Victory of Berenice

Fr. 54

      Ζηνί τε καὶ Νεμέηι τι χαρίσιον ἕδνον ὀφείλω,

           νύμφα, κα[σιγνή]των ἱερὸν αἷμα θεῶν,

      ἡμ[ε]τερο.[. . . . . .].εων ἐπινίκιον ἵππω[ν.

           ἁρμοῖ γὰρ Δαναοῦ γῆς ἀπὸ βουγενέος

5    εἰς Ἑλένη[ς νησῖδ]α καὶ εἰς Παλληνέα μά[ντιν,

           ποιμένα [φωκάων], χρύσεον ἦλθεν ἔπος,

      Εὐφητηϊάδ[αο παρ'] ἠρίον οὕ[νεκ'] Ὀφέλτου

           ἔθρεξαν προ[τέρω]ν οὔτινες ἡνιόχων

      ἄσθματι χλι[. . . .]. . πιμιδας, ἀλλὰ θεόντων

10       ὡς ἀνέμων οὐδεὶς εἶδεν ἁματροχίας

      ημεν δη πο[

           καὶ πάρος Ἀργει[

      καιρωτους τε[

           Κολχίδες ἢ Νείλω[ι

15  λεπταλέους ἔξυσαν.[

           εἰδυῖαι φαλιὸν ταῦρον ἰηλεμίσαι

      . . . .]υκων οτε[

           . . . .].ν κομα[

      . . . . . . .]. . .[.]. .[ 

 

Fr. 54a

                ].[ 

           Ἰναχ[ίδα]ις κει[

      δωδ[ε]κάκις περὶ δίφρον ἐπήγαγεν ὄθματα †δίφρου 

           καὶ τ[.]. Ἀμυμών[η

5   κρή[ν]η καλὰ νάουσα κ[

           δρωμ[]σιν· Δαναοῦ δε[

      ἵππα[στ]ῆρ’ ἅτε τοῦτο φε[

           Αἴγυπτος γενεῆς αἷμ’ α[

      δηθάκ[ι] μου τὸν Νεῖλο[ν

10      κεῖνος ὃς ἐν Προίτου ξ[

      ὣς ἔνεπεν· τοὶ δ’ ἦχον [

      ἐκ λαγόνων [. .]. θερ[

          ἔσταθεν· ἤκου[

      αυτα . δ[

 15      οὐκ ἐρέω [

     αὔριον .[

         σ]υρίζει .[

     ἀ]λλαποδ[

        ]θμα χρ.[

20  .]ισομεν· ε[

         . . . . .]οσο[

     . . . . .]ν· α[

         . . . . .]ν ἰθ[

 

                             ]νκ[

Fr. 54b

      εἰς ἔριν ηνικ[

           δῶκε Ταναγ[ραι-

      παιδὶ κασιγν[ητ-

          ὡς ἀέκων ε.[

5    λῃτιαὶ Ταφιο[

           λήνεα γουνα[

      πωτηθεὶς αν[

           κυπωθεὶς τα[

      ὄφρα δεταις[

10       τόφρα δετω[

      τόξα διαπλη[

           καὶ μὲν οτοι.[

      σκῶλός μοι β.[

           [

15  αὐλείην παρ' ἄχ[ερδον

           ἐξέρυσ' ἑρμαίο[υ

      λέξας κεν ταδ.[

           ὣς φάτο τῷ δ' ο.[

      τὴν προτέρην [

20       δοῖεν, ὁ δ' ἁρπακ[τ-

      αἰνολέων ἀπόλοιτο .ε[

           καὶ θεὸς η καινε[ ]ι. . . . .[.]. .μ.[

      ὄφρα κεπιω.[ ]ω σε πάλιν πυρὶ δ[ε]ῖ[πνον

           . . .]μενον δυερῇ μηδὲ σὺν ἀξυλίῃ

25      . . .]α νυν, δρεπάνου γὰρ ἀπευθέα τέρχν[ε]α[

           . . .]α πολύσκαρθμος τοῦτον ἔχειν[. . .].[

     . . .].ε καὶ λίπτουσα δακεῖν κυτίσοιο [χίμαιρα

         βληχ]άζει πυλέων ἐντὸς ἐερ[γομένη

     . . . .] δυσηβολίοιο τράγου [. . .]. . .[

30        . . . .].ιος ἀλγήσαι πᾶς κεν ἰδὼ[ν

     . . . .] νομοῦ ποίμνῃσιν ἐελδ[

           . . . .]. θασσόντων ὡς περὶ .[

           .     .     .     .     .

 

Fr. 54c

      [                                        ]υια[

      [                         δίκρον φιτρὸν ἀειραμένη

      [                   ].λελα[. . . .]. . .ι στέγος οὐδ' ὅσον ε.[

      [                          ]παιδὶ νέμουσα μέρος.

5    ἀστὴρ δ' εὖτ'] ἄρ' ἔμελλε βοῶν ἄπο μέσσαβα [λύσειν

      [    αὔλιος], ὃς δυθμὴν εἶσιν ὕπ' ἠελίου

      [           ]ὡς κεῖνος Ὀφιονίδῃσι φαείν[ει

      [            ]θεῶν τοῖσι παλαιοτέροις,

      [            ]τηρι θύρην· ὁ δ' ὅτ' ἔκλυεν ἠχ[ήν,

10  [      ὡς ὁπότ' ὀκν]ηρῆς ἴαχ' ἐπ' οὖς ἐλάφου

      σκ]ύμνος, [μέ]λλ[ε] μὲν ὅσσον ἀκουέμεν, ἦκα δ' ἔλ[εξεν·

           "ὀχληροί, τί τό[δ'] αὖ γείτονες ἡμέ[τ]ερον

      ἥκατ' ἀποκναίσοντες, ἐπεὶ μάλα [γ'] οὔτι φέρο[ισθε;

           ξ]είνοις κωκυμοὺς ἔπλασεν ὔμμε θεός.’

15  ]ς ἐνέπων τὸ μὲν ἔργον, ὅ οἱ μετὰ [. . .].ινε[

           ῥῖ]ψεν, []πεὶ σμίνθοις κ[ρ]υπτὸν ἔτευχε δόλον·

       ἐν δ' ἐτίθει παγίδεσσιν ὀλέθρια δείλατα δοιαῖς

           αἴ]ρινο[ν ἐ]λλεβ[όρῳ] μίγδα μάλευρον ἑλών

       . .]ντ.[.]ωιτα.α[. . . . . . . .]. . θάνατον δὲ κάλ[υψε

20      . .].κ.[.].[. . .]γειη.[. . . .].αγ̣ωσιν ἔπι

      . .]ημ.ν[. ]ς κίρκο[ι. . . .]. . .ἄρτι πεσόν[τες

           πολλάκις ἐκ λύχνου πῖον ἔλειξαν ἔαρ

      ἀλκαίαις ἀφύσαντες, ὅτ' οὐκ ἐπὶ πῶμα[τ' ἔκειτο

           ἅλ]μαις καὶ φιάλῃς, ἢ̣ ὁπότ' ἐξ ἑτέρης

25  εἴλησαν χηλοῖο, τά τ' ἀνέρος ἔργα πενιχροῦ

           . . .]ο.οκ. . .σκληροῦ σκίμπ[τετο λ]ᾶος ὕπο

      κλ]ισμὸν α. . .τεπ[. . . . . . . ω]ρχήσα[ντο

           βρέγματι, καὶ κανθῶν ἤλασαν ὦρον ἄπο,

      ἀλλὰ τόδ' οἱ σίνται βρα[χέ]ῃ ἔνι νυκτὶ τέλεσσαν,

30       κύντατον, ᾧ πλεῖστ[ον] μήνατο κεῖνος ἔπι,

      ἄμφ[ιά] οἱ σισύρην [τ]ε κακοὶ κίβισίν τε διέβρον·

           τοῖς]ι [δὲ] διχθαδίους εὐτύκασεν φονέας,

      ἶπόν τ' ἀνδίκτην τε μάλ' εἰδότα μακρὸν ἁλέσθαι.

                                ].[.]. .ἀνέλυσε θύρην

35                              ]ἐπεὶ θαμὰ μίσγετο κεί[ν

                                    ]ιν ἐνναέτης

                               ]. .ο[. . .]ν οὔτε Κλεων[άς

                                            ].[

 

Fr. 54e

      . . . . . . . . . . . . .].δε κανὼν τέρα[ς

           εἴτε μιν Ἀργείων χρή με καλεῖν ἀάτην

      . . . . . . . . . . .].ωναιτεπαρηχειε.[

           . . . . . . . . . .]. Δαναοῦ φρείατι πὰρ μεγα[λ-

5    . . . . . . . . .]φίκλειος ἀδελφειοῖο νεμ.[

           . . . . . . . . . .]σμήξας ἀντι γετης γε[

      . . . . . . . . . .] πελάσαιμι μόνον περιβα[

           . . . . . . . . .]. ἔσεαι καὶ τάχ̣α βουκτέανο[ς

      . . . . . . . . .].ς ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐπικλεινες.[

10       . . . . . . . . . .]. . . πε[ί]σω Ζεὺς ὅτι παιδογό[νος

      . . . . . . . . . .]. . . . . . πέσω δ' ὑπ' ὀδόντ[ι

                 ]. . . . . . . . .ρμαλλονυπο[

          .     .     .     .     .

 

Fr. 54h

      αὐτὸς ἐπιφράσσαιτο, τάμοι δ' ἄπο μῆκος ἀοιδῇ·

           ὅσσα δ' ἀνειρομένῳ φῆ[σ]ε, τάδ' ἐξερέω·

      "ἄττα γέρον, τὰ μὲν ἄλλα πα[ρὼν ἐν δ]αιτὶ μαθήσει,

           νῦν δὲ τά μοι πεύσῃ Παλλὰ[ς. . . . . .]. .[

5    .]α[                                     ]α

 

Fr. 54i

                .     .     .     .     .

5         καί μιν Ἀλητεῖδαι πουλὺ γεγειότερον

      τοῦδε παρ' Αἰγαίωνι θεῷ τελέοντες ἀγῶνα

           θήσουσιν νίκης σύμβολον Ἰσθμιάδος

      ζήλῳ τῶν Νεμέηθε· πίτυν δ' ἀποτιμήσουσιν,

           ἣ πρὶν ἀγωνιστὰς ἔστεφε τοὺς Ἐφύρῃ.

10                  ].νωητετεοί, γέρ[ον

                          ].οὐδ' ἱερὴ π.[

                      ]σεμοι προμ[

                          ]ον Παλλὰς ἔ[

                      ]αρενωι τοδ[

15                     ς]ὴν κατ' ἐπω[νυμίην.’

                      ]υς τε Μολόρ[κ

                         ].θυμὸν ἀρε[σσάμενος,

      ν]ύκτα μὲν αὐτόθι μίμνεν, ἀπέστιχε δ' Ἄργος ἑῶιος·

           οὐδὲ ξεινοδόκῳ λήσαθ' ὑποσχεσίης,

20  πέμψε δέ οἱ τὸ[ν] ὀρῆα, τίεν δέ ἑ ὡς ἕνα πηῶν.

           νῦ]ν δ' ἔθ' []γι[στείη]ν οὐδαμὰ παυσομένην

                .     .     .     .     .

 

Fr. 55

           τὸν μὲν ἀρισκυδὴς εὖνις ἀνῆκε Διός

      Ἄργος ἔθειν, ἴδιόν περ ἐὸν λάχος, ἀλλὰ γενέθλῃ

           Ζηνὸς ὅπως σκοτίῃ τρηχὺς ἄεθλος ἔοι.

 

Fr. 58

      ἄξονται δ' οὐχ ἵππον ἀέθλιον, οὐ μὲν ἐχῖνον

           βουδόκον

 

Fr. 60a

                   τὸ δὲ σκύλος ἀνδρὶ καλύπτρη

           γιγνόμενον, νιφετοῦ καὶ βελέων ἔρυμα

 

Fr. 60b

           θηρὸς ἀερτάζων δέρμα κατωμάδιον

 

    See also Catullus 66.

    Fr. 54 Harder (= 383 Pf. + SH 254, =143 Mass.)
      1-19 init. P.Oxy. 2173 [image], Trismegistos 59396
      2-9 fin. P.Lille 82
      9-10 Porphyr. 1.15.9 sqq
      16 EtGen. AB s.v. ἰάλεμος

     Fr. 54a Harder (= 144 Mass.)
      1-23a PSI 15.1500 [image], Trismegistos 59396
      3 Σ DEGQ Pi.P. 5.44b

    Fr. 54b Harder (= 176.21-34 Pf.; SH 257, = 148 Mass.)
      1-23 P.Lille 76d col. II [image

      21-34 P.Oxy. 2170 fr. 3 [image] Trismegistos 59370
      24-43 P.Lille 79 [image]

    Fr. 54c Harder (= 177 Pf.; SH 259, = 149 Mass.)
      1-37 PSI 1218 fr.a [image], Trismegistos 59370
      2 EtGen. AB s.v. δίκρον καὶ δίκροον
      4-6 P.Oxy. 2258 B fr. 2 recto [image] Trismegistos 59424
      6 Σ A Il. 11.62
      11-20 initPSI 1218 fr. b [image] Trismegistos 59370
      17 EtGen. AB s.v. δέλεαρ
      18 EtGen. AB s.v. μάλευρον
      22 Σ G1 X Y Nic. Al. 87
      23 Σ AR 4, 1613-1616b
      28 EtGen. AB α 1544 s.v. ἄωρος
      33 Poll. 10.155-156 μυάργα

    Fr. 54e Harder (= 333? and 557 Pf. and SH 260A, = 151 Mass.)
      1-21 P.Lille 78a [image]
      2 Hdn. Π.μον.λεξ. 2.948.8 sqq

    Fr. 54h Harder (= 57 Pf.; SH 264, = 154 Mass.) P. Berol. 11629 A
       recto [image], Trismegistos 98082

    Fr. 54i Harder (= 59 Pf.; SH 265, = 156 Mass.)
      1-11 P.Oxy. 2212 fr. 18.1-11 [image]Trismegistos 59390

      5-9 Plu. Quaest. conv. 5.3.3 676f-677b
      8-25 P.Oxy. 2169, 4-21
     [image], Trismegistos 59391
     18-22 P.Berol. 11629 A verso [image], Trismegistos 98082

    Fr. 55 Harder (= 55 Pf.; SH 267, = 146 Mass.) Σ BD Pi.N. 10.1c

    Fr. 58 Harder (= 58 Pf.; SH 268, = 155 Mass.) EtGen. AB s.v.
       ἐχῖνος

    Fr. 60a Harder (= 677 Pf.; SH 268B, = 274 Mass.) Σ L S.Aj. 26

    Fr. 60b Harder (= 597 Pf.; SH 268C, = 264 Mass.) Σ AR 1,
       1243-48a

    The opening poem of book 3 was at least 175 lines long; it celebrates Berenice II’s victory in chariot racing at the Nemean games. Although in elegiacs, it is in the style of Pindaric epinician, and the opening is an imitation of Nemean 1. The order of the fragments and their location at the beginning of book 3 was established by Peter Parsons (1977).

    Fr. 54. 2-4: The opening makes a clear connection between Egypt and Argos with a reference to Danaus, described as "cow-born," i.e., the child of Io. Berenice is called "holy blood of the sibling gods," i.e., Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II; she was actually the daughter of Magas of Cyrene (see Acosta-Hughes and Stephens 2012: 185-87 on the role of the Danaids in the Aetia).

    Fr. 54.5: Helen's island is the island of the Pharos in Alexandria. According to Stesichorus (and Euripides' Helen) she spent the Trojan war sequestered there, while the Greeks fought over her eidolon. Hellenistic poets emphasize this story about Helen because it brings the environs of Alexandria into the orbit of Greek myth. The "Pallenean prophet" is Proteus, who is connected with the Pharos in Odyssey 4.351-572 and also in Posidippus, ep. 115 A-B. He is Pallenean because he is said to have resided in Pallene until his sons were killed by Heracles. He then came to Egypt (see Acosta-Hughes and Stephens 2012:126-27).

    Fr. 54.16: The line refers to mourning for the Apis bull, who was an avatar of the god Osiris. In Egypt, when the Apis bull died the entire country went into mourning, a practice that continued under the Ptolemies. The bull itself was usually identified by a specific marking. The Apis bull died in 248, or shortly before the date of the epinician. Along with the mention of Colchis, which Herodotus claims was settled by the pharaoh Sesostris, it reinforces the relationship of Argos and Egypt.

    For the relationship of this poem to the opening of book 3 of Vergil's Georgics, see Thomas 1983.

    Fr. 54a: This fragment is an important recent discovery. Although the papryus does not contain any complete lines, it mentions the Inachids (Inachus was the founder of the Argive line, hence Argives), Amymone (the daughter of Danaus, after whom a spring in Argos was named; see fr. 65), Egyptian blood, the Nile, and Proitus. Since 54a seems to belong directly below the opening fragment, a reasonable inference is that Callimachus has developed the Argive-Egyptian connections in some detail. The structure would seem to be a dialogue (see lines 11, 15).

    54a.2. The line is corrupt but seems to refer to the standard twelve laps of the chariot in competition.

    The remaining fragments tell the embedded story of Heracles, the founder of the Nemean games, and his slaying of the Nemean lion. In telling the story, however, Callimachus appears to have focused on the details of Heracles' encounter with a peasant, Molorchus, with whom he took shelter. Much of the poem is his conversation with Molorchus. This bears a strong resemblance to the Hecale, in which Callimachus foregrounds Theseus' reception into the hut of the old woman Hecale and her life story, not Theseus' encounter with the bull of Marathon. Subsequently, E. Livrea connected the "Mousetrap" (fr. 177 Pf.) to this poem, arguing that Molorchus's slaying of the mice, who were eating him out of house and home, was a tale within the larger aition and functioned as a humorous parallel to Heracles’ slaying of the Nemean lion (see Fantuzzi-Hunter 2004: 83-88).

    54b. Apparently a dialogue between Molorchus and Heracles (part of their first encounter?). Mention of the Taphian pirates (5) has led tothe  suggest that Heracles is recounting the story of Amphytryon's exile to Boeotia after he accidentally killed his father-in-law, Electryon.  

    54c: Molorchus describes the depredations of the mice: they eat his stores, dance on his head at night, and even consume his clothing.  Interwoven is the description of his preparation of a mousetrap, baited with poison.

    54e: a fragment spoken by Heracles, who is about to go off in pursuit of the Nemean lion.  

    54h: Heracles responding to Molorchus after he has killed the Nemean lion. Apparently the narrator does not tell the full story of his contest, but uses a familiar technique from previous poetry (particularly Pindar), the breaking off and moving to another topic (the so-called Abbruchsformel).

    54i: The fragment begins with a prophecy by Athena that in future the celery wreath will replace the pine as victor's crown for the Nemean games; and this celery crown will be adopted at the Isthmian games. The prophecy ends by line 15. The remainder recounts Heracles' fulfillment of a promise to give Molorchus a mule.  This seems to be the aition for a ritual probably to honor Molorchus. (The Hecale ends with the establishment of cult in honor of Hecale, the old woman who hosted Theseus.)

     

    Bibliography

    Ambühl, Annemarie. 2004. “Entertaining Theseus and Heracles: the Hecale and the Victoria Berenices as a Diptych.” Callimachus II (Hellenistica Groningana 7), edited by M. Annette Harder, Remco F. Regtuit & Gerry C. Wakker, 23-48.  Dudley, MA: Peeters.

    Bennett, Chris. 2005. "Arsinoe and Berenice at the Olympics," Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 154:169-71.

    Bulloch, Anthony. 2006. “The Order and Structure of Callimachus' Aetia 3.” Classical Quarterly 56 (2): 496-508.

    Hollis,  Adrian S. 1986. “The Composition of Callimachus' Aetia in the Light of P.Oxy. 2258.” Classical Quarterly 36 (2): 467-71.

    Livrea, Enrico. 1979. “Der Liller Kallimachos und die Mausefallen.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik  34:37-42.

    ———. 1980. ‘Polittico Callimacheo. Contributi al testo della Victoria Berenices.’ Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 40:21-6.

    ———. 1982. ‘I cavalli di Berenice.’ In Studi in onore di Aristide Colonna, edited by Aristide Colonna, 199-202. Perugia: Istituto di filologia classica dell'Università.

    Marinone, Nino. 1997. Berenice da Callimaco a Catullo. Testo critico, traduzione e commento. Nuova edizione ristrutturata, ampliata e aggiornata.Testi e manuali per l’insegnamento universitario del latino 49. Bologna: Pàtron.

    Massimilla, Giulio. 2004. 'Il leone nemeo nella Victoria Berenices di Callimaco.' In La cultura ellenistica: l'opera letteraria e l'esegesi antica. Atti del Convegno COFIN 2001, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", 22-24 settembre 2003 (Quaderni Seminari Romani di Romani Greca 8), edited by Roberto Pretagostini and Emanuele Dettori, 19-31. Roma: Quasar.

    Parsons, Peter. J. 1977. “Callimachus: Victoria Berenices.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 25:1-50.

    Prioux, Évelyne. 2011. 'Callimachus' queens.' In Brill's Companion to Callimachus, edited by Benjamin Acosta-Hughes, Luigi Lehnus and Susan Stephens, 201-24. Leiden: Brill.

    Rosenmeyer, Patricia A. 1991. ‘The Unexpected Guest. Patterns of Xenia in Callimachus’ “Victoria Berenices” and Petronius’ Satyricon.’ Classical Quartrerly 41 (2): 403-13. 

    ———. 1993. ‘A cold reception in Callimachus’ Victoria Berenices (SH 257-265).’ Classical Quarterly 43:206-14.

    Thomas, Richard F. 1983. "Callimachus, the Victoria Berenices and Roman Poetry." Classical Quarterly 33 (1): 92-113.

    Fr. 54

    Ζεύς, gen. Διός, dat. Διί or Ζηνί: Zeus

    Νεμέα, gen. Νεμέας, dat. Νεμέηι or Νεμέᾳ, ἡ: Nemea,  a city in the Argolid, site of the Nemean Games supposedly founded by Heracles; or the goddess Nemea personified

    χαρίσιος -α -ον: (adj.) of thanksgiving

    ἕδνον -ου, τό: a wedding-gift; a gift

    ὀφείλω, fut. ὀφειλήσω, aor. ὠφείλησα or ὤφελον: owe; be obliged to

    νύμφη -ης, ἡ: a young wife, bride, young woman

    κασίγνητος -η -ον: (adj.) brotherly, sibling

    ἐπινίκιον -ου, τό: song of victory, epinician

    ἁρμοῖ: (adv.) just, newly, lately, recently

    βουγενής -ές: (adj.) cow-born, i.e., son of Io

    νησίς νησῖδος, ἡ: an islet, small island (dim. of νῆσος); Ἑλένης νησίς = Pharos  5

    Παλληνεύς -έως, ὁ: someone from Pallenea region in Thrace; esp. Proteus

    μάντις -εως, ὁ: one who divines, a seer, prophet

    ποιμήν -ένος, ὁ: a shepherd

    φώκη -ης, ἡ: a seal (semi-aquatic marine mammal)

    χρύσεος -η -ον: golden, of gold

    Εὐφητηϊάδης -ου, ὁ: son of Euphetes

    ἠρίον -ου, τό: a mound, barrow, tomb

    οὕνεκα: on which account, wherefore; that, the fact that

    Ὀφέλτης, -ου, ὁ: Opheltes; the Nemean games were said to be founded in his honor 

    τρέχω, fut. δραμοῦμαι or θρέξομαι, aor. ἔδραμον or ἔθρεξα: to run

    οὔτι: nothing; (adv.) not at all, by no means

    ἡνίοχος -ου, ὁ: a charioteer

    ἄσθμα -ατος, τό: short-drawn breath, panting

    ἀνέμος -ου, ὁ: wind 10

    ἁματροχίας: perh. = ἁρματοτροχιά -ας, ἡ: a wheel-track, trace.

    λεπταλέος -η -ον: fine, delicate (= λεπτός)

    ξύω, impf. ξῦον, aor. ἔξῡσε: shave, scrape smooth, smooth (Il. 14.179)

    φαλιός -ά -όν: having a patch of white, of the Apis bull (= φάλαρος)

    ἰᾱλεμίζω (Ion. ἰηλ-): bewail (ἰάλεμος -ου, ὁ: a wail, lament, dirge)

    Fr. 54a

    Ἰναχίς -ιδος, ἡ: daughter of Inachus; Argive

    δωδεκάκις: (adv.) twelve times

    δίφρος -ου, ὁ: chariot-board; chariot; seat, stool

    ὄθμα -ατος, τό: eye (= ὄμμα)

    Ἀμῡμώνη -ης, ἡ: Amymone, daughter of Danaus, after whom a spring in Argos was called

    κρήνη -ης, ἡ: well, spring, fountain

    νάω: flow

    ἱππαστήρ, gen. -ῆρος: (adj., describing a horse) fit for riding

    δηθάκι(ς): (adv.) often

    Νεῖλος -ου, ὁ: the Nile river

    λᾰγών -όνος, ἡ: hollow, flank, side, bank

    ἔσταθεν: “were set up” > ἵστημι, aor ind pass 3rd pl (Epic)

    αὔριον: (adv.) tomorrow

    συρίζω: to play the syrinx (σῦριγξ), to pipe; to whistle or hiss

    Fr. 54b

    ἔρις gen. ἔριδος, acc. ἔριν, ἡ: combat

    Τάναγρα, ἡ: Tanagra, a town of Boeotia

    ἀέκων ἀέκοντος: (adj.) against one's will, unwilling

    ληϊτιαί -ῶν: regiment, army (from either λαός, people, host, or λεία, booty)

    λήνεα ληνέων, τά: wool

    πωτάομαι, aor. ἐπωτήθην: fly about (poet. frequentat. of πέτομαι)

    κυπωθεὶς: overthrown (aor pass ptc of κυπόω)

    τόξον -ου, τό: bow

    σκῶλος -ου, ὁ: thorn, prickle (= σκόλοψ)

    αὔλειος -α -ον: of or belonging to the courtyard; ἐπʼ αὐλείῃσι θύρῃσι at the door of the court, i.e., the outer door, house-door 15

    ἄχεδρος -ου, ἡ: prickly pear, a type of fruit-bearing cactus, also called ἀχράς (which Eumaeus used to make a thorny hedge in Od. 14.10)

    ἐξερύω: to draw out of

    αἰνολέων -λέοντος, ὁ: the terrible lion ([Theoc.] 25.168)

    ὄφρα: in order that, that 23

    δεῖπνον -ου, τό: meal

    δυερός -ή -όν: miserable

    ἀξυλίη -ης, ἡ: want of wood (Ion. of ἀξυλία)

    δρέπανον -ου, τό: a scythe, curved sword, sickle 25

    ἀπευθής -ές: (adj.) unknown, not inquired into

    τέρχνος -εος, τό: twig, young shoot

    πολύσκαρθμος -ον: (adj.) far-bounding

    λίπτω: be eager (= λίπτομαι)

    δάκνω δήξομαι ἔδακον: bite, champ

    κύτῐσος, gen. κυτίσοιο, ὁ/ἡ: moon-trefoil, a shrub with yellow flowers, often food for goats

    χίμαιρα -ας, ἡ: she goat

    βληχάζω: to bleat (= βληχάομαι)

    πύλη -ης, ἡ: one door of a pair of gates, as of a city; (pl. in poetry) house doors

    ἐέργω: shut in; (Pass.) be fenced in, secured (Ep. and Ion. of ἔργω)

    δυσήβολος -ον: unpleasant to meet (= δυσάντητος)

    τράγος -ου, ὁ: he-goat

    ἀλγέω, fut. -ήσω: feel bodily pain, suffer; ἀλγήσας smarting with pain (ἄλγος)

    νομός -οῦ, ὁ: pasture; pasturage, food

    ποίμνη -ης, ἡ: a herd (of sheep)

    θάσσω: sit idle

     

    Fr. 54c

    δίκροος -α -ον: forked, cloven, bifurcated

    φιτρός -οῦ, ὁ: block of wood, log

    ἀείρω: to lift, heave, raise up

    μέσσαβον -ου, τό: the leather strap by which a yoke was fastened 5

    αὔλιος -α -ον: belonging to sheepfolds; αὔλιος ἀστήρ = the evening-star (here and at A.R. 4.1629–30) 

    δυθμή -ῆς, ἡ: the setting of the sun (= δυσμή > δύνω)

    Ὀφιονίδης -ου, ὁ: descendant of Ophion (equated in some version of the creation myths with Uranus, father the Titans)

    θύρα -ας, ἡ: door

    ἠχή -ῆς, ἡ: a sound, noise

    ὀκνηρός -ή -όν: shrinking, timid 10

    ἰάχω: cry, shout, shriek, roar

    ἔλαφος -ου, ὁ/ἡ: deer

    σκύμνος -ου, ὁ: a lion cub, whelp

    ἀκουέμεν: Hom. inf. of ἀκούω

    ἦκα: (adv.) slightly, softly, gently

    ὀχληρός -ά -όν: troublesome, irksome, importunate

    γείτων -ονος, ὁ/ἡ: neighbor

    ἀποκναίω: scrape or rub off, wear out; destroy

    κωκυμός -οῦ, ὀ: a shriek, wail (= κώκυμα -ατος, τό)

    πλάσσω: form, mold, shape

    ἐνέπω, aor. ἔνισπον: to tell, relate, speak; call, name 15

    ῥίπτω: cast, throw, hurl

    σμίνθος -ου, ὁ: a mouse

    κρυπτός -ή -όν: hidden, secret

    τεύχω: make ready, make, build, work

    δόλος -ου, ὁ: bait, trap

    πᾰγίς -ίδος, ἡ,: snare, noose, trap (dim. of πάγη)

    ὀλέθριος -ον: destructive, deadly

    δεῖλαρ δείλατος, τό: bait (= δέλεαρ)

    δοιοί -αί -ά = δύο

    αἴρινος, -η, -ον: of darnel or poison darnel, a type of rye grass

    ἑλλεβόρος -ου, ὁ: hellebore, a perennial plant, many species of which are poisonous

    μίγδα: (adv.) mixed promiscuously, confusedly

    μάλευρον -ου, τό: meal, flour, wheat meal (= ἄλευρον)

    καλύπτω: cover, bury, hide, conceal

    λύχνος -ου, ὁ: a portable light, a lamp 22

    πῖος -η -ον: rich, unctious (poetic for πίων)

    λείχω λείξω ἔλειξα: lick, lick up

    ἔαρ ἔαρος, τό: blood, juice; (metaph.) oil of a lamp

    ἀλκαία -ας, ἡ: lion's tail; tail

    ἀφύσσω ἀφύξω ἤφῠσα: drain or draw liquids, esp. from a larger container to a smaller one

    πῶμα -ατος, τό: lid, cover

    ἅλμη -ης, ἡ: sea-water; brine used for pickling (olives, etc.)

    φιάλη -ης, ἡ: a broad, flat vessel; a bowl

    εἴλω, aor. ἔλσα or εἴλησα: shut in, hinder, press, force 25

    χηλός -οῦ, ἡ: a low chest in which clothes and other precious things could be kept

    πενιχρός -ά -όν: poor, needy

    σκληρός -ά -όν: hard

    σκίμπτομαι: press

    λᾶας, gen. λᾶος, dat. λᾶι, acc. λᾶα or λᾶαν, ὁ: stone

    κλισμός -οῦ, ὁ: couch

    ὀρχέομαι: to dance

    βρέγμα -ατος, τό: the front or top of the head

    κανθός -ου, ὁ: corner of the eye; (poet.) eye

    ὦρος -εος, τό: sleep

    σίντης -ου, ὁ: ravening beast, spoiler, thief

    τελέω, fut. τελέσω, aor. ἐτέλεσσα or τέλεσσα: fulfill, accomplish, perform, finish 

    κύντατος -α -ον: most dog-like, most shameless 30

    μαίνομαι, fut. μᾰνοῦμαι, poet. aor. 3 sing μήνατο: rage, be furious

    ἄμφια -ων, τά: clothes (= ἱμάτια)

    σισύρα -ης, ἡ: a cloak of goat hair

    κίβισις -ιος, ἡ: pouch, wallet

    διαβιβρώσκω, fut. -βρώσομαι, aor. -έβρωσα, Ep. aor. 2 -έβρων: eat up, consume

    διχθάδιος -α -ον: twofold, double

    εὐτυκάζομαι: to make ready

    φονεύς -έως, ὁ: a murderer, slayer, destroyer

    ἶπος -ου, ἡ: the piece of wood that falls and catches a mouse

    ἀνδίκτης -ου, ὁ: a stick in a trap, when touched the trap will spring close

    ἅλλομαι, fut. ἁλοῦμαι, aor. 1 ἡλάμην, aor. 2 ἡλόμην, aor. 2 inf. ἁλέσθαι: spring, leap, bound

     

    Fr. 54e

    καίνω κανῶ ἔκανον: kill, slay

    τέρας, gen. τέρατος or τέραος, τό: monster

    Ἀργεῖος -ου: of or from Argos

    ἀάτη -ης, ἡ: bane, ruin (= ἄτη)

    φρέαρ φρέατος, τό: a well, deep pit

    τάχα: (adv.) quickly, presently; perhaps 8

    βουκτέανος -ον: possessing cattle, rich in cattle

    παιδογόνος -ου, ὁ: begetter, father 10

     

    Fr. 54h

    ἐπιφράζομαι: think of doing, devise, contrive; notice, observe, acquaint oneself with, find out

    τάμνω Ion., Dor., and Ep. for τέμνω: cut, cut off, cut short

    μῆκος -εος, τό: length; size, greatness

    ἀοιδή -ῆς, ἡ: song

    ἀνείρομαι: inquire of, question

    ἐξερέω: I will speak

    ἄττα: a salutation addressed to elders

    δαίς δαιτός, ἡ: meal, banquet, feast

    πυνθάνομαι: learn; πεύσῃ, fut ind mid 2nd sg

     

    Fr. 54i

    Ἀλητεῖδαι -ων, οἱ: the Corinthians, after Aletes, a descendent of Heracles and founder of Corinth

    γέγειος -ον: earth-born; ancient 5

    τελέω, fut. τελέσω, aor. ἐτέλεσσα or τέλεσσα: fulfill, accomplish, perform, finish 

    σύμβολος -ου, ὁ: a sign, omen, proof

    Ἰσθμιάς -άδος: (adj.) Isthmian, of or relating to Isthmia, where there was a series of quadrennial games

    ζῆλος -ου, ὁ: jealousy, zealous imitation, emulation

    Νεμέηθε: (adv.) from or at Nemea, where there was a series of quadrennial games

    πίτυς -υος, ἡ: stone pine, pinus pinea, also called the Italian stone pine, umbrella pine and parasol pine

    ἀποτιμάω: dishonor, slight

    ἀγωνιστής -ου, ὁ: competitor

    στέφω: put round, encircle, crown, wreath

    Ἐφύρη -ης, ἡ: Ephyra, an old name of Corinth

           .             .            .             .             .            

    ἀρέσκω, Ep. aor. ἄρεσσα: make amends; Ep. aor. mid ptc. ἀρεσσάμενος: appeasing, satisfying 17

    μίμνω: stay, stand fast

    ἀποστείχω: go away, go home

    Ἄργος -εος, τό: Argos

    ἑῷος -α -ον: in or of the morning

    ξε(ι)νοδόκος -ου, ὁ: a host

    λανθάνω, aor. 1 mid. ἐλησάμην or λησάμην: forget about (+ gen.)

    ὑποσχεσίη -ης, ἡ: a promise  (Ep. for ὑπόσχεσις -εως, ἡ)

    ὀρεύς, gen. -έως, acc. ὀρῆα, ὁ: mule 20

    τίω: pay honor to

    πηός -οῦ, ὁ: kinsman, kinsman by marriage

    ἁγιστεία -ας, ἡ: ritual, rite, ceremony

    οὐδαμά: (adv.) never, not at all

     

    Fr. 55

    ἀρισκυδής -ές: very wrathful, a hapax apparently built on the verb σκύζομαι/σκυδμαίνω.

    εὖνις -ιδος, ἡ: wife

    ἀνίημι -ήσω -ῆκα: send

    ἔθειν: to ruin, destroy (= φθείρειν, Hsch. s.v. ἔθει)

    ἴδιος -α -ον: pertaining to oneself; private, personal

    λάχος -εος, τό: an allotted portion, lot, appointed office

    γενέθλη -ης, ἡ: offspring

    σκότιος -α -ον: secret; bastard

    τρηχύς  -εῖα -ύ: rough, rugged, harsh (Ep. and Ion. for τραχύς)

    ἄεθλος -ου, ὁ: contest, task, struggle (Ep. and Ion. for ἆθλος)

     

    Fr. 58

    ἀέθλιον -ου, τό: prize (Ep. and Ion. for ἆθλον)

    ἐχῖνος -ου, ὁ: a large jar, cauldron

    βουδόκος -ον: able to contain an ox; huge

     

    Fr. 60a

    σκύλος -εος, τό: a skin, hide

    καλύπτρη -ης, ἡ: a veil, covering

    νιφετός -οῦ, ὁ: snowstorm, falling snow

    βέλος -εος, τό: missile, arrow

    ἔρυμα -ατος, τό:  a fence, guard, safeguard; a protection

     

    Fr. 60b

    θήρ θηρός, ὁ: a wild beast

    ἀερτάζω: to lift up (= ἀείρω)

    δέρμα -ατος, τό: the skin, hide

    κατωμάδιος -α -ον: worn on the shoulder

    Fr. 54

    To Zeus and Nemea I owe some gift of thanksgiving,

    young woman, the sacred offspring of the sibling gods,

    our . . . victory-song about your horses

    For recently there came from the land of cow-born Danaυs,

    to Helen's small island, and to the Pallenean seer, 5

    the herder of seals, a golden message:

    that near the tomb of Opheltes, the son of Euphetes

    they ran, by no means . . . of charioteers in front

    with their breath . . . but running

    like the winds, no one saw their traces(?). 10

    . . . 

    Colchians or to the Nile?

    delicate

    women knowing how to mourn the bull with the white marking

     

    Fr. 54a

    For the Inachids

     

    Fr. 54b

    near the prickly pear at the entrance to the court 15

    in order that  ... you again a meal for the fire ... 23

    . . . nor with a miserable lack of wood . . .

    . . . for the young trees are ignorant of the scythe . . .25

           .             .            .             .             .            .

    . . . and the goat, eager to chew the moon-trefoil . . .27

    bleats, secured inside the gates . . .

    the he-goat, who is unpleasant to meet

     

    Fr. 54c

    and when the evening-star was about to loosen the yoke of the oxen 5

    who at the setting of the sun

    . . . when he (the sun) shines for the descendants of Ophion . . .

    . . . the older ones of the gods . . .

    . . . at the door; and when he heard the noise . . .

    . . . as when a lion's cub roars at the ear of a timid deer . . .10

    . . . he hesitated for a moment to listen, and then spoke softly

    "Irksome creatures, why have you once more come like neighbors,

    to destroy our home, since you will carry away absolutely nothing?

    A god molded you as a source of woe for guests and hosts."

    When he had spoken thus, he threw away the work . . .15

    . . .  after that he was making ready a secret trap for the mice

    and he put into two traps deadly bait

    taking flour mixed with hellebore,

    . . .  and he concealed death. . .

           .             .            .             .             .            .

    many times they licked the fat oil from the lamp 22

    scooping it up with their tails, when the lid was not placed

    on brine and bowls, or when

    they forced (the lid) from another chest, and the things made by a poor man 25

    . . . pressed from under a hard stone . . .

    . . . they had danced . . .

    on his head and driven sleep from his eyes

    but this the ravening creatures had accomplished in one short night

    the most shameless thing, about which that man was most furious:30

    the pests had eaten his clothes, his goatskin, and his bag.

    For them he made ready two killers,

    a crusher and a trap well able to jump over a long distance.

     

    Fr. 54e

    . . . having killed the monster. . .

    . . . whether one ought to call it the bane of the Argives . . .

    . . . at the large pit of Danaus . . .4

           .             .            .             .             .            .

    . . . you will soon be rich in cattle . . .8

           .             .            .             .             .            .

    . . . I shall persuade (people) that Zeus really is my father . . .10

     

    Fr. 54h

    he may find out for himself and cut short the length of the song,

    but all that he said to him in answer to his questions I shall tell:

    "Old father, you will hear the rest when you are at the meal,

    but now you will hear what Pallas . . . me

     

    Fr. 54i

    and the sons of Aletes, celebrating games far more ancient 5

    than this one at the Aegean god's place,

    will make it a sign of an Isthmian victory,

    in imitation of the victors from Nemea; they will despise the pine,

    which previously crowned the competitors at Ephyra.

           .             .            .             .             .            .

    . . . satisfying his heart. 17

    He stayed the night there and left for Argos in the morning.

    But he did not forget his promise to his host,

    and sent him the mule and honored him like one of his kinsmen. 20

    Even now a ritual which will never cease...

     

    Fr. 55

    Zeus' wife, in great anger, sent him

    to destroy Argos, although it was her own territory, but so that

    it would be a harsh task for the bastard son of Zeus

     

    Fr. 58

    and as a prize they will lead away no horse, no couldron

    able to hold an ox

     

    Fr. 60a

    and the skin which became a covering for the man,

    a protection from snowstorms and arrows

     

    Fr. 60b

    lifting the animal's skin to wear from his shoulders

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    Suggested Citation

    Susan Stephens, Callimachus: Aetia. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2015. ISBN: 978-1-947822-07-8.https://dcc.dickinson.edu/callimachus-aetia/book-3/victory-berenice