Ἄξιον
proper, fine, worthy
Translated by Jennifer Benedict30 Nov 2000Vetting: high9 revisions
Translation
Is applied to what is just. Thus Demosthenes [uses the word].1
Also [sc. attested is the phrase]a)/cion cu/lon ["fine timber"], [meaning timber] well and beautifully worked, good, beautiful. Aristophanes [writes]: "if you're caught out, at least it will be from fine timber [that you will hang]".2 From the proverb: "to hang from fine timber." He wants to say, then, that it is better to employ noble and well-scrutinized generals than inferior ones. For if it is necessary to suffer, better to suffer at the hands of a good man than an inferior one.
But axion in Attic [writers] [means something] cheap. "[Do you know that] stem of a silphium, the axios [part]?" That is the cheap [part].3
Also [sc. attested is the phrase]
But axion in Attic [writers] [means something] cheap. "[Do you know that] stem of a silphium, the axios [part]?" That is the cheap [part].3
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ἄξιον· ἐπὶ τοῦ δικαίου τέτακται. οὕτως Δημοσθένης. καὶ Ἄξιον ξύλον, εὖ καὶ καλῶς εἰργασμένον, εὐθὲς, καλόν. Ἀριστοφάνης· κἄν τις σφαλῆτ', ἐξ ἀξίου γοῦν τοῦ ξύλου. παρὰ τὴν παροιμίαν· ἀπὸ καλοῦ ξύλου κἂν ἀπάγξασθαι. θέλει οὖν λέγειν, βέλτιόν ἐστι χρῆσθαι τοῖς γενναίοις στρατηγοῖς καὶ δεδοκιμασμένοις ἢ τοῖς φαύλοις· κἂν γὰρ δέῃ παθεῖν, κρεῖττον ἀπ' ἀγαθοῦ ἢ φαύλου πάσχειν. Ἄξιον δὲ παρὰ Ἀττικοῖς τὸ εὔωνον. καυλὸν σιλφίου τὸν ἄξιον. τουτέστι τὸν εὔωνον.
Betacode
*)/acion: e)pi\ tou= dikai/ou te/taktai. ou(/tws *dhmosqe/nhs. kai\ *)/acion cu/lon, eu)= kai\ kalw=s ei)rgasme/non, eu)qe\s, kalo/n. *)aristofa/nhs: ka)/n tis sfalh=t', e)c a)ci/ou gou=n tou= cu/lou. para\ th\n paroimi/an: a)po\ kalou= cu/lou ka)\n a)pa/gcasqai. qe/lei ou)=n le/gein, be/ltio/n e)sti xrh=sqai toi=s gennai/ois strathgoi=s kai\ dedokimasme/nois h)\ toi=s fau/lois: ka)\n ga\r de/h| paqei=n, krei=tton a)p' a)gaqou= h)\ fau/lou pa/sxein. *)/acion de\ para\ *)attikoi=s to\ eu)/wnon. kaulo\n silfi/ou to\n a)/cion. toute/sti to\n eu)/wnon.
Notes (2)
- [1] (In the fragment quoted under alpha 2813, q.v.) Likewise or similarly in other lexica; references at Photius alpha2177 Theodoridis.↩
- 2Aristophanes, Frogs 736 (web address 1), with comment from the scholia there; cf. alpha 3334, kappa 321. ↩
- 3Aristophanes, Knights 894-5 (web address 2), with scholion. Again, cf. alpha 2813, and alpha 2814.
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
- Web address 2 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from4 entries
- α2813Ἄξιονproper; cheapThe orators apply [this] to what is sensible and just. Demosthenes [writes]: "for on account of this especially it is proper to be silent, when there is neither someone bullying, nor someone who is going to punish you".…
- α2814Ἄξιοςof a worthy price, worth [something][Meaning] something cheap. Pherecrates in Histos [writes]: "winged wheat worth a garland."
- α2831Ἀξιώτεροςcheaper[Meaning] fairer in price. Also [sc. attested is] a)ciwte/ras, like eu)wnote/ras. "I have never seen cheaper anchovies". [Meaning] of a worthy price. For axion in Attic [writers] [means] cheap.
- α3334Ἀπὸ καλοῦ ξύλου κἂν ἀπάγξασθαιshould be hanged from a fine timber[Aristophanes] wants to say that it is better to employ noble and well-scrutinized generals than base ones. For if it is necessary to suffer, better to suffer at the hands of someone good than someone base. And…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history9 revisions · last 1 Sep 2015
- tweaked link — Catharine Roth
- — David Whitehead
- supplied missing link — Catharine Roth
- — David Whitehead
- modified tr; more keywords; tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- augmented notes and keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- modified translation; added note and keyword; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- —
- —
- Translated — Jennifer Benedict