Κατὰ δὲ τοὺς αὐτοὺς χρόνους ἀφίκετο καὶ Πυθαγόρας ὁ Σάμιος ἑπτάκις ἀλλαγεὶς καὶ ἐν τοσούτοις ζῴοις βιοτεύσας καὶ ἐκτελέσας τῆς ψυχῆς τὰς περιόδους. ἦν δὲ χρυσοῦς ὅλον τὸ δεξιὸν ἡμίτομον. καὶ ἐκρίθη μὲν συμπολιτεύσασθαι αὐτοῖς, ἐνεδοιάζετο δὲ ἔτι πότερον Πυθαγόραν ἢ Εὔφορβον χρὴ αὐτὸν ὀνομάζειν. ὁ μέντοι Ἐμπεδοκλῆς ἦλθεν μὲν καὶ αὐτός, περίεφθος καὶ τὸ σῶμα ὅλον ὠπτημένος· οὐ μὴν παρεδέχθη καίτοι πολλὰ ἱκετεύων.

    Some famous men arrive on the island and athletic competitions are held.

    ἀφίκετο: ao. of ἀφικνέομαι, “arrived”

    Πυθαγόρας ὁ Σάμιος: Pythagoras of Samos (570-495) was a mathematician, philosopher and mystic.  He and his followers practiced a way of life that included dietary restrictions, and he is famous for a theory of reincarnation.  

    ἑπτάκις: “seven times”

    ἀλλαγεὶς: ao. part. pas. nom. s. of ἀλλάσσω, “having changed”

    ἐν τοσούτοις ζῴοις: “in so many (i.e. 7) bodies”

    βιοτεύσας καὶ ἐκτελέσας: ao. part., “having lived and finished”

    τῆς ψυχῆς τὰς περιόδους: “the migrations of the soul”

    ἐκρίθη: ao. pas. of κρίνω, “it was decided”

    συμπολιτεύσασθαι: ao. inf. after ἐκρίθη, “that he should join the community”

    ἐνεδοιάζετο: impf. of ἐν-δοιάζω, “it was still in doubt”

    πότερον...ἢ: indirect question, “whether Protagoras or Euphorbus.”  Protagoras was reputed to believe that he was a reincarnation of Euphorbus, a hero of the Trojan War.

    Ἐμππεδοκῆλς: Empedocles was a fifth century Pythagorean philosopher, who was reputed to have thrown himself into the crater of Etna so that he might be believed to be a God.

    περίεφθος:  ao. part. περι-ἕψω, “cooked all around”

    ὠπτημένος: perf. part. pas. of ὄπτω, “roasted”

    παρεδέχθη: ao. pas. of παρα-δέχομαι, “he was not received”

    καίτοι + part.: concessive, “despite”

     

    ἀλλάσσω: change, alter

    βιοτεύω: live

    ἐκτελέω: bring quite to an end, to accomplish, achieve

    περίοδος, ἡ: a going round, circular trip

    χρύσεος, -η, -ον: golden, of gold

    δεξιός, -ά, -όν: on the right

    ἡμίτομον, ου, τό: a half

    συμπολιτεύω: live as fellow-citizens of one state

    ἐνδοιάζω: be in doubt, be at a loss

    περίεφθος, -ον: thoroughly well cooked

    ὀπτάω: roast, broil

    παραδέχομαι: receive from

    ἱκετεύω: approach as a suppliant

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    Suggested Citation

    Eric Casey, Evan Hayes, and Stephen Nimis, Lucian True History. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2023. ISBN: .
    https://dcc.dickinson.edu/lucian-true/book-2/2-21