Ἄνω καὶ κάτω

Notes

1. The proverb "to move every stone" given as the gloss here comes from the game of pessoi (pi 1384), where it may contain the phrase "from the sacred (sc. line)" and refers to the last desperate, decisive move to avoid outright defeat. It implies ultimate danger and a life-and-death gamble. It was widely used in Greek, perhaps as early as Alcaeus (fr.306.14 Lobel-Page). See Suetonius's use in the peri\ paidi/wn (ed. Taillardat pp. 153-4, who also discusses the use of pa=s as "decisive"). However, the gambling association of the original metaphor gradually disappeared (e.g. Socrates Scholasticus, Historia Ecclesiastica 1.22; 2.8; 5.15; 6.6,7), and in respect of the Suda it is best to ignore the original metaphor and to translate the phrase literally (cf. pi 222, pi 223) as "to leave no stone unturned."
   Whether this is in fact a correct definition of the phrase "high and low" is anyone's guess. On the other hand, it is possible that the move of the "last piece" required a dice throw of "high and low."