Fr. 37
οἵη τε Τρίτωνος ἐφ' ὕδασιν Ἀσβύσταο
Ἡφαίστου λόχιον θηξ[α]μένου πέλεκυν
βρέγμ[α]το[ς] ἐκ δίοιο σὺν ἔντ[ε]σιν [ἥ]λαο πατρός
notes
Fr. 37 Harder (= 37 Pf., = 44 Mass.)
1 St. Byz. 1.270
2-3 anon. comm. in P.Oxy. 2260 [image], Trismegistos 59148
The three lines of this story which remain describe Athena's birth from the head of Zeus. Callimachus locates the event near the Asbystian lake, Triton. Whether this is an aition of her birth, a description of a statue, or part of a dream sequence is debated.
vocabulary
Fr. 37
οἷος οἵη οἷον: (such) as, of what sort (Lat. qualis), with antecedent τοῖος expressed or implied.
Τρίτων -ωνος, ὁ: the river Triton, of which there were three, in Boeotia, Thessaly, and Libya. Here the Libyan one is meant.
Ἀσβύστα, gen. Ἀσβύσταο, ὁ: Asby(s)ta, a place in Libya; the Abystae were a tribe south of Cyrene
λόχιος -α -ον: of or belonging to childbirth
θήγω: to sharpen, whet
πέλεκυς -εως, ὁ: axe
βρέγμα -ατος, τό: front or top of the head
δῖος, δῖα, δῖον: heavenly, noble, divine
ἔντεα ἐντέων, τά: arms, armor, fighting gear
ἅλλομαι, fut. ἁλοῦμαι, aor. 1 ἡλάμην, aor. 2 ἡλόμην, aor. 2 inf. ἁλέσθαι: spring, leap, bound
translation
Fr. 37
as, near by the waters of the Asbystian (river) Triton,
after Hephaestus whetted his obstetric axe,
you leapt, in armor, from the divine head of your father.