Βεκεσέληνε
bekeselene
Translated by Catharine Roth21 Jul 2000Vetting: high6 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] either apoplectic [i.e. stroke-disabled] and moonstruck [i.e. epileptic]; or the 2 are combined into one, bekos and selene; both [words are] old. Or because the Lydians or Phrygians called bread bekos. But they were accused of being stupid. So he is ridiculing them for their speech. But the story concerning beke, which is a Phrygian word signifying "bread," is well-known from the second book of Herodotus.