Ἀνάγκη
necessity
Translated by Jennifer Benedict30 Mar 2001Vetting: high10 revisions
Translation
In the Epigrams: "see how all-wise necessity taught him to find an escape from Hades."1
And [there is] a proverb: "with necessity not even gods fight."2 It recommends that one should be satisfied with what is available. Similar to this: "if there is no meat at hand, one must make do with stockfish."3
And [there is] a proverb: "with necessity not even gods fight."2 It recommends that one should be satisfied with what is available. Similar to this: "if there is no meat at hand, one must make do with stockfish."3
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ἀνάγκη· ἐν Ἐπιγράμμασι· ἴδ' ὡς ἐδίδαξεν ἀνάγκα πάνσοφος ἐξευρεῖν ἔκλυσιν ἀΐδεω. καὶ παροιμία· ἀνάγκῃ οὐδὲ θεοὶ μάχονται. παρεγγυᾷ, ὅτι δεῖ τοῖς παροῦσιν ἀρκεῖσθαι. ὅμοιον τῷ· ἂν μὴ παρῇ κρέα, ταρίχῳ στερκτέον.
Betacode
*)ana/gkh: e)n *)epigra/mmasi: i)/d' w(s e)di/dacen a)na/gka pa/nsofos e)ceurei=n e)/klusin a)i/+dew. kai\ paroimi/a: a)na/gkh| ou)de\ qeoi\ ma/xontai. pareggua=|, o(/ti dei= toi=s parou=sin a)rkei=sqai. o(/moion tw=|: a)\n mh\ parh=| kre/a, tari/xw| sterkte/on.
Notes (2)
- [1] Greek Anthology 6.219.23-24 (attributed to Antipater of Sidon), having taken shelter in a lion's den, a Gallus drives the animal away by beating his tambour; cf. Gow and Page (vol. I, 33); (vol. II, 84-86); and further extracts from this protracted epigram at alpha 1510, alpha 4172, epsilon 747, zeta 19, kappa 2544, lambda 869, sigma 299, and sigma 1723. The Galli (cf. gamma 41, gamma 42) were eunuch priests of Kybele (kappa 2586).↩
- 2Zenobius 1.85; already at alpha 1826. ↩
- 3Again at alpha 2544, sigma 1052, and tau 119; cf. also sigma 440.
References
A.S.F. Gow and D.L. Page, eds., The Greek Anthology: Hellenistic Epigrams, vol. I, (Cambridge 1965)
A.S.F. Gow and D.L. Page, eds., The Greek Anthology: Hellenistic Epigrams, vol. II, (Cambridge 1965)
A.S.F. Gow and D.L. Page, eds., The Greek Anthology: Hellenistic Epigrams, vol. II, (Cambridge 1965)
Linked from5 entries
- α1510Ἅμματα[Kasiotic] knots[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who are crooked in their ways. [So called] from the Pelousians in Kasion, who by natural skill used to weave knots in order to attach one beam to another. [A knot]…
- α1826Ἀνάγκῃwith necessity not even gods fight[no gloss]
- α2544Ἂν μὴ παρῇ κρέα ταρίχῳ στερκτέονif there is no meat one must settle for smoked fishThe proverb recommends that it is necessary to be satisfied with what is available.
- α4172Ἀσκητόςtricked-out[Meaning one who/which is] adorned with care. "Wearing a woman's chiton [and] tricked-out with well-wreathed ivy clusters."
- ε747Ἐλαστρηθείςdriven[Meaning he who was] forced, made to move. "Driven by the limb-stiffening snow of Zeus."
Neighbouring entries
Revision history10 revisions · last 1 Aug 2021
- added missing bibliography — Ronald Allen
- expanded n.1, added bibliography, added cross-references, added keywords — Ronald Allen
- Revised — David Whitehead
- added a keyword — Catharine Roth
- another x-ref — David Whitehead
- coding — Catharine Roth
- tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- added x-ref — David Whitehead
- augmented notes and keywords — David Whitehead
- modified translation and keywords; added notes — David Whitehead
- Translated — Jennifer Benedict