Tuesday 30 April 2013

Feigned and Acted the adjective Anupokritees



Greek has an adjective ἀνυπόκριτος that has been translated as unfeigned or genuine.

If this word was translated literally it might be unactorly or not dramatically or by a phrase not like a stage performer or actor or even unmasked since actors and performers in Greek and Roman Dramas wore masks.

Here's a quote that includes that word.

Romans 12:9 ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος

Let love be genuine or in some older versions unfeigned is used.

Love Agape must be an sincere action not an act.

This word is also used again in 2 Corinthians 6.6

Saturday 27 April 2013

Lucian An Epigram

LUCIAN An Epigram
From Book 10/ 27
The Greek Anthology


Ἀνθρώπους μὲν ἴσως λήσεις ἄτοπόν τι ποιήσας,
οὐ λήσεις δὲ θεοὺς οὐδὲ λογιζόμενος.



If you do a foul thing it may perchance be hidden from men, but from the gods it shall not be hidden, even if you but think of it.

Things to consider during translation

What verb is  λήσεις  a form of ?

the men de pattern for contrast 

 ἴσως seems to mean equal even chances not equally 







Tuesday 23 April 2013

CRATES on Simplicity

Crates the Philosopher on Simplicity

Greek Anthology book 10 104

Χαῖρε θεὰ δέσποιν̕, ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀγάπημα,
Εὐτελίη, κλεινῆς ἔγγονε Σωφροσύνης.
Σὴν ἀρετὴν τιμῶσιν ὅσοι τὰ δίκαἰ ἀσκοῦσιν.

Rough Translation.

Hail goddess or divine mistress of good men beloved / admired 
Simplicity of glorious begotten / born Sophrosune 
(the word order has been changed to match the metre )
Sophrosune is Moderation or Temperance.
Your virtue /excellence they honor justice /righteousness practising

Simplicity is honored /valued by those who practise righteous actions.

Saturday 20 April 2013

ANACREON I care not for ...

A Poem By ANACREON
From the Greek Anthology book 11 47

Οὔ μοι μέλει τὰ Γύγεω,
τοῦ Σαρδίων ἄνακτος,
οὔθ̓ αἱρέει με χρυσός,
οὐκ αἰνέω τυράννους.
Ἐμοὶ μέλει μύροισι
καταβρέχειν ὑπήνην.
Ἐμοὶ μέλει ῥόδοισι
καταστέφειν κάρηνα.
Τὸ σήμερον μέλει μοι.
τὸ δ̓ αὔριον τίς οἶδεν; 

A Literal translation you can tidy up.  

Notice  the use of dative with melei 

Not to me  is a concern or care (so I care not reads better in English)  for the  ta = things = wealth of Gyges
 of Sardis (wealthy city in Asia Minor)  the anax or ruler 
nor does take (captive) me GOLD
  not  I praise tyrants.
 I care to drench my beard with scent
 I care to garland / crown my head with roses.  

Garland is often translated as crown because a "Crown" for many ancient rulers was a band of flowers or metal on the head.

  I care for today 
and tomorrow who knows?

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Future Middle Participles and a Poem

Future Middle Participles

Two Lovely Examples
From the Greek Anthology
Book 10. 26 

Lucian on Thrift and Moderation

Ὡς τεθνηξόμενος τῶν σῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀπόλαυε,
ὡς δὲ βιωσόμενος φείδεο σῶν κτεάνων.
Ἔστι δ̓ ἀνὴρ σοφὸς οὗτος, ὃς ἄμφω ταῦτα νοήσας,
φείδοῖ καὶ δαπάνῃ μέτρον ἐφηρμόσατο.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

The First Greek Font

The First Greek Font for Printing was developed and designed by Aldus Manutius and Francesco Griffo of the Aldine PRess in Venice.



The font was based by the handwriting of Greek scholars who were refugees from the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453  who had settled in Venice.

Saturday 13 April 2013

Socrates Prayer to Pan




Socrates' Prayer to Pan  appears at the end of the Phaedrus.

Here's the Greek Text.


φίλε Πάν τε καὶ ἄλλοι ὅσοι τῇδε θεοί δοίητε μοι καλῲ γενέσθαι τἄνδοθεν.
Ἔξωθεν δὲ ὅσα ἔχω, τοῖς ἐντὸς εἶναι μοι φίλια.
Πλούσιον δὲ χρυσοῦ πλῆθος, εἴη μοι,
ὅσον μήτε φέρειν, μήτε ἄγειν δύναιτ' ἄλλος ἢ ὁ σωφρον.



Thursday 11 April 2013

Some Greek Girls' Names



Some Greek Female Names

φιλαινίς Philainis χρύσιλλα Khrusilla Ἑρμιόνη Hermionee Εὐδοκία Eudokia

Χαριτω Kharitoo Μοιρω Moiroo Ἤριννα Erinna Νοσσίς Nossis

Κρέουσα Kreousa Μέλισσα Melissa Εὐρυδίκη Eurudikee Σοφία Sophia

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Ludovisi Throne


The Ludovisi Throne is an artifact from Southern Italy that is both mysterious and beautiful. This is one image from it. There were no surviving text inscriptions so we don't know if the throne or rather stone throne was used by a human priest or priestess or supported a wooden image of a goddess. We also can only guess if this image shows a human woman or a goddess being robed after some sort of ritual bathing ceremony? The small breasts suggest this is a young woman a virgin perhaps but we just don't know. Still beautiful to look at though whatever its original function.