Ἀρχίας
Archias
Translated by William Hutton15 Jun 2001Vetting: high5 revisions
Translation
"This man, who wanted to betray Cyprus to Demetrius, was caught and brought to trial, but hanged himself on a rope taken from the curtain-hangings. For in fact, because of their desires 'empty people think empty thoughts,' as the proverb goes. And that's not all: that man, because he thought he was about to receive 500 talents, discarded both the possessions he already had and his life."
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ἀρχίας· οὗτος βουλόμενος τὴν Κύπρον προδοῦναι Δημητρίῳ καὶ φωραθεὶς καὶ ἐς κρίσιν ἀχθεὶς καλῳδίῳ τῶν ἐκ τῆς αὐλαίας παραπετασμένων ἑαυτὸν ἀπεκρέμασε. τῷ γὰρ ὄντι διὰ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας κενοὶ κενὰ λογίζονται κατὰ τὴν παροιμίαν. καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος δόξας φʹ τάλαντα προσλήψεσθαι καὶ τὰ προϋπάρχοντα χρήματα καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα προσαπέβαλεν.
Betacode
*)arxi/as: ou(=tos boulo/menos th\n *ku/pron prodou=nai *dhmhtri/w| kai\ fwraqei\s kai\ e)s kri/sin a)xqei\s kalw|di/w| tw=n e)k th=s au)lai/as parapetasme/nwn e(auto\n a)pekre/mase. tw=| ga\r o)/nti dia\ ta\s e)piqumi/as kenoi\ kena\ logi/zontai kata\ th\n paroimi/an. kai\ ga\r e)kei=nos do/cas f# ta/lanta proslh/yesqai kai\ ta\ prou+pa/rxonta xrh/mata kai\ to\ pneu=ma prosape/balen.
Notes
- Polybius 33.5.2 (preserved only here), on events of c.155/4 BCE; cf. alpha 4434, kappa 1346, pi 2878.
For a discussion of the date and other matters arising see F.W. Walbank, A Historical Commentary on Polybius, iii (Oxford 1979) 546-7. Archias, here intriguing with Demetrius I of Syria, was the Ptolemaic governor of Cyprus at this time.
Linked from2 entries
- α4434ΑὐλαίαcurtainThat which is hung alongside the stage. Hyperides uses it in his [speech] Against Patrokles. Polybios [writes]: "hearing all these things through the curtain the king was laughing." And elsewhere: "he took a rope from…
- κ1346Κενοὶ κενὰ λογίζονταιempty men think empty thoughtsA proverb. [It arose] because Archias, who wanted to betray Cyprus to Demetrius, was caught, and hanged himself on a rope taken from one of the curtain-hangings. For in fact, because of their desires "empty men think…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history5 revisions · last 6 Dec 2021
- another cross-reference — Catharine Roth
- more keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- added keywords — David Whitehead
- cosmetics — David Whitehead
- added note; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — William Hutton