων δαίμονος ὁ/ἡ, divinity god spirit

    ἐπέρχομαι ἔπειμι ἐπῆλθον ἐπελήλυθα ––– ––– come near assault visit

    φαίδιμος –ον, shining

    αἰδοῖος –α –ον, regarded with reverence august venerable

    πρόσοψις –εως ἡ, appearance aspect mien

    τίθημι θήσω ἔθηκα τέθηκα ––– ἐτέθην, set up place establish institute

    φίλιος –α –ον, friendly

    ἄρχω ἅρξω ἦρξα ἦρχα ἦργμαι ἦρχθην, begin rule (+gen.)

    ξένος –ου ὁ, stranger guest-friend foreigner

    ἅτε just as; seeing as

    ἔρχομαι εἶμι ἦλθον ἐλήλυθα ––– ––– come go

    εὐεργέτης –ου ὁ, a well-doer benefactor

    δεῖπνον –ου τό feast

    ἐπαγγέλλω ἐπαγγελῶ ἐπήγγειλα ἐπήγγελκα ἐπήγγελμαι ἐπηγγέλθην, tell proclaim command

    ἀλλά but

    νόστος –ου ὁ return (home)

    πρόφασις –εως ἡ, allegation excuse plea

    γλυκύς γλυκεῖα γλυκύ sweet pleasant

    κωλύω κωλύσω ἐκώλυσα κεκώλυκα κεκώλυμαι ἐκωλύθην, hinder prevent

    μένω μενῶ ἔμεινα μεμένηκα ––– ––– remain await stand fast

    Εὐρύπυλος –ου ὁ, Eurypylus son of Euaemon from Thessaly; son of Poseidon and Astypalaea from the island of Cos; or son of Telephus slain by Neoptolemus

    γαιήοχος –ον, earth-upholding

    ἄφθιτος –ον, not liable to perish imperishable

    Ἐννοσίδας –α ὁ, Earth-shaker

    εἰμί ἔσομαι impf. ἦν infin. εἶναι to be

    γιγνώσκω γνώσομαι ἔγνων ἔγνωκα ἔγνωσμαι ἐγνώσθην, know perceive

    ἐπείγω ἐπείξομαι ἤπειξα ––– ἤπειγμαι ἐπείχθην, press hard

    ἄν conditional particle

    εὐθύς –εῖα –ύ straight direct

    ἁρπάζω ἁρπάσομαι ἥρπασα ἥρπακα ἥρπασμαι ἡρπάσθην, snatch away steal

    ἄρουρα –ας ἡ, tilled or arable land ground fatherland

    δεξιτερός –ά –όν right the right

    προτυγχάνω to come before

    μαστεύω to seek search

    οὐδέ but not not even

    ἀπιθέω ἀπιθήσω ἀπίθησα he disobeyed

    νιν him her

    ἥρως ἥρωος ὁ, hero warrior

    ἀκτή –ῆς ἡ, headland foreland promontory

    θρῴσκω θοροῦμαι ἔθορον to leap spring

    χείρ χειρός ἡ, (dat. pl. χέρσι) hand

    ἀντερείδω to set firmly against

    βῶλος –ου ἡ, a lump of earth a clod

    δαιμόνιον divine being spirit

    πευθώ –οῦς ἡ, tidings news

    αὐτός –ή –ό his/her/itself

    κατακλύζω to dash over flood deluge inundate

    βαίνω βήσομαι ἔβην βέβηκα ––– ––– go step walk

    ἅλμη –ης ἡ, sea-water brine

    ἑσπέρα –ας ἡ, evening

    ὑγρός –ά –όν wet moist running fluid

    πέλαγος –ους τό the sea

    ἕπομαι ἕψομαι ἑσπόμην imp: εἱπόμην to follow

    ἦ truly (emphasizes what follows)

    μήν verily truly then

    ὀτρύνω ὀτρυνῶ ὤτρυνα ––– ––– ––– urge on

    θαμά often oft-times

    λυσίπονος –ον, releasing from toil

    θεράπων –ονος ὁ, attendant servant

    φυλάσσω φυλάξω ἐφύλαξα πεφύλαχα πεφύλαγμαι ἐφυλάχθην, guard keep watch

    λανθάνω λήσω ἔλαθον λέληθα λέλησμαι ––– escape notice

    φρήν φρενός ἡ, thinking-thing heart core

    νῦν/νύ now as it is

    ὅς ἥ ὅ who which; this

    χέω χέω ἔχεα κέχυκα κέχυμαι ἐχύθην, to pour

    εὐρύχορος –ον, with broad places spacious

    σπέρμα –ατος τό seed offspring

    πρίν until before

    ὥρα –ας ἡ, season time moment

    εἰ if whether

    οἶκος –ου ὁ, house dwelling; household

    βάλλω βαλῶ ἔβαλον βέβληκα βέβλημαι ἐβλήθην, throw strike

    χθόνιος [–α] –ον, in under

    ᾍδης –ου ὁ, Hades

    Ταίναρος ἡ, Taenarus

    εἰς into to

    υἱός –οῦ ὁ, son

    ἵππαρχος –ου ὁ, a general of cavalry

    Ποσειδῶν –ῶνος ὁ, Poseidon

    ἄναξ –ακτος ὁ, ruler lord

    Εὐρώπη –ης ἡ, Europa Europe

    Τιτυός –οῦ ὁ, Tityus a giant the son of Gaea punished in Hades

    θυγάτηρ θυγατρός ἡ, daughter

    τίκτω τέξομαι ἔτεκον τέτοκα τέτεγμαι ἐτέχθην, beget bear

    Κηφισός –οῦ ὁ, the Cephisus

    ὄχθη –ης ἡ, a rising ground a bank dyke

    τέτρατος –η –ον, fourth

    ἐπιγίγνομαι ἐπιγενήσομαι ἐπιγενόμην ἐπιγέγονα ἐπιγεγένομαι ––– come after

    αἷμα –ατος τό blood

    λαμβάνω λήψομαι ἔλαβον εἴληφα εἴλημμαι ἐλήφθην, take seize receive

    Δαναός –οῦ ὁ, king of Argos father of fifty daughters

    εὐρύς –εῖα –ύ broad

    ἄπειρος –α –ον, inexperienced of ignorant; boundless

    τότε at that time then next

    ἐξανίστημι ἐξαναστήσω ἐξανέστησα/ἐξανέστην ἐξανέστηκα ––– ––– to raise up: to make one rise

    Λακεδαίμων –ονος ἡ, Lacedaemon

    Ἀργεῖος –η –ον, Argive of or from Argos (Greece)

    κόλπος –ου ὁ, womb bay

    Μυκήνη –ης ἡ, Mycēne daughter of Inachus; eponymous heroine of the city

    γε at least; yes (emphatic)

    ἀλλοδαπός –ή –όν belonging to another people

    κριτός –ή –όν picked out chosen

    εὑρίσκω εὑρήσω εὗρον εὕρηκα εὕρημαι εὑρέθην, find discover

    γυνή γυναικός ἡ, woman

    λέχος –ους τό a couch bed

    γένος –ους τό birth offspring; race

    τιμή –ῆς ἡ, honor esteem value

    κελαινεφής –ές black with clouds

    πεδίον –ου τό plain

    δεσπότης –ου ὁ, master lord

    πολύχρυσος –ον, rich in gold

    δῶμα –ατος τό house

    φοῖβος –η –ον, bright radiant

    ἀναμιμνήσκω ἀναμνήσω ἀνέμνησα ––– ἀναμέμνημαι ἀνεμνήσθην, to remind

    θέμις –ιστος ἡ, that which is laid down

    Πύθιος –α –ον, Pythian

    ναός –οῦ ὁ, temple

    χρόνος –ου ὁ, time

    ὕστερος –α –ον, latter next last

    ναῦς νεώς ἡ, ship

    πολέω go about range over

    ἄγω ἄξω ἤγαγον ἦχα ἦγμαι ἤχθην, do drive go

    Νεῖλος –ου ὁ, the Nile

    πῖον τό fat rich milk

    τέμενος –ους τό sacred precinct

    Κρονίδης –ου ὁ, son of Cronus

    ἄρα well then really

    στίξ στιχός ἡ, a row line rank

    πτήσσω πτήξω ἔπτηξα ἔπτηχα ––– ––– to frighten scare alarm

    ἀκίνητος –ον, unmoved motionless

    σιωπάω σιωπήσω ἐσιώπησα σεσιώπηκα σεσιώπημαι ἐσιωπήθην, keep silence keep secret

    ἀντίθεος –η –ον, godlike

    πυκινός –ή –όν close thick compact

    μῆτις –ιος/–ιδος ἡ, wisdom counsel cunning craft

    ὦ ὤ Oh! oh hey

    μάκαρ μάκαρος blessed happy

    πολύμνηστος –ον, much-remembering mindful

    οὗτος αὓτη τοῦτο this

    λόγος –ου ὁ, reason account word

    χρησμός –οῦ ὁ, the answer of an oracle oracular response oracle

    ὀρθόω ὀρθώσω ὤρθωσα ὤρθωκα ὤρθωμαι ὠρθώθην, make straight correct

    Μέλιττα ἡ, bee Melissa

    αὐτόματος [–η] –ον, acting of one's own will of oneself

    κέλαδος –ου ὁ, a noise as of rushing waters: a loud noise din clamour

    χαίρω χαιρήσω ––– κεχάρηκα κεχάρημαι ἐχάρην rejoice be happy; χαῖρε! Greetings!

    τρίς thrice

    αὐδάω (ηὔδων) αὐδήσω ηὔδησα ηὔδηκα ηὔδημαι ηὔδάθην, speak

    πόρω ––– ἔπορον ––– ––– ––– pres. not attested; aor. to furnish offer; perf. it is fated

    ἀναφαίνω ἀναφανῶ ἀνέφηνα to make to give light make to blaze up

    δύσθροος –ον, ill-sounding

    φωνή –ῆς ἡ, sound voice

    ἀνακρίνω ἀνακρινῶ ἀνέκρινα ἀνακέκρικα ἀνακέκριμαι ἀνεκρίθην, to examine closely to question interrogate

    ποινή –ῆς ἡ, quit-money for blood spilt

    τίς τί who? what?

    μάλα very very much

    δή indeed of course

    μετά among after in pursuit of

    ὥστε so that so as to and so

    φοινικάνθεμος –ον, with purple flowers

    ἔαρ ἔαρος τό spring

    ἀκμά (ἀκμᾷ ἀκμάν; ᾰκμαί) ἡ, keen edge

    ὄγδοος –η –ον, eighth

    θάλλω θαλλήσω ἔθηλα τέθηλα ––– ––– to bloom abound to be luxuriant

    μέρος –ους τό part portion heritage destiny

    τῷ therefore in this wise thereupon

    Πυθώ –οῦς ἡ, Pytho the region of Delphi

    κῦδος –ους τό glory majesty might

    ἀμφικτίονες or ἀμφικτύονες –ων οἱ they that dwell round next neighbours

    ἱπποδρομία ἡ, a horse-race

    ἀπό away from

    ἐγώ I

    πάγχρυσος –ον, All of gold

    νάκος –ους τό a fleece

    κριός –οῦ ὁ, a ram

    πλέω πλεύσομαι ἔπλευσα πέπλευκα πέπλευσμαι ἐπλεύσθην, sail go by sea

    Μινύαι –ῶν οἱ the Minyans

    θεόπεμπτος –ον, sent by the gods

    σφεῖς they

    ἀρχή –ῆς ἡ, beginning rule order

    ναυτιλία ἡ, sailing seamanship

    κίνδυνος –ου ὁ, a danger enterprise

    κρατερός –ά –όν strong powerful mighty

    ἀδάμας –αντος the untamed unconquerable

    δέω δήσω ἔδησα δέδεκα δέδεμαι ἐδέθην, bind fetter

    ἧλος –ου ὁ, a nail

    θέσφατος –ον, spoken by God decreed ordained appointed

    Πελίας –ου ὁ, Pelias king of Kolchis

    ἀγαυός –ή –όν illustrious noble

    Αἰολίδης –ου ὁ, son of Aeolus

    θνήσκω ἀποθανοῦμαι ἀπέθανον τέθνηκα ––– ––– die be slain

    ἤ or than

    βουλή –ῆς ἡ, advice will; council

    ἄκαμπτος –ον, unbent that will not bend rigid

    κρυόεις –εσσα –εν, chilling

    μάντευμα –ατος τό an oracle

    θυμός –οῦ ὁ, heart spirit

    μέσος –η –ον, middle in the middle

    ὀμφαλός –οῦ ὁ, the navel

    εὔδενδρος –ον, well-wooded abounding in fair trees

    ἐρῶ εἴρηκα ἐρρήθην, say tell speak

    μήτηρ μητρός ἡ, mother

    μονοκρήπις –ῑδος ὁ, ἡ, with but one sandal

    πάντως in all ways in any case

    φυλακή –ῆς ἡ, guard

    σχέθω to hold

    εῦτε when after

    αἰπεινός –ή –όν high lofty

    σταθμός –οῦ ὁ, a standing place weight

    εὐδείελος –ον, very clear distinct far-seen

    χθών χθονός ἡ, the earth ground

    βλώσκω μολοῦμαι ἔμολον μέμβλωκα ––– ––– to go

    κλεῖτος –εος τό [fame > κλέος]

    Ἰωλκός or Ἰαολκός Iolcus (modern Volos)

    εἴτε either or (usually paired i.e. εἴτε…εἴτε)

    ἀστός –οῦ ὁ, a townsman citizen

    ἀρά –ᾶς ἡ, a prayer imprecation curse

    ἱκνέομαι ἵξομαι ἱκόμην ––– ἷγμαι ––– come

    αἱχμή –ῆς ἡ, spear-point spear

    δίδυμος –ον, double twofold twain

    ἔκπαγλος –ον, terrible fearful

    ἐσθής –ῆτος ἡ, clothing

    ἀμφότερος ἀμφοτέρα ἀμφότερον both of two

    ἔχω ἕξω (or σχήσω) ἔσχον ἔσχηκα ––– ––– have possess keep

    Μάγνης –ητος Magnesian of Magnesia

    ἐπιχώριος –α –ον, in or of the country local native

    ἁρμόζω ἁρμόσω ἥρμοσα ἥρμοκα ἥρμοσμαι ἡρμόσθην, fit together adapt

    θηητός –ή –όν gazed at wondrous admirable

    γυιός –ή –όν lame

    ἀμφί on both sides

    παρδαλέη –ης ἡ, a leopard-skin

    στέγω στέξω ἔστεξα ––– ––– ἐστέχθην, to cover closely so as to keep

    φρίσσω φρίξω ἔφριξα πέφρικα ––– ––– to be rough; bristle; shudder

    ὄμβρος –ου ὁ, storm of rain thunder-storm

    κόμη –ης ἡ, the hair hair of the head

    πλόκαμος –ου ὁ, a lock

    κείρω κερῶ ἔκειρα κέκαρκα κέκαρμαι ἐκέρθην, to cut

    οἴχομαι οἰχήσομαι ––– ––– ––– ––– to be gone to have gone

    ἀγλαός –ή –όν splendid shining bright

    ἅπας –ασα –αν each and every

    καταιθύσσω to wave

    ταχύς –εῖα –ύ swift

    εἶμι infin. ἰέναι ptc. ἰών ἰοῦσα ἰόν to go

    σφέτερος –α –ον, their own their

    γνώμη –ης ἡ, thought opinion

    ἀτάρμυκτος –ον, unwincing unflinching

    πείρω πειρῶ ἔπειρα – πέπαρμαι ἐπάρην to pierce quite through fix

    ἀγορά –ᾶς ἡ, market place

    πλήθω πλήσω ἐπλησα πέπληθα to be or become full

    ὄχλος –ου ὁ, crowd mob

    ὀπίζομαι – – – – – to regard with awe and dread

    ἔμπας alike

    τις τι anyone anything someone something

    οὔτι in no wise

    που perhaps doubtless

    χαλκάρματος –ον, with brasen chariot

    πόσις –ιος/–εως ὁ, husband spouse mate

    Ἀφροδίτη –ης ἡ, Aphrodite

    Νάξος ἡ, Naxos

    λιπαρός –ά –όν oily shiny with oil

    Ἰφιμέδεια –ας ἡ, Iphimedeia wife of Alōeus and mother of Otus and Ephialtes

    Ὦτος –ου ὁ, Otus a giant son of Poseidon and Iphimedīa or of Cyllēne a chief of the Epeians

    τολμάω τολμήσω ἐτόλμησα τετόλμηκα τετόλημαι ἐτολμήθην, undertake dare endure

    ἐφιάλτης –ου ὁ, nightmare

    βέλος –ους τό a missile an arrow

    Ἄρτεμις –ῐδος ἡ, Artemis

    θηρεύω θηρεύσομαι ἐθήρευσα τεθήρευκα τεθήρευμαι ἐθηρεύθην, to hunt go hunting

    κραιπνός –ή –όν rapid rushing

    ἀνίκητος –ον, unconquered unconquerable

    φαρέτρα –ας ἡ, a quiver

    ὄρνυμι ὄρσω ὦρσα ὄρωρα ὀρώρεμαι ––– arouse stir up

    δυνατός –ή –όν strong; possible

    φιλότης –ητος ἡ, love friendship

    ἐπιψαύω ἐπιψαύσω ––– ––– ––– ––– to touch on the surface touch lightly handle

    ἔραμαι ἐρασθήσομαι ἠράσθην, ἤρασμαι to love to be in love with

    ἀλλήλων –οις each other

    γηρύω γηρύσω ἐγήρυσα ––– ––– ––– to sing

    τοιοῦτος τοιαύτη τοιοῦτο such such as this

    ἀνά up upon

    ἠμίονος –ου ὁ mule

    ξεστός –ή –όν smoothed polished wrought

    ἀπήνη –ης ἡ, a four-wheeled wagon

    προτροπάδην headforemost with headlong speed

    σπεύδω σπεύσω ἔσπευσα ἔσπευκα ἔσπευσμαι ἔσπευθην, hurry

    τέθηπα (perf. with no pres. in use) to be astonished astounded amazed

    αὐτίκα immediately straightway at once; presently

    παπταίνω παπτανῶ ἐπάπτηνα ––– ––– ––– to look earnestly gaze

    ἀρίγνωτος [–η] –ον, easy to be known

    πέδιλον –ου τό sandals

    μόνος –η –ον, alone solitary

    πούς ποδός ὁ, foot

    κλέπτω κλέψω ἔκλεψα κέκλοφα κέκλεμμαι ἐκλάπην steal

    δεῖμα –ατος τό fear affright

    προσεννέπω προσενισπήσω προσένισπον ––– ––– ––– to address accost

    ποῖος –α –ον, of what nature/kind?

    εὔχομαι εὔξομαι ηὐξάμην ηὖγμαι pray boast

    πατρίς –ίδος ἡ, country fatherland; native

    ἄνθρωπος –ου ὁ/ἡ, human being

    χαμαιγενής –ές earth-born

    ἐξανίημι ἐξανήσω ἐξανῆκα ἐξανεῖκα ἐξανεῖμαι ἐξανείθην, to send forth let loose

    γαστήρ –τρός ἡ, the paunch belly

    ἔχθιστος –η –ον, most hostile

    μή not lest

    ψεῦδος –ους τό falsehood lie

    καταμιαίνω to taint defile

    γέννα –ης ἡ, descent birth

    θαρσέω θαρσήσω ἐθάρσησα ἐθάρσηκα ἐθάρσημαι ἐθαρήθην, be of good courage

    ἀγανός –ή –όν mild gentle kindly

    ὦδε so thus in this way

    διδασκαλία –ας ἡ, teaching instruction education

    χείρων –ον, worse meaner inferior

    ἄντρον –ου τό a cave grot cavern

    νέομαι ––– ––– ––– ––– ––– to go

    Χαρικλώ –οῦς ἡ, Chariclo (name)

    φιλύρα Ion. φῐλύ–ρη ἡ, the lime

    ἵνα where; that in order that

    Κένταυρος –ου ὁ, a Centaur

    τρέφω θρέψω ἔθρεψα τέτροφα τέθραμμαι ἐτράφην nurture make grow make firm

    ἄγνος ἡ, (Att. ὁ) a willow-like tree

    εἴκοσι twenty

    ἐκτελέω ἐκτελῶ ἐξετέλεσα ἐκτετέλεκα ἐκτετέλεσμαι ἐξετελέσθην, to bring quite to an end to accomplish achieve

    ἐνιαυτός –οῦ ὁ, anniversary year

    οὔτε...οὔτε and not neither…nor

    ἔργον –ου τό work deed

    ἐντράπελος –ον, shameful

    οἴκαδε homeward

    ἀρχαῖος –α –ον, ancient old-fashioned primitive

    κομίζω κομιῶ ἐκόμισα κεκόμικα κεκόμισμαι ἐκομίσθην, carry take care of

    βασιλεύω βασιλεύσω ἐβασίλευσα βεβασίλευκα βεβασίλευμαι ἐβασιλήθην, to be king

    κατά against down

    αἶσα –ης ἡ, share portion

    ὀπάζω ὀπάσσω ὤπασα join as companion (guide escort)

    λαγέτης leader of the people

    Αἴολος –ου ὁ, Aeolus father of Sisyphos

    ἄθεμις –ιτος lawless

    λευκός –ή –όν white; light bright

    πείθω πείσω ἔπεισα πέπεικα (or πέποιθα) πέπεισμαι ἐπείσθην, persuade mid. obey trust

    ἡμέτερος –α –ον, our

    ἀποσυλάω ἀποσυλήσω ἀπεσύλησα ἀποσεσύληκα ἀποσεσύλημαι ἀπεσυλήθην, to strip off spoils from

    βίαιος –α –ον, forcible violent

    ἀρχεδίκας ὁ, first legitimate possessor

    τοκεύς –έως ὁ, one who begets a father

    τοι let me tell you surely

    ἐπεί/ἐπείδη when

    πάμπρωτος –η –ον, first of all the very first

    εἶδον (aor. for ὀράω) see

    φέγγος –ους τό light splendour lustre

    ὑπερφίαλος –ον, overbearing overweening arrogant

    ἡγεμών –όνος ὁ, guide leader chief

    δείδω δείσομαι ἔδεισα δέδοικα (or δίδια) ––– ––– fear

    ὕβρις –εως ἡ, violence rape insolence

    κῆδος –ους τό care for

    ὡσεί just as if as though

    φθίω φθίσω έφθίκα ––– έφθιμαι έφθίμην to decay wane dwindle

    δνοφερός –ά –όν dark dusk murky

    μίγα mixed with blended

    κωκυτός –οῦ ὁ, a shrieking wailing

    κρύβδα without the knowledge of

    πέμπω πέμψω ἔπεμψα πέπομφα πέπεμμαι ἐπέμφθην, send conduct escort

    σπάργανον –ου τό a swathing band

    πορφύρεος –η –ον, darkgleaming dark;

    νύξ νυκτός ἡ, night

    κοινόω κοινώσω ἐκοίνωσα κεκοίνωκα κεκοίνωμαι ἐκοινώθην, make common defile share in

    ὁδός –οῦ ἡ, road street way; manner

    κεφάλαιος –α –ον, of the head completion chief poin

    οἶδα infin. εἰδέναι impΕr. ἴσθι plupf. usΕd as impf. ᾔδειν to know

    λεύκιππος–ον, riding

    δόμος –ου ὁ, house home

    κεδνός –ή –όν careful diligent sage trusty

    πολίτης –ου ὁ, citizen freeman

    φράζω φράσω ἔφρασα πέφρακα πέφρασμαι ἐφράσθην, point out show advise design

    σαφής –ές (or σάφα) clear plain distinct

    Αἴσων –ονος ὁ, Aeson son of Cretheus and Tyro father of Jason and king in Iolcus

    ἱκάνω ––– ––– ––– ––– ––– come to arrive at reach

    ἄλλος ἄλλη ἄλλο other another

    φήρ φηρός ὁ, the Centaurs

    θεῖος –α –ον, godly divine

    κικλήσκω ––– ––– ––– ––– ––– to call summon

    προσαυδάω προσαυδήσω προσηύδησα προσηύδηκα προσηύδημαι προσηυδήθην, speak to address accost

    εἰσέρχομαι εἰσελεύσομαι εἰσῆλθον εἰσελήλυθα ––– ––– go in/into enter

    ὀφθαλμός –οῦ ὁ, the eye

    πομφολύζω to bubble up gush forth

    δάκρυον –ου τό a tear

    γηραιός [–ά] –όν aged in old age

    βλέφαρον –ου τό mostly in pl. the eyelids

    περί about concerning; near

    ψυχή –ῆς ἡ, life soul

    γηθέω γηθήσω ἐγήθησα γέγηθα ––– ––– to rejoice

    ἐξαιρέω ἐξαιρήσω ἐξεῖλον ἐξῄρηκα ἐξῄρημαι ἐξῃρέθην, take out choose deliver

    γόνος –ου ὁ, that which is begotten offspring a child

    κάλλιστος –η –ον, finest

    κασίγνητος –ου ὁ, or –η –ον, a brother; adj of a brother; sibling

    κλέος –ους τό glory

    ἐγγύς near like

    Φέρης –ητος ὁ, Pheres son of Cretheus and Tyro father of Admētus

    κρήνη –ης ἡ, a well spring fountain

    ὑπερηΐς Hyperian

    Μεσσήνη –ης ἡ, Messene a district about Pherae in what was afterward Messenia

    Ἀμυθάν ὁ, Amythan (name)

    Ἄδματος ὁ, Admatos (name)

    μελάμπους ὁ, ἡ, πουν τό gen. ποδος blackfooted

    εὐμενέω to be gracious

    ἀνεψιός –οῦ ὁ, a first-cousin cousin

    δαίς δαιτός ἡ, feast banquet meal

    μοῖρα –ας ἡ, part portion lot fate

    μειλίχιος [–α] –ον, gentle mild soothing

    τεύχω τεύξω ἔτευξα τέτευχα τέτυγμαι ἐτύχθην, build

    πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν all every

    Εὐφροσύνη Euphrosyne

    τανύω τανύσω ἐτάνυσα – τετάνυσμαι ἐτανύσθην, stretch strain extend

    ἀθρόος –α –ον, crowded together many

    πέντε five

    δρέπω δρέψω ἔδρεψα/ἔδραπον – – ἐδρέφθην, to pluck cull

    εὐζοία ἡ, good living

    ἄωτον –ου τό fine wool; crème of the best de la crème; conferring prestige

    ἕκτη ἡ, the sixth of a stater

    σπουδαῖος –a –ον, earnest serious

    συγγενής –ές born with congenital natural in-born

    παρακοινάομαι to communicate

    ἐφέπω ἐφέψω ἔπεσπον ––– ––– ––– to go after follow pursue

    αἶψα forthwith at once directly

    κλισία –ας ἡ, a place for lying down

    Μέγαρος –ου ὁ, Megaros (name)

    ἐσσύμενος –η –ον, hurrying vehement eager impetuous

    εἴσω (ἔσω) inward

    καθίστημι καταστήσω κατέστησα (or κατέστην) κατέστηκα κατέσταμαι κατεστάθην, set down restore settle

    ἀκούω ἀκούσομαι ἤκουσα ἀκήκοα ––– ἠκούσθην, hear listen

    ὑπαντιάζω ὑπαντιάξω/ὑπαντιάσω ὑπηντίασα to come

    Τυρώ ––οῦς ἡ, Tyro daughter of Salmōneus and mother of Pelias and Neleus by Poseidon

    ἐρασιπλόκαμος –ον, decked with love-locks

    πρᾶος –ον, and πρᾱΰς (Ion. πρηΰς) –εῖα –ΰ mild soft gentle meek

    μαλθακός –ή –όν soft

    προσστάζω προσστάξω to drop on shed over

    ὄαρος ὁ, familiar converse fond discourse chat talk

    κρηπίς –ῖδος ἡ, a half-boot

    σοφός –ή –όν clever wise learned

    πετραῖος –α –ον, of a rock

    θνητός –ή –όν mortal

    ὠκύς ὠκεῖα ὠκύ quick swift fast

    κέρδος –ους τό gain profit

    αἰνέω αἰνέσω ᾔνεσα ᾔνεκα ᾔνημαι ᾔνέθην, tell speak of praise

    πρό before on behalf of

    δίκη –ης ἡ, justice

    δόλιος –α –ον, crafty deceitful treacherous

    τραχύς –εῖα –ύ rough

    ἕρπω/ἑρπύζω ἕρψω/ἑρπύσω εἵρπυσα ––– ––– ––– to creep crawl

    ἐπίβδα ἡ, the day after a festival

    ὅμως still nevertheless

    θεμίζω to judge

    ὀργή –ῆς ἡ, natural impulse temperament

    ὑφαίνω ὑφανῶ ὕφανα/ὕφηνα ὕφαγκα ὕφασμαι ὑφάνθην, to weave

    λοιπός –ή –όν remainder remaining over

    ὅλβος –ου ὁ, happiness bliss; prosperity

    ἐρέω εἶπον εἴρηκα εἴρημαι ἐρρήθην, will say

    εἷς μία ἕν one

    βοῦς βοός ὁ/ἡ, bull cow pl. cattle

    Κρηθεύς –έως ὁ, Cretheus of Iolcus the husband of Tyro

    θρασυμήδης –ες bold of thought

    Σαλμωνεύς –έως ὁ, Salmoneus son of Aeolus

    τρίτος –η –ον, third thirdly

    γονή –ῆς ἡ, produce offspring

    αὖ or αὖθις back again; besides

    σθένος –ους τό strength

    ἥλιος –ου ὁ, the Sun

    λεύσσω ––– ––– ––– ––– ––– to look

    ἀφίστημι ἀποστήσω ἀπέστησα (or ἀπέστην) ἀπέστηκα ἀπέσταμαι ἀπεστάθην, remove; revolt/cause to revolt

    ἐχθρός –οῦ ὁ, enemy

    πελάζω πελάσω ἐπέλασα ––– ––– ἐπελάσθην, to approach come near draw near

    ὁμόγονος –ον, (= ὁμογενής) of the same family or race or kind; kinsman

    αἰδώς αἰδοῦς ἡ, shame sense of honor

    καλύπτω καλύψω ἐκάλυψα κεκάλυμμαι ἐκαλύφθην, to cover with

    πρέπω πρἐψω ἐπρέψα be conspicuous shine forth appear

    χαλκότορος –ον, wrought of brass

    ξίφος –ους τό sword

    ἀέκων –ουσα –ον, unwillingly

    πρόγονος –ου ὁ, ancestor

    δατέομαι δάσομαι ἐδασάμην δέδασμαι to divide among themselves

    μῆλον –ου τό sheep or goat

    ξανθός –ή –όν yellow

    ἀγέλη –ης ἡ, a herd

    ἀφίημι ἀφήσω ἀφῆκα ἀφεῖκα ἀφεῖμαι ἀφείθην, send forth release

    ἀγρός –οῦ ὁ, field arable land

    ἀπαυράω ἀπουρήσω ἀπαύρησα to take away

    νέμω νεμῶ ἔνειμα νενέμηκα νενέμημαι ἐνεμήθην, distribute

    πλοῦτος –ου ὁ, wealth riches

    πιαίνω to make fat fatten

    πονέω πονέσω/πονήσω ἐπόνεσα/ἐπόνησα πεπόνηκα πεπόνημαι ἐπονήθην, work

    τεός –ή –όν = σός 'your'

    πορσύνω πορσυνῶ ἐπόρσυνα ––– ––– ––– to offer present

    ἄγαν too much

    σκῆπτρον –ου τό a staff

    μόναρχος –ου ὁ, one who rules alone a monarch sovereign

    θρόνος –ου ὁ, arm-chair

    κρηθείδας son of Kretheus

    ἐγκαθίζω to seat in

    ἱππότης –ου ὁ, a driver

    εὐθύνω εὐθυνῶ ηὔθυνα ––– εὔθυσμαι/ηὔθυσμαι ηὐθύνθην, to guide straight direct

    λαός –οῦ ὁ, people host

    ἄνευ without

    ξυνός –ή –όν common public general concerning

    ἀνία –ας ἡ, grief sorrow distress trouble

    λύω λύσω ἔλυσα λέλυκα λέλυμαι ἐλύθην, loose release destroy

    νεώτερος –α –ον, younger

    ἀνίστημι ἀνστήσω ἀνέστησα (or ἀνέστην) ἀνέστηκα ἀνέσταμαι ἀνεστάθην, make stand set up; stand up

    κακός –ή –όν bad cowardly evil ugly

    ἀκή ἡ, point

    ἀνταγορεύω to speak against reply

    τοῖος –α –ον, quality such such-like

    ἡλικία –ας ἡ, time of life age; generation

    ἀμφιπολέω to attend constantly to attend on watch guard

    σός –ή –όν yours

    ἄνθος –ους τό flower

    ἥβη –ης ἡ, manhood youthful prime youth

    ἄρτι just now

    κυμαίνω κυμανῶ ἐκύμανα to rise in waves

    δύναμαι δυνήσομαι ––– ––– δεδύνημαι ἐδυνήθην, be able to

    ἀφαιρέω ἀφαιρήσω ἀφεῖλον ἀφῄρηκα ἀφῄρημαι ἀφῃρέθην, take from take away

    μῆνις –ιος ἡ, wrath anger

    κέλομαι κελήσομαι ἐκελησάμην ἐκεκλόμην command urge on exhort call to

    ἑός ἑή ἑόν his her own

    Φρίξος ὁ, Phrixos (Name)

    θάλαμος or θάλᾶμος –ου ὁ, the rear portion of the house

    δέρμα –ματος τό the skin hide

    βαθύμαλλος –ον, thick-fleeced

    πόντος –ου ὁ, sea the deep

    σαόω save preserve deliver mid. oneself

    μητρυιά –ᾶς ἡ, a step-mother

    ἄθεος –ον, without god denying the gods

    θαυμαστός –ή –όν wondrous admirable

    ὄνειρος –ου ὁ, or ὄνειρον –ου τό a dream

    φωνέω φωνήσω ἐφώνησα πεφώνηκα πεφώνημαι ἐφωνήθην, make a sound speak

    μαντεύομαι μαντεύσομαι ἐμαντευσάμην μεμάντευμαι to divine prophesy presage

    Κασταλία –ας ἡ, Castalia

    μετάλλατος to be searched out

    τάχος –ους τό speed quickness

    πομπή –ῆς ἡ, procession guidance

    ἆθλος –ου ὁ, contest

    ἑκών –οῦσα –όν willingly

    τελέω τελῶ or τελέσω ἐτέλεσα τετέλεκα τετέλεσμαι ἐτελέσθην, fulfill; pay; initiate

    μοναρχέω to be sovereign

    ὄμνυμι (or ὀμνύω) ὀμοῦμαι ὤμοσα ὀμώμοκα ὀμώμο(σ)μαι ὠμόθην, to swear

    προίημι προήσω προῆκα προεῖκα προεῖμαι προείθην, send ahead shoot

    καρτερός –ά –όν strong; fierce

    ὅρκος –ου ὁ, oath

    μάρτυς μάρτυρος ὁ/ἡ, witness

    γενέθλιος –ον, and –α –ον, of or belonging to one’s birth family

    σύνθεσις –εως ἡ, a putting together composition combination

    ἐπαινέω ἐπαινέσω ἐπῄνεσα ἐπῄνεκα ἐπῄνεμαι ἐπῃνέθην, approve applaud exhort

    κρίνω κρινῶ ἔκρινα κέκρικα κέκριμαι ἐκρίθην, judge

    ἀτάρ but yet

    κῆρυξ –υκος ὁ, messenger

    πλόος –οῦ ὁ, a sailing voyage

    φαίνω φανῶ ἔφηνα πέφηνα πέφασμαι ἐφάν(θ)ην bring to light; appear

    πάντῃ every way on every side

    τρεῖς τρία three

    ἀκαμαντομάχης ὁ, unwearied in fight

    Ἀλκμήνη –ης ἡ, Alcmene wife of Amphitryon in Thebes mother of Heracles by Zeus and of Iphicles by Amphitryon

    ἑλικοβλέφαρος –ον, with ever-moving eyelids quick-glancing

    Λήδη –ης ἡ, Leda the wife of Tyndareus mother by Zeus of Helen Castor and Polydeuces and of Clytaemnestra by Tyndareus

    δοιοί –αί –ά two both

    ὑψιχαίτης –ου ὁ, with long hair

    αἰδέομαι αἰδέσομαι ᾐδεσάμην –––– ᾔδεσμαι ᾐδέσθην, to be ashamed to do

    ἀλκή –ής ἡ, strength

    Πύλος –ου ἡ, Pylos a city in Messenian Elis on the coast opposite the southern extremity of the island of Sphacteria or a city in Triphylia of Elis south of the Alphēus

    ἄκρα –ας ἡ, (Ion. ἄκρη) a headland foreland cape

    ἑσθλός –ή –όν good

    κραίνω κρανῶ ἔκρανα ––– ––– ἐκράνθην, to accomplish fulfil bring to pass

    Περικλύμενος –ου ὁ, Periclymenus son of Neleus an Argonaut defended Thebes against the Seven

    εὐρυβίας –ου of far-extended might mighty

    φορμικτής –οῦ Dor. –μικτάς ὁ, a harper

    ἀοιδή –ῆς ἡ, song a singing

    εὐαίνετος –ον, much-extolled

    ὀρφεύς –έως ὁ, Orpheus

    Ἑρμῆς –οῦ ὁ, Hermes herm

    χρυσόρραπις –ιδος with wand of gold

    ἄτρυτος –ον, not worn away untiring unwearied

    πόνος –ου ὁ, toil hard work; pain

    Ἐχίων Echion

    χλάδω to exult

    Ἔρυτος ὁ, Erytus (name)

    Πάγγαιον Pangaeum (mountain)

    ναιετάω νάσσομαι ἐνασσάμην ––– νένασμαι ἐνάσθην, to dwell

    γελανής –ες cheerful

    θάσσων –ον, swifter

    ἐντύνω ἐντυνῶ ἔντυνα – – – to equip deck out get ready

    ἄνεμος –ου ὁ, wind spirit

    Ζήτης ὁ, Zetes (name)

    Κάλαις ὁ, Calais (name)

    βορεάς poet. Βορειάς and Βορηϊάς άδος ἡ, Boread daughter of Boreas

    πτερόν –οῦ τό wing

    ἄμφω ἀμφοῖν both (dual)

    παμπειθής –ές all-persuasive

    πόθος –ου ὁ, a longing yearning fond desire

    ἐνδαίω2 to distribute

    ἦρα (acc. sg.) service gratification

    ἀκίνδυνος –ον, without danger free from danger

    αἰών –ῶνος ὁ, life lifetime time; spinal marrow

    πέσσω πέψω ἔπεψα πέπεμμαι ἐπέφθην, to cook bake; to ripen to digest

    θάνατος –ου ὁ, death

    φάρμακον –ου τό drug

    ἀρετή –ῆς ἡ, virtue excellence

    ἧλιξ –ικος of the same age

    Ἰαωλκός –οῦ ὁ, Iolcus a town in Thessaly on the Pagasaean gulf

    λέγω λέξω (or ἐρῶ) ἔλεξα (or εἶπον) εἴρηκα λελεγμαι (or εἴρημαι) ἐλέχθην, (or ἐρρήθην,) say mean

    μάντις –εως ὁ, prophet

    Κλάρος Clarus

    θεοπροπέω – – – – – to prophesy

    Μόψος Mopsus

    βάζω βάξω ἔβαξα to speak say

    στρατός –οῦ ὁ, encamped army host

    πρόφρων –ον, with forward mind

    ἔμβολον –ου τό pointed so as to be thrust in: ram peg bolt

    κρεμαννύω/κρεμάννυμι κρεμάσω ἐκρέμασα κεκρέμακα κρέμαμαι ἐκρεμάσθην, to hang hang up

    ὕπερθεν from above

    φιάλη –ης ἡ, a broad flat vessel a bowl

    ἀρχός –οῦ ὁ, a leader chief commander

    πρύμνα –ης ἡ, the hindmost part of a ship the stern poop

    Οὐρανίδης son of Uranus

    ἐγχεικέραυνος –ον, hurling the thunderbolt

    ὠκύπορος –ον, quick-going

    κῦμα –ατος τό wave

    ῥιπή –ῆς ἡ, the swing

    καλέω καλῶ ἐκάλεσα κέκληκα κέκλημαι ἐκλήθην, call

    κέλευθος –ου ἡ, a road way path track

    εὔφρων –ον, cheerful gladsome merry

    νέφος –ους τό a cloud mass

    ἀνταύω to sound in turn answer

    φθέγμα –ατος τό the sound of the voice a voice

    λαμπρός –ά –όν bright radiant clear

    ἀκτίς –ῖνος ἡ, a ray beam

    στεροπή –ῆς ἡ, a flash of lightning

    ἀπορρηγνύω/ἀπορρήγνυμι ἀπορρήξω ἀπέρρηξα ἀπέρρηχα ἀπέρρηγμαι ἀπερρήχθην, to break off snap asunder

    ἀναπνοή –ῆς ἡ, recovery of breath revival

    σῆμα –ατος τό a sign mark token

    κηρύσσω κηρύξω ἐκήρυξα κεκήρυκα κεκήρυγμαι ἐκηρύχθην, be a herald invoke proclaim

    ἐμβάλλω ἐμβαλῶ ἐνέβαλον ἐμβέβληκα ἐμβέβλημαι ἐνεβλήθην, throw in invade

    κώπη –ης ἡ, oar

    τερασκόπος –ον, soothsayer; prophetic

    ἡδύς –εῖα –ύ pleasant sweet

    ἐνίπτω ἐνίψω ἠνίπαπα to reprove upbraid

    ἐλπίς –ίδος ἡ, hope

    εἰρεσία –ας ἡ, rowing

    ὑποχωρέω ὑποχωρήσομαι ὑπεχώρησα ὑποκεχώρηκα ὑποκεχώρημαι ὑπεχωρήθην, to go back retire recoil

    παλάμη –ης ἡ, the palm of the hand the hand

    ἄκορος –ον, untiring ceaseless

    νότος –ου ὁ, the south

    αὔρα –ας ἡ, air in motion a breeze

    ἄξεινος ον Ion. for ἄξενος the Axine

    ἁγνός –ή –όν full of religious awe

    ἵζω εἵσομαι εἷσα/ἵζησα ἵζηκα take a seat sit down sit still rest

    φοινίσσω φοινίξω ––– ––– ––– ––– to redden make red

    θραίκιος –α –ον, Thracian

    ταῦρος –ου ὁ, bull

    ὑπάρχω ὑπάρξω ὑπῆρξα ὑπῆρχα ὕπηργμαι ὑπήρχθην, begin exist be sufficient for

    νεόκτιστος –ον, and –η –ον, newly founded

    λίθος –ου ὁ, rock

    βωμός –οῦ ὁ, altar

    θέναρ –αρος τό the palm of the hand

    βαθύς βαθεῖα βαθύ deep high

    ἵημι ἥσω ἧκα εἷκα εἷμαι εἵθην, put in motion let go shoot; (mid.) hasten rush

    λίσσομαι ––– ἐλλισάμην/ἐλιτόμην ––– ––– ––– pray beseech with prayer

    σύνδρομος –ον, running together meeting

    κινηθμός ὁ, motion

    ἀμαιμάκετος [–η] –ον, irresistible

    ἐκφεύγω ἐκφεύξομαι ἔκφυγον ἐκφεύγα ––– ––– flee out escape

    πέτρα –ας ἡ, rock cliffs shelf of rock

    ζωή –ῆς ἡ, life

    κυλίνδω ἐκύλισα κεκύλισμαι ἐκυλίσθην, to roll roll along

    βαρύγδουπος –ον, loud-thundering loud-roaring

    τελευτή –ῆς ἡ, a finishing accomplishment end

    Φᾶσις –ιος or –ιδος ὁ, the river Phasis

    ἔπειτα thereupon

    κελαινῶπις black visaged

    βία –ας ἡ, violence force

    μίγνυμι μείξω ἔμειξα μέμειγμαι ἐμείχθην, mix mingle

    πότνια –ας ἡ, mistress queen

    ὀξύς –εῖα –ύ sharp

    ποικίλος –η –ον, many colored spotted mottled

    ἴυγξ ἴυγγος ἡ, the wryneck

    τετράκναμος four-spoked

    ὀλυμπόθεν from Olympos

    ἄλυτος –ον, not to be loosed indissoluble

    ζεύγνυμι ζεύξω ἔζευξα ἔζευγμαι ἐζεύχθην,/ἐζύγην yoke

    κύκλος –ου ὁ, ring circle

    μαινάς –άδος ἡ, raving frantic

    Κυπρογενής –ές Cyprus-born

    λιτή –ῆς ἡ, a prayer entreaty

    ἐπῳδή –ῆς ἡ, an enchantment spell charm

    ἐκδιδάσκω ἐκδιδάξω ἐξεδίδαξα ἐκδεδίδαχα ἐκδεδίδαγμαι ἐξεδιδάχθην, to teach thoroughly

    Αἰσονίδης –ου Aesonides

    ποθεινός –όν and –ή –όν longed for desired much desired

    Ἕλλας –αδος ἡ, Greece

    καίω καύσω ἔκαυσα –κέκαυκα κέκαυμαι ἐκαύθην, light kindle burn

    δονέω δονήσω ἐδόνησα δεδονή\\μαι to shake

    μάστιξ –ιγος ἡ, a whip scourge

    δείκνυμι δείξω ἔδειξα δέδειχα δέδειγμαι ἐδείχθην, publish show demonstrate

    πατρῷος –α –ον, of one’s father ancestral

    ἔλαιος ὁ, the wild olive

    φαρμακόω to endue with healing power

    ἀντίτομος –ον, cut as a remedy for

    στερεός –ά –όν stiff stark firm solid

    ὀδύνη –ης ἡ, pain of body

    χρίω χρίσω ἔχρισα κέχρικα κέχριμαι ἐχρίσθην, to touch on the surface: to rub

    καταινέω καταίνεσα to agree to

    κοινός –ή –όν common

    γάμος –ου ὁ, marriage wedding

    ὅτε when

    ἀδαμάντινος –η –ον, adamantine

    ἄροτρον –ου τό plow

    σκίμπτομαι to allege

    βοή –ῆς ἡ, shout

    φλόξ –ογός ἡ, a flame

    γένυς –υος ἡ, the jaw side of the face cheek; axe

    πνέω πμεύσομαι/πνευσοῦμαι ἔπνευσα πέπνευκα ––– ἐπνεύσθην, breathe be prudent

    πῦρ πυρός τό fire

    χάλκεος –α –ον, of copper

    ὁπλή –ῆς ἡ, a hoof the solid hoof

    ἀράσσω ἀράξω ἤραξα ––– ––– ἠράχθην, to strike hard smite

    ζεύγλη –ης ἡ, the strap or loop of the yoke

    ὀρθός –η –ον, straight upright

    αὖλαξ –ακος ἡ, a furrow

    ἐντανύω ἐντανύσω ἐνετάνυσα – ἐντετάνυσμαι ἐνετανύσθην, to stretch

    ἐλαύνω ἐλῶ ἤλασα ἐλήλακα ἐλήλαμαι ἐλάθην, to drive set in motion

    βωλάκιος –a –ον, lumpy loamy

    ὄργυια –ας ἡ, the length of the outstretched arms

    σχίζω σχίσω ἔσχισα ἔσχισμαι ἐσχίσθην, to split cleave

    ὅστις ἥτις ὅ τι whoever whatever anyone one

    στρωμνή Aeol. –α Dor. –ά ἡ, a bed spread

    κῶας τό a fleece

    αἰγλήεις –εσσα –εν, dazzling radiant lustrous

    θύσανος –ου ὁ, a tassel

    κροκόεις –εσσα –εν, saffron-coloured

    ῥίπτω ῥίζψω ἔρριψα ἔρριμμαι ἐρρίφθην, throw cast hurl

    εἷμα –ατος τό garment

    πίσυνος –ον, trusting on relying

    εἴλω εἰλήσω εἴλησα ––– εἴλημαι εἰλήθην, to roll up pack shut in

    παμφάρμακος –ον, skilled in all charms

    ἐφετμή –ῆς ἡ, a command behest

    σπάω σπάσω ἔσπασα ἔσπακα ἔσπασμαι ἐσπάσθην, to draw

    βόειος –α –ον, of an ox

    ἀνάγκη –ης ἡ, necessity

    ἔντεα –ων τά fighting gear arms armour

    αὐχήν –ένος ὁ, the neck throat

    ἐρίπλευρος –ον, with sturdy sides stout

    φυή –ῆς ἡ, growth stature

    κέντρον –ου τό goad spur sharp point

    αἰανής –ές dreary dismal direful horrid

    βιατάς ὁ, forceful mighty

    ἐκπονέω to work out finish off

    ἐπίτακτος –ον, drawn up behind

    μέτρον –ου τό a measure proportion rule

    ἰύζω ἰύξω ἴυξα to shout yell

    ἀφώνητος –ον, voiceless speechless

    πέρ encl. emphatic particle

    ἄχος –ους τό anguish distress

    δύναμις –εως ἡ, power authority influence

    ἄγαμαι ἀγασθήσομαι ἠγασάμην ἠγάσθην, to wonder be astonished

    ἑταῖρος –ου ὁ, comrade companion

    ὀρέγω ὀρέξω ὤρεξα – ὀρώρεγμαι/ὤρεγμαι ὠρέχθην, to reach stretch stretch out

    στέφανος –ου ὁ, crown wreath

    πόα –ας ἡ, grass herb

    ἐρέπτομαι – – – – – to feed on

    ἀγαπάζω/ἀγαπάω ἀγαπήσω ἠγάπησα ἠγάπηκα ἠγάπημαι ἠγαπήθην, to treat with affection shew affection to

    ἐνέπω ἐνισπήσω/ἐνίψω ἔνισπον ––– ––– ––– to tell tell of relate describe

    ἐκτανύω ἐκτανύσω ἐξετάνυσα – ἐκτετάνυσμαι ἐξετανύσθην, to stretch out

    μάχαιρα –ας ἡ, a large knife

    ἔλπω – – – – – to make to hope

    οὐκέτι οὐκ ἔτι no more no longer

    πράσσω πράξω ἔπραξα πέπραχα (or πέπραγα) πέπραγμαι ἐπράχθην, do make achieve

    κεῖμαι κείσομαι ––– ––– ––– ––– lie be laid down; lie sick

    λόχμη –ης ἡ, a thicket coppice copse

    δράκων –οντος ὁ, snake

    λάβρος –ον, furious boisterous

    πάχος –ους τό thickness

    μῆκος –ους τό length stature distance

    πεντηκόντορος a ship of burden with fifty oars

    κράτος –ους τό might power

    πληγή –ής ἡ, blow stroke

    σίδηρος –ου ὁ, iron

    μακρός –ά –όν long large great

    ἁμαξιτός –όν traversed by wagons carriage road

    συνάπτω συνάψω συνῆψα συνῆμμαι συνήφθην, tie join together mid; take part with

    οἶμος –ου ὁ/ἡ, a way road path

    βραχύς –εῖα –ύ short brief

    πολύς (πολλός) πολλή πολύ many much

    ἡγέομαι ἡγήσομαι ἡγησάμην ––– ἥγημαι ἡγήθην, lead command believe

    σοφία –ας ἡ, cleverness skill wisdom

    ἕτερος –α –ον, one/the other of two

    κτείνω κτενῶ ἔκτεινα ἀπέκτονα ––– ––– kill

    γλαυκῶπις –ιδος gleaming - eyed

    τέχνη –ης ἡ, craft skill art;

    ποικιλόνωτος –ον, with back of various hues

    ὄφις –εως (or –ιος) ὁ, a serpent snake

    Μήδεια ἡ, Medea

    φόνος –ου ὁ, murder slaughter corpse

    ἐρυθρός –ά –όν red

    λάμνιος –a –ον, Lemnian

    ἔθνος –ους τό tribe nation

    ἀνδροφόνος –ον, man-slaying

    γυῖον –ου τό only pl. joints

    ἐπιδείκνυμι ἐπιδείξω ἐπέδειξα ἐπιδέδειχα ἐπιδέδειγμαι ἐπεδείχθην, display exhibit

    κρίσις –εως ἡ, a separating decision

    ἀμφίς on both sides; apart asunder

    συνευνάζομαι συνευνάσομαι συνηυνασάμην ––– συνηύνασμαι συνευνάσθην, to lie with

    ὑμέτερος –α –ον, your

    μοιρίδιος –α –ον, allotted by destiny destined doomed

    ἦμαρ –ατος τό day

    τόθι there in that place

    ἀεί always ever

    τέλλω ––– ἔτειλα ––– τέταλμαι ––– to make to arise accomplish

    Λακεδαιμόνιος –α –ον, Spartan

    ἦθος –ους τό haunts pl. manners; character

    ἀποικέω ἀποικήσω ἀπῴκησα ἀπῴκηκα ἀπῴκημαι ἀπῳκήθην, to go away from home to settle in a foreign country emigrate

    ἔνθεν whence; thence

    λατοίδας child of Leto

    ὀφέλλω/ὀφείλω ὀφειλήσω ὠφείλησα/ὤφελον ὠφείληκα – ὠφειλήθην, [Epic Aeolic] owe > ὀφείλω

    χρυσόθρονος –ον, gold-enthroned

    διανέμω to distribute apportion

    ὀρθόβουλος –ον, right-counselling

    ἐφευρίσκω ἐφευρήσω ἔφηυρον ἐφηύρηκα ἐφηύρημαι ἐφηυρέθην, to light upon discover

    Οἰδίπους –οδος ὁ, Oedipus

    ὄζος –ου ὁ, a bough branch twig shoot

    ὀξυτόμος –ον, sharp-cutting keen

    πέλεκυς –εως ὁ, an axe

    ἐξερείπω ἐξερείψω ἐξήρειψα/ἐξήριπον ἐξερήριπα to strike off

    δρῦς –υός ἡ, a tree

    αἰσχύνω αἰσχυνῶ ᾔσχυνα ––– ––– ᾐσχύνθην, make ugly disfigure

    εἶδος –ους τό seen thing form shape

    φθινόκαρπος –ον, having lost fruitfulness

    ψῆφος –ου ἡ, small stone; vote; judgment

    χειμέριος [–α] –ον, wintry stormy

    ἐξικνέομαι ἐξίξομαι ἐξικόμην ἐξῖγμαι to reach arrive at

    λοίσθιος –α –ον, last

    κίων –ονος ἡ, a pillar

    δεσπόσυνος [–η] –ον, of or belonging to the master (δεσπότης) arbitrary

    ἐρείδω ἐρείσω ἤρεισα ἤρεικα ἐρήρεισμαι ἠρείσθην, cause to lean prop

    μόχθος –ου ὁ, toil hard work hardship distress trouble

    ἀμφιέπω ––– ἀμφίεπον ––– ––– ––– to go about be all round encompass

    δύστηνος –ον, wretched unhappy unfortunate disastrous

    τεῖχος τείχους τό a wall city wall fort

    ἐρημόω to strip bare to desolate lay waste

    χῶρος –ου ὁ, place a piece of ground

    ἰατήρ –ῆρος ὁ, doctor healer

    ἐπίκαιρος –ον, in fit time

    Παιάν –ᾶνος ὁ, paean

    τιμάω τιμήσω ἐτίμησα τετίμηκα τετίμημαι ἐτιμήθην, to honor revere value

    φάος –ους τό light daylight

    μαλακός –ή –όν soft

    προσβάλλω προσβαλῶ προσέβαλον +dat. attack

    τρώμα ἡ, (Dor.) wound

    ἕλκος –ους τό a wound

    ῥᾴδιος –α –ον, easy read; easy-going

    σείω σείσω ἔσεισα σέσεικα σέσεισμαι ἐσείσθην, to shake move to and fro

    ἀφαυρός –ά –όν feeble powerless

    χώρᾱ –ᾱς ἡ, space land; country

    αὖθις again in turn

    δυσπαλής –ές hard to wrestle with

    ἐξαίφνης on a sudden

    κυβερνήτης –ου ὁ, a steersman helmsman pilot

    ἐξυφαίνω to finish weaving

    χάρις –ιτος ἡ, grace favor

    τλάω τλήσομαι ἔτλην τέτληκα –––– –––– to take upon oneself to bear suffer undergo

    εὐδαίμων –ον, happy lucky blessed

    σπουδή –ῆς ἡ, haste speed seriousness

    ὅμηρος –ου ὁ, pledge hostage

    συντίθημι συντιθήσω συνέθηκα συντέθηκα συντέτειμαι συνετέθην, put together construct devise

    ῥῆμα –ατος τό (spoken) word line verb

    ἄγγελος –ου ὁ, messenger

    πρᾶγμα –ατος τό deed occurrence pl. affairs

    διά through on account of

    ἀγγελία –ας ἡ, a message tidings news

    ἐπιγιγνώσκω ἐπιγνώσομαι ἐπέγνων ἐπέγνωκα ἐπέγνωσμαι ἐπεγνώσθην, to look upon witness observe

    κλεινός –ή –όν famous renowned illustrious

    βάττος ὁ, stammerer lisper

    δίκαιος –α –ον, just fair

    Δαμόφιλος –ου ὁ, Damophilus (name)

    πραπίδες –ων αἱ the midriff diaphragm

    νέος –α –ον, new young; strange

    πρέσβυς πρέσβεως ὁ, old man elder

    ἐγκύρω to fall in with light upon meet with

    ἑκατονταέτης –ες of a hundred years

    βιοτή –ῆς ἡ, a living sustenance

    ὀρφανίζω to make orphan make destitute

    γλῶσσα –ης ἡ, tongue language

    φαεινός –ή –όν bright brilliant radiant

    ὄψ ὀπός ἡ, a voice

    μανθάνω μαθήσομαι ἔμαθον μεμάθηκα ––– ––– learn understand

    ὑβρίζω ὑβριζιῶ ὕβρισα ὕβρικα ὕβρισμαι ὑβρίσθην, insult offend disrespect

    μισέω μισήσω ἐμίσησα μεμίσηκα μεμίσημαι ἐμισήθην, to hate

    ἐρίζω ἐρίσω ἤρισα ἤρικα ἐρήρισμαι to strive wrangle quarrel

    ἀγαθός –ή –όν good noble

    μηκύνω μηκυνῶ ἐμήκυνα — μεμήκυσμαι ἐμηκύνθην, to lengthen prolong extend

    τέλος –ους τό result fulfillment end

    οὑδείς οὑδεμία οὑδέν no one nothing none

    καιρός –οῦ ὁ, due measure critical time

    εὖ well

    δρήστης Att. δράστης ου Dor. δράστας α ὁ, worker

    ὀπαδέω – – – – – to follow accompany attend

    ἀνιαρός –ά –όν grievous troublesome annoying

    καλός –ή –όν beautiful good fine

    ἐκτός without outside

    ἄτλας –αντος ὁ, not enduring

    οὐρανός –οῦ ὁ, heaven sky

    προσπαλαίω to wrestle

    κτέανον –ου or κτέαρ –ατος τό possessions property

    Τιτάν –ᾶνος ὁ, the Titans

    μεταβολή –ῆς ἡ, change transaction

    λήγω λήξω ἔληξα allay abate

    ὅρος ὅρου ὁ, boundary limit; rule

    ἑστία –ας ἡ, hearth

    οὐλόμενος –η –ον, destructive baneful

    νόσος –ου ἡ, disease sickness

    διαντλέω to drain out exhaust

    συμποσία ἡ, a drinking together

    ἐκδίδωμι ἐκδώσω ἐξέδωκε ἐκδέδωκα ἐκδέδομαι ἐξεδόθην, surrender

    πολλάκις often

    δαιδάλεος –α –ον, cunningly

    φόρμιγξ –ιγγος ἡ, the phorminx

    βαστάζω βαστάσω ἐβάστασα ––– ––– ––– to lift lift up raise

    ἡσυχία –ας ἡ, quiet

    θιγγάνω θίξομαι ἔθιγον ––– ––– ––– to touch handle

    μήτε...μήτε and not

    οὖν therefore then in fact

    πῆμα –ατος τό suffering misery calamity woe bane

    ἀπαθής –ές not suffering

    μυθέομαι μυθήσομαι μεμύθημαι ἐμυθήθην, speak or talk of describe explain relate

    ὁποῖος –α –ον, of what sort

    πηγή –ῆς ἡ, running waters streams

    ἀμβρόσιος [–α] –ον, immortal

    πρόσφημι πρόσφησω προσέφησα speak to address

    θῆβαι –ων αἱ Thebes (usu. plural)

    ξενόω to make one's friend and guest

    translation

    FOR ARCESILAS OF CYRENE

    winner, chariot race, 462B.C.

    Today, Muse, you must stand beside a man who is a Str. 1

    friend, the king of Cyrene with its fine horses,

    so that while Arcesilas is celebrating

    you may swell the breeze of hymns

    owed to Leto’s children and to Pytho,

    where long ago the priestess who sits beside the golden

    eagles of Zeus prophesied when Apollo was not away

    that Battus would be the colonizer

    of fruit-bearing Libya, and that

    he should at once leave the holy island to found a city

    of fine chariots on the white breast of a hill,

    and to fulfill in the seventeenth generation that word Ant. 1

    spoken on Thera by Medea,

    which the high-spirited daughter of Aeetes

    and queen of the Colchians had once breathed forth

    from her immortal mouth. Such were her words

    to the demigods who sailed with spear-bearing Jason:

    “Hear me, sons of great-hearted men and gods.

    I declare that one day from this sea-beaten land

    the daughter of Epaphus

    15will have planted within her a root of famous cities

    at the foundations of Zeus Ammon.

    In place of short-finned dolphins Ep. 1

    they will take swift horses

    and instead of oars they will ply reins

    and chariots that run like a storm.

    This sign will bring it to pass that Thera

    20will become the mother-city of great cities—the token

    which Euphamus once received at the outflow

    of Lake Tritonis, when he descended from the prow

    and accepted earth proffered as a guest-present by a god

    in the guise of a man—and father Zeus, son of Cronus,

    pealed for him an auspicious thunderclap—

    when he came upon us hanging the bronze-jawed Str. 2

    25anchor, swift Argo’s bridle,

    against the ship. Before that, we had drawn up

    the sea-faring bark from Oceanus in accordance

    with my instructions, and for twelve days

    had been carrying it across desolate stretches of land.

    At that point the solitary god approached us,

    having assumed the radiant face of a respectful man,

    and he began with the friendly words

    which generous men first utter when offering dinner

    to strangers upon their arrival.

    The excuse, however, of our sweet return home Ant. 2

    prevented our tarrying. He said that he was Eurypylus,

    son of the immortal Holder and Shaker of the Earth, 11

    and he recognized that we were in a hurry.

    He immediately picked up some earth

    in his right hand and sought to give it as a makeshift guest-gift.

    Nor did he fail to persuade him, but the hero leapt

    upon the shore, pressed his hand into the stranger’s,

    and accepted the divine clod.

    I have heard that it was washed off the ship

    by a wave during the evening and passed

    into the sea, borne on the watery main. In truth, Ep. 2

    I frequently urged

    the servants who relieve our toils

    to guard it, but their minds were forgetful;

    and now the immortal seed of spacious Libya has been

    shed upon this island 12 prematurely. For if Euphamus,

    the royal son of horse-ruling Poseidon,

    whom Europa, Tityus’ daughter, once bore by the banks

    45of the Cephisus, had gone home to holy Taenarus

    and cast the clod at the earth’s

    entrance to Hades,

    the blood of the fourth generation of children Str. 3

    born to him would have taken that broad mainland

    with the Danaans, for at that time

    they are to set out from great Lacedaemon,

    from the gulf of Argos, and from Mycenae.

    Now, however, he will find in the beds of foreign women

    a chosen race, who will come honored by the gods

    to this island and beget a man

    to be ruler of the plains with dark clouds.

    And when, at a later time, he enters the temple at Pytho,

    within his house filled with gold

    Phoebus will admonish him through oracles Ant. 3

    56to convey many people in ships

    to the fertile domain of Cronus’ son on the Nile.”

    Such were the verses of Medea’s speech;

    the godlike heroes shrank down in silence

    and without moving listened to her astute counsel.

    O blessed son of Polymnastus, 19 it was you

    60whom the oracle, in accordance with that speech, exalted

    through the spontaneous cry of the Delphic Bee,

    who thrice bade you hail and revealed you to be

    the destined king of Cyrene,

    when you were asking what requital would come Ep. 3

    from the gods for your stammering voice.

    Yes, indeed, now in later time as well,

    as at the height of red-flowered spring,

    65the eighth generation of those sons flourishes in Arcesilas,

    to whom Apollo and Pytho granted glory

    from the hands of the Amphictyons 21

    in horse racing. And for my part, I shall entrust to the Muses

    both him and the all-golden fleece of the ram, for when

    the Minyae sailed in quest of it, god-sent honors

    were planted for them.

    What beginning took them on their voyage, Str. 4

    71and what danger bound them with strong nails

    of adamant? It was fated that Pelias

    would perish because of the proud Aeolidae, at their hands

    or through their inflexible counsels.

    And an oracle came to him that chilled his crafty heart,

    spoken at the central navel of the tree-clad mother, 23

    75to be greatly on guard in every way against

    the man with one sandal,

    when he should come from the high dwelling places

    into the sunny land of famous Iolcus,

    whether he be a stranger or a townsman. And so in time Ant. 4

    he came, an awesome man with two spears,

    and clothing of both kinds was covering him:

    80native garb of the Magnesians 24 closely fitted

    his marvelous limbs, but around it he protected

    himself from chilly showers with a leopard skin;

    nor were the splendid locks of his hair cut off and lost,

    but they rippled down the length of his back.

    Putting his intrepid resolve to the test,

    he quickly went straight ahead and stood

    85in the agora as a crowd was thronging.

    They did not recognize him, but, awestruck as they were, Ep. 4

    one of them nevertheless said, among other things:

    “He surely is not Apollo,

    nor certainly is he Aphrodite’s husband

    of the bronze chariot; and they say that in shining Naxos

    Iphimedeia’s sons died, Otus and you, bold

    king Ephialtes;

    and certainly Artemis’ swift arrow hunted down Tityus,

    as it sped from her invincible quiver,

    warning a person to desire to attain loves

    within his power.”

    While they were saying such things in turn

    to one another, Pelias came

    on his polished mule car

    in precipitous haste. He was stunned as soon as

    he caught sight of the single sandal in clear view

    upon his right foot, but he hid his panic in his heart

    and addressed him, “What land, O stranger, do you claim

    to be your fatherland? And what mortal

    born upon the earth delivered you forth

    from her gray womb? Tell me your lineage

    and do not stain it with most hateful lies.”

    Taking courage, he answered him with gentle words Ant. 5

    in this way: “I claim that I shall manifest the teachings

    of Chiron, for I come

    from the side of Chariclo and Philyra and from the cave

    where the Centaur’s holy daughters raised me.

    After completing twenty years without doing

    105or saying anything untoward to them, I have come

    home to reclaim my father’s ancient honor

    of kingship, now being wielded

    unjustly, which long ago Zeus granted

    to Aeolus, leader of the people, and to his sons,

    for I am told that lawless Pelias Ep. 5

    gave in to his white wits

    110and usurped it

    by force from my justly ruling parents,

    who, as soon as I saw the light,

    fearing the violence of the overbearing ruler,

    made a dark funeral

    in the house and added women’s wailing as if I had died,

    but secretly sent me away in my purple swaddling clothes,

    115and, entrusting the journey to the night, gave me

    to Chiron, son of Cronus, to raise.

    But now you know the principal elements of my story. Str. 6

    Dear fellow citizens, show me clearly

    the home of my fathers who rode white horses,

    for I come here as the son of Aeson, a native,

    to no strangers’ land.

    The divine creature called me by the name Jason.”

    120Thus he spoke. When he entered his home, his father’s

    eyes recognized him and then tears burst forth

    from under his aged eyelids,

    as he rejoiced in his soul to see his extraordinary

    offspring, fairest of men.

    Both of his father’s brothers Ant. 6

    125arrived when they heard the news about him: Pheres

    came from the nearby Hyperian spring

    and Amythaon came from Messene; Admetus

    and Melampus also came quickly,

    out of good will, to their cousin. During the feasting

    Jason received them with gentle words

    and, providing fitting hospitality,

    extended all manner of festivity

    130for five whole nights and days, culling

    the sacred excellence of joyous living.

    But on the sixth day, the hero laid out in earnest Ep. 6

    the whole story from the beginning

    and shared it with his relatives,

    who joined him. At once he rose with them

    from the couches, and they went to Pelias’ palace.

    135They hastened straight in and took a stand. When he

    heard them, the son of lovely-haired Tyro

    met them face to face. In a soft voice

    Jason distilled soothing speech

    and laid the foundation of wise words:

    “Son of Poseidon of the Rock,

    the minds of mortals are all too swift Str. 7

    140to commend deceitful gain above justice, even though

    they are headed for a rough reckoning the day after.

    You and I, however, must rule our tempers with law

    and weave our future happiness.

    You know what I am about to say: one heifer was mother

    to Cretheus and bold-counseling Salmoneus; we in turn

    were born in the third generation from them

    and behold the golden strength

    145 of the sun. The Fates withdraw, if any feuding arises

    to make kinsmen hide their mutual respect.

    It is not proper for the two of us to divide the great honor

    of our forefathers with bronze-piercing swords

    or javelins. For I give over to you the sheep,

    the tawny herds of cattle, and all the fields

    which you stole

    150from my parents and administer to fatten your wealth—

    I do not mind if these overly enrich your house—

    but, as for the scepter of sole rule

    and the throne upon which Cretheus’ son once

    sat and rendered straight justice to his people of horsemen,

    these you must give up without grief

    on both sides, lest some more troubling evil Ep. 7

    arise for us from them.”

    156Thus he spoke, and Pelias

    responded calmly, “I shall be

    such as you wish, but already the aged portion of life

    attends me, whereas your flower of youth

    is just cresting; and you are capable of removing

    the anger of those in the underworld. For Phrixus orders

    160us to go to the halls of Aeetes to bring back his soul

    and to recover the thick-fleeced hide of the ram

    by which he was once preserved from the sea

    and from the impious weapons of his stepmother. Str. 8

    Such things does a wondrous dream come and tell

    to me. I have inquired of the oracle at Castalia

    if some expedition must be made, and it orders me

    to provide conveyance by ship as soon as possible.

    165Willingly accomplish this task and I swear

    that I will hand over to you sole rule and kingship.

    As a mighty pledge, let our witness be

    Zeus, progenitor of both our families.”

    After agreeing to this pact, they parted.

    But Jason himself at once began

    sending heralds everywhere to announce that a voyage Ant. 8

    171was in the making. Swiftly came Cronian Zeus’

    three tireless warrior sons, born to

    bright-eyed Alcmene and to Leda,

    and the two men with hair piled on high,

    offspring of Earthshaker, out of respect for their valor,

    from Pylos and the headland of Taenarus, whose noble

    175glory was fulfilled, that of Euphamus

    and yours, mighty Periclymenus.

    And from Apollo came the father of songs,

    the widely praised minstrel Orpheus.

    And Hermes of the golden wand sent his twin sons Ep. 8

    for the endless toil,

    one Echion, the other Erytus, both

    swelling with youthfulness. Swift

    to come were those dwelling at the base of Pangaeum,

    for with a cheerful heart their willing father Boreas,

    king of the winds, swiftly equipped

    Zetes and Calaïs, men whose backs both

    rippled with wings of purple.

    And Hera enkindled in these demigods

    that all-persuasive, sweet longing

    for the ship Argo, so that no one might be left behind Str. 9

    to remain with his mother and coddle a life

    without risk, but rather, even if it meant death,

    to gain the most noble remedy for his own achievement

    in the company of others of his age.

    When the pick of the sailors came down to Iolcus,

    Jason praised and mustered them all. Then the seer

    Mopsus, prophesying for them by means of birds

    and sacred lots,

    gladly sent the host on board. And when they had slung

    the anchors above the prow,

    the captain took a golden bowl in his hands Ant. 9

    and, standing on the stern, called upon Zeus,

    father of the Uranidae and wielder of lightning,

    and upon the rushing waves and winds to be swift-

    moving and the nights and paths of the sea and days

    to be propitious and their homecoming favorable.

    And from the clouds there answered him an auspicious

    clap of thunder, and bright flashes of lightning

    came bursting forth.

    The heroes took fresh courage, trusting

    200the god’s signs. The seer bade them

    fall to the oars, as he expressed Ep. 9

    cheerful expectations.

    From under their swift hands the rowing

    proceeded tirelessly.

    Sped by the breezes of the South Wind, they came

    to the mouth of the Inhospitable Sea, where they

    established a sacred precinct for Poseidon of the Sea,

    205and there was at hand a tawny herd of Thracian bulls

    and a newly built stone altar with a hollow.

    As they sped on to grave danger,

    they prayed to the lord of ships

    for escape from the irresistible movement Str. 10

    of the clashing rocks, 46 for the two of them were alive

    and would roll more swiftly

    210than the ranks of loudly roaring winds.

    That voyage of the demigods, however, finally

    put an end to them. Next they came to the Phasis,

    where they matched strength with the dark-faced

    Colchians in the presence of Aeetes himself.

    But the Cyprus-born queen of sharpest arrows

    bound the dappled wryneck to the four spokes

    215 of the inescapable wheel

    and brought from Olympus that bird of madness Ant. 10

    for the first time to men, and she taught

    the son of Aeson to be skillful in prayers and charms,

    so that he might take away Medea’s respect

    for her parents, and so that desire for Hellas might set

    her mind afire and drive her with the whip of Persuasion.

    220And right away she showed him the ways to accomplish

    her father’s trials, and she concocted with oil

    antidotes for terrible pains and gave them to him

    for anointing—and so they agreed to join with one

    another in a sweet marriage of mutual consent.

    But after Aeetes positioned in their midst the plow Ep. 10

    made of adamant

    225and the oxen that were breathing the flame of blazing fire

    from their tawny jaws

    and pawing the ground in turn with brazen hoofs,

    he led them and brought them to the yoke-strap single-handedly.

    He stretched straight furrows as he drove them

    and split open the stretch of clodded earth a fathom

    deep. Then he spoke thus, “When the king, whoever it is

    230who captains the ship, completes this task for me,

    let him take away the immortal bedding,

    the fleece that gleams with golden fringe.” Str. 11

    When he had spoken thus, Jason flung off his saffron

    cloak, and putting his trust in the god, took on the task.

    The fire did not make him flinch, owing to the commands

    of the hospitable woman skilled in all medicines.

    He grasped the plow, bound the necks of the oxen

    235by force in their harness, and by thrusting

    the ruthless goad into their strong-ribbed bulk,

    the powerful man accomplished the appointed

    measure of toil. Aeetes cried out, although in inarticulate pain,

    astonished at the power he beheld.

    But his comrades were stretching forth their hands Ant. 11

    240to the mighty man, covering him with crowns of leaves,

    and greeting him with words

    of kindness. At once the wondrous son of Helius

    told him where Phrixus’ sacrificial knives

    had stretched out the shining hide,

    but he did not expect him to perform that further trial,

    because it lay in a thicket

    and was right by the ferocious jaws of a serpent,

    245which exceeded in breadth and length a ship of fifty oars,

    which strokes of iron have fashioned.

    But it is too far for me to travel on the highway, Ep. 11

    because the hour is pressing and I know

    a short path—and I lead the way

    in wise skill for many others.

    He cunningly slew the green-eyed snake with spotted back,

    250O Arcesilas, and with her own help stole away Medea,

    the slayer of Pelias.

    They came to the expanses of Oceanus, to the Red Sea,

    and to the race of man-slaying Lemnian women.

    There they also displayed the strength of their limbs

    in games for the prize of a cloak

    and slept with the women. Then it was in those foreign Str. 12

    furrows that the fated days or nights received the seed

    of your family’s radiant

    prosperity, for there the race of Euphamus

    was planted and continued ever after.

    And, after coming to the abodes of Lacedaemonian men,

    in time they settled on the island formerly called

    Calliste. And from there the son of Leto gave your family

    the plain of Libya

    260to make prosper through honors coming from the gods,

    and the divine city of golden-throned Cyrene to govern,

    to you who have devised policy based on right counsel. Ant. 12

    Now come to know the wisdom of Oedipus: 55 if someone

    with a sharp-bladed axe

    should strip the boughs from a great oak tree

    and ruin its splendid appearance,

    265although it cannot bear foliage, it gives an account of itself,

    if ever it comes at last to a winter’s fire,

    or if, supported by upright columns

    belonging to a master,

    it performs a wretched labor within alien walls,

    having left its own place desolate.

    But you are a most fitting healer, and Paean 57 Ep. 12

    honors your saving light.

    271One must apply a gentle hand to tend

    a sore wound.

    For easily can even weaklings shake a city;

    but to set it back in place again is a difficult

    struggle indeed, unless suddenly

    a god becomes a helmsman for the leaders.

    275But for you the blessings of such things are unfolding.

    Dare to devote all your serious effort

    to the cause of blessed Cyrene.

    And among the sayings of Homer, take this one to heart Str. 13

    and heed it: he said that a good messenger

    brings the greatest honor to every affair.

    The Muse, too, gains distinction through true

    reporting. Cyrene and the most celebrated house

    280 of Battus have learned to know the just mind

    of Damophilus. For that man, a youth among boys,

    but in counsels an elder

    who has attained a life of one hundred years,

    deprives a malicious tongue of its shining voice

    and has learned to hate the person who is violent,

    not striving against the noble Ant. 13

    286 nor delaying any accomplishment, since opportunity

    in men’s affairs has a brief span.

    He has come to know it well; he serves it

    as an attendant, not as a hireling. They say

    that the most distressing thing is to know the good,

    but to be forced to stand away. Yes, that Atlas

    290 is wrestling even now with the sky

    away from his homeland and from his possessions;

    yet immortal Zeus released the Titans. In the course of time

    sails are changed when the wind

    dies down. But he prays that, having drained Ep. 13

    his accursed disease to the end,

    he may some day see his home; that he may join

    the symposia at Apollo’s fountain,

    295often give his heart over to youthful enjoyment, and,

    taking up the ornate lyre among his cultured citizens,

    may attain peace,

    neither doing harm to anyone, nor suffering it from his townsmen.

    And he would tell, Arcesilas,

    what a spring of ambrosial verses he found,

    when he was recently a guest at Thebes.

    Suggested Citation

    Peter Hulse. Apollonius: Argonautica Book IV. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2022. ISBN: 978-1-947822-21-4. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/apollonius-argonautica/parallel-texts/pindar-pythian-4-divine-clod