An Unknown Thracian Story

Fr. 114a

                        ]ας ἥν κεν ὁδεύσῃ
                              ]νον Ἀργολικήν
20                    ]ατος, ἐκ γὰρ ἐκείνων
                              ]. Βιστονίδες
                        ].ς ὄχον, ὤπασε γάρ τοι
                              ]μηνος ἄναξ
                        ].τισι χὤς σέ κοτ' ἄνδρες
25                          ]τ.[.]ιν Ἰλιακοῦ 

    Fr. 114a (= 114.18-25 Pf.)
      1-8 P.Oxy. 2211, fr. 2 verso, 5-12 [image], Trismegistos 59407
      1 P.Oxy. 2212, fr. 19.4 vide infra [image], Trismegistos 59390

    The two clues to contents are the mention of the Argolid and the Bistones, which has led to the hypothesis that this is about Heracles and the horses of Bistonian (or Thracian) Diomedes. These were man-eating mares that Heracles took to Eurystheus in Argolis, after killing Diomedes. What parts and how much of the story Callimachus told is not known.

    Fr. 114a

    ὁδεύω: go, travel

    Ἀργολικός: (adj.) of Argolis, a district in Peloponnesus

    Βιστονίς -ίδος: (fem. adj.) of the Bistones, a people of Thrace

    ὄχος -ου, ὁ: carriage, chariot

    ὀπάζω ὀπάσσω ὤπασα: give as a companion; give, grant; chase, pursue

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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/uf/unknown-thracian-story