[72] τὴν τοίνυν περιφανῶς ἐγνωσμένην ξένην εἶναι καὶ ἐφ᾽ ᾗ μοιχὸν οὗτος ἐτόλμησε λαβεῖν, εἰς τοσοῦτον ὕβρεως καὶ ἀναιδείας ἦλθεν Στέφανος οὑτοσὶ καὶ Νέαιρα αὑτηί, ὥστε ἐτόλμησαν μὴ ἀγαπᾶν εἰ ἔφασκον αὐτὴν ἀστὴν εἶναι, ἀλλὰ κατιδόντες Θεογένην Κοιρωνίδην λαχόντα βασιλέα, ἄνθρωπον εὐγενῆ μέν, πένητα δὲ καὶ ἄπειρον πραγμάτων, συμπαραγενόμενος αὐτῷ δοκιμαζομένῳ καὶ συνευπορήσας ἀναλωμάτων, ὅτε εἰσῄει εἰς τὴν ἀρχήν, Στέφανος οὑτοσί, καὶ ὑπελθὼν καὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ πριάμενος, πάρεδρος γενόμενος, δίδωσι τὴν ἄνθρωπον ταύτην γυναῖκα, τὴν τῆς Νεαίρας θυγατέρα, καὶ ἐγγυᾷ Στέφανος οὑτοσὶ ὡς αὑτοῦ θυγατέρα οὖσαν· οὕτω πολὺ τῶν νόμων καὶ ὑμῶν κατεφρόνησεν.

[73] καὶ αὕτη ἡ γυνὴ ὑμῖν ἔθυε τὰ ἄρρητα ἱερὰ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ εἶδεν ἃ οὐ προσῆκεν αὐτὴν ὁρᾶν ξένην οὖσαν, καὶ τοιαύτη οὖσα εἰσῆλθεν οἷ οὐδεὶς ἄλλος Ἀθηναίων τοσούτων ὄντων εἰσέρχεται ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἡ τοῦ βασιλέως γυνή, ἐξώρκωσέν τε τὰς γεραρὰς τὰς ὑπηρετούσας τοῖς ἱεροῖς, ἐξεδόθη δὲ τῷ Διονύσῳ γυνή, ἔπραξε δὲ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως τὰ πάτρια τὰ πρὸς τοὺς θεούς, πολλὰ καὶ ἅγια καὶ ἀπόρρητα. ἃ δὲ μηδ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι πᾶσιν οἷόν τ᾽ ἐστίν, πῶς ποιῆσαί γε τῇ ἐπιτυχούσῃ εὐσεβῶς ἔχει, ἄλλως τε καὶ τοιαύτῃ γυναικὶ καὶ τοιαῦτα ἔργα διαπεπραγμένῃ;

[74] βούλομαι δ᾽ ὑμῖν ἀκριβέστερον περὶ αὐτῶν ἄνωθεν διηγήσασθαι καθ᾽ ἕκαστον, ἵνα μᾶλλον ἐπιμέλειαν ποιήσησθε τῆς τιμωρίας, καὶ εἰδῆτε ὅτι οὐ μόνον ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν νόμων τὴν ψῆφον οἴσετε, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς εὐλαβείας, τιμωρίαν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἠσεβημένων ποιούμενοι καὶ κολάζοντες τοὺς ἠδικηκότας. τὸ γὰρ ἀρχαῖον, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, δυναστεία ἐν τῇ πόλει ἦν καὶ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν ἀεὶ ὑπερεχόντων διὰ τὸ αὐτόχθονας εἶναι, τὰς δὲ θυσίας ἁπάσας ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔθυε, καὶ τὰς σεμνοτάτας καὶ ἀρρήτους ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ἐποίει, εἰκότως, βασίλιννα οὖσα.

    Stephanos then ingratiated himself with a man named Theogenes, who had been selected as βασιλεύς (king archon), and married Phano to him. As the wife of the βασιλεύς, Phano performed special rites on behalf of the city. Apollodoros explains that when Athens was a monarchy the king’s wife performed the most holy sacrifices. 

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    τήν...γνωσμένην ξένην εναι: “this woman who was acknowledged to be an alien....” The accusative is picked by αὐτήν a couple of lines down and treated as the subject of εἶναι ἀστήν in indirect statement.

    τοσοτον: as often, takes a genitive of measure (“such a pitch/degree of…”) (G. 507.c, S. 1325)

    μ γαπν ε φασκον: “to not be satisfied if they claimed that,” i.e., “to not be content with claiming that”

    κατιδόντες < κατεῖδον

    Κοιρωνίδην: “of the genos Koironidai.” This is actually a correction of the MSS, which read Κοθωκίδην, referring to the deme Kothokidai, but we learn that Theogenes’ deme is Erchia in §84, so the manuscript reading must be corrupt.

    βασιλέα: the βασιλεύς was one of the three main archons or magistrates (along with the eponymous archon and polemarch) selected by lot for one-year terms. The duties of the βασιλεύς were primarily religious in nature (overseeing festivals, sacrifices, sacred land, and trials pertaining to religious matters).

    δοκιμαζομέν: “The help referred to here [συμπαραγενόμενος] could consist of general advice on the dokimasia process, including details such as the choice and presentation of witnesses, appearance as witness or (if an objection was lodged) assistance with the presentation of the case” (Carey 1992: 122).

    συνευπορήσας < συνευπορέω; the participle modifies Στέφανος οὑτοσί, below.

    ναλωμάτων: i.e., the costs the βασιλεύς incurred in purchasing new clothing appropriate for his office, and furniture or other equipment necessary for his religious duties. (Note that Stephanos, earlier presented as a poor man with only an οἰκίδιον, is now portrayed as rich, since in this instance it helps Apollodoros’ case.)

    εσει < εἰσ-εἶμι; the subject is Theogenes.

    πελθών < ὑπέρχομαι, “getting into his good graces”

    τν ρχήν: “a magistracy,” namely the post of πάρεδρος

    πάρεδρος: each of the three major archons had two πάρεδροι or assistants, whom they selected for themselves, and who themselves had to undergo a δοκιμασία. In none of our sources are the exact duties of πάρεδροι spelled out.

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    θυε τ ρρητα ερά: “made the secret sacrificial offerings,” part of the Anthesteria, a festival held in honor of Dionysos on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Anthesterion (February/March). The first day of the festival was called the Pithoigia, on which wine jars were opened; the second day was the Choes, a day of drinking and revelry; and the third was the Chytroi, which commemorated the dead. Most likely the sacrifices being referred to here are those on the second day, the Choes; however, it is possible Apollodoros is condensing events that actually took place over the entire festival.

    προσῆκεν: impersonal use, with accusative person + infinitive

    οσα: concessive circumstantial participle

    ἀλλ’ ἤ: “except”

    το βασιλέως γυνή: the wife of the βασιλεύς played a special role in the religious life of the city, including being “married off” to Dionysos in a special ceremony; this was a way of ritually incorporating Dionysos (who comes from afar) into the city.

    ξώρκωσεν < ἐξορκόω, “administered the oath to”

    γεραράς: literally, “the revered women,” a term used for priestesses of Dionysos selected by the βασιλεύς for a one-year term.

    πηρετούσας < ὑπηρετέω (+ dat.); governs ἱεροῖς, “rites, sacrifices”

    γυνή: take as predicate.

    τά πάτρια: “ancestral customs”

    οόν τ’ στίν: οἷός τ’ εἰμί is an idiomatic way of saying “to be able”; here it is impersonal: “it is possible” (+ dat. of person).

    πς ποισαί γε τ πιτυχούσ εσεβς χει: “how is it pious for any chance person to do.” The direct object of ποιῆσαι is the preceding clause.πιτυχούσ < ἐπιτυγχάνω: as a substantive participle, often has the sense of “any chance person”

    λλως τε καί: “especially”

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    κριβέστερον: comparative adverb

    καθ’ καστον: “each at a time,” i.e., “one by one”

    τιμωρίας: gen. object of ἐπιμέλειαν

    οσετε < φέρω, + ψῆφον, “to give a vote”

    τς...ελαβείας: genitive governed by an implied ὑπέρ

    σεβημένων < ἀσεβέω; participle here in neuter

    τό...ρχαον: adverbial accusative

    δυναστεία: Apollodoros simplifies the development of Athenian monarchy (from the kings to the βασιλεύς archon) by compressing it into two stages.

    εί: “at any given time” (see §46)

    περεχόντων < ὑπερέχω: as substantive, has the sense of “the powerful, those having authority”; here, genitive of possession

    ατόχθονας: the Athenians defined themselves as native inhabitants of their land, literally sprung from the earth of Attica (i.e., “autochthonous”).

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    περιφανής –ές: visible from all sides; manifest, clear; adv. -νῶς conspicuously, notably, evidently

    ξένη: a female guest, a foreign woman

    μοιχός –ο : an adulterer, paramour, debaucher

    βρις –εως : outrage, insolence

    ναίδεια -ας : shamelessness, impudence, effrontery

    Στέφανος: Stephanos

    Νέαιρα: Neaira

    γαπάω γαπήσω γάπησα γάπηκα γάπημαι γάπηθην: love, show affection; be pleased

    φάσκω φάσκσω φασκσα ––– ––– –––: say, affirm, think, claim

    στή –ς : fem. of ἀστός

    κατεδον (aor. of καθοράω): to behold, discern

    Θεογένης: Theogenes

    λαγχάνω λήξομαι λαχον εληχα ––– –––: to obtain by lot; to file suit (absol. and with δίκην)

    εὐγενής –ές: well-born, generous

    πένης –ητος : laborer, poor man

    πειρος –α –ον: inexperienced of, ignorant

    συμπαραγίγνομαι: help

    δοκιμάζω: to examine for office-holding

    συνευπορέω: to contribute towards (+ gen.)

    νάλωμα: expenditure, cost

    εσειμι: to go into

    πέρχομαι πελεύσομαι/πειμι πλθον πελήλυθα ––– –––: fawn upon, insinuate oneself into another’s good graces

    πρίαμαι/νέομαι νήσομαι/νηθήσομαι πριάμην/ωνήθην ώνημαι: to buy

    πάρεδρος –ον: one who sits beside, an assistant

    γγυάω: to betroth

    καταφρονέω καταφρονήσω κατεφρόνησα καταπεφρόνηκα καταπεφρόνημαι κατεφρονήθην: disdain, scorn, despise

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    ρρητος –ον: not to be spoken, not to be divulged

    εσέρχομαι εσελεύσομαι εσλθον εσελήλυθα ––– –––: to come to court

    οἷ: to where

    θηναος –α –ον: Athenian

    ξορκόω: to administer an oath (to someone, + acc.)

    γεραρός -ά -όν: majestic, venerable; αἱ γεραραί, venerable priestesses of Dionysos

    πηρετέω πηρετήσω πηρτησα πηρτηκα πηρτημαι πηρετήθην: to minister to, serve (+ dat.)

    κδίδωμι κδώσω ξέδωκε κδέδωκα κδέδομαι ξεδόθην: to give in marriage

    Διόνυσος: Dionysos

    πάτριος –α –ον: of or belonging to one's father, paternal

    γιος: devoted to the gods, sacred, holy

    πόρρητος –ον: forbidden, secret

    πιτυγχάνω πιτεύξομαι πέτυχον πιτετύχηκα: to happen upon

    εσεβής –ές: pious, religious, righteous

    διαπράσσω διαπράξω διέπραξα διαπέπραχα (or διαπέπραγα) διαπέπραγμαι διεπράχθην: pass over, accomplish

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    νωθεν: from the beginning

    διηγέομαι διηγήσομαι διηγησάμην ––– διήγημαι διηγήθην: set out in detail

    πιμέλεια: care, attention

    τιμωρία –ας : help, vengeance, torture

    ψφος –ου : small stone; vote; judgment

    ελάβεια: discretion, caution, circumspection

    σεβέω σεβήσω σέβησα σέβηκα σέβημαι σεβήθην: to be impious, commit sacrilege, sin against

    κολάζω κολάσω κόλασα κεκόλακα κεκόλαμαι κολάσθην: chastise, punish

    ρχαος –α –ον: ancient, old-fashioned, primitive

    δυναστεία –ας : monarchy

    βασιλεία –ας : kingship

    περέχω περσχήσω/περξω περσχον περσχηκα περσχημαι περεσχθην: to excel

    ατόχθων or –ον gen .–ονος: sprung from the land itself

    θυσία –ας : offering, sacrifice

    σεμνός –ή –όν: holy; august

    εκότως: suitably, fairly

    βασίλιννα : queen; wife of the ἄρχων βασιλεύς

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    Suggested Citation

    Deborah Kamen, Pseudo-Demosthenes: Against Neaira. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-947822-10-8.https://dcc.dickinson.edu/ro/against-neaira/72-74