Βοῦς ἐπὶ γλώττης
an ox on the tongue
Translated by Catharine Roth · 17 Dec 2001 · Vetting: high · 6 revisions
Translation
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who are not able to speak freely: either because of the strength of the animal, or because there was an ox stamped on the Athenian coin which those who spoke freely had to pay.
Greek original
Βοῦς ἐπὶ γλώττης· ἐπὶ τῶν μὴ δυναμένων παρρησιάζεσθαι· ἢ διὰ τὴν ἰσχὺν τοῦ ζῴου. ἢ διὰ τὸ τῶν Ἀθηναίων νόμισμα βοῦν ἔχειν ἐγκεχαραγμένον, ὅπερ ἐκτίνειν ἔδει τοὺς παρρησιαζομένους.
Betacode
*bou=s e)pi\ glw/tths: e)pi\ tw=n mh\ duname/nwn parrhsia/zesqai: h)\ dia\ th\n i)sxu\n tou= zw/|ou. h)\ dia\ to\ tw=n *)aqhnai/wn no/misma bou=n e)/xein e)gkexaragme/non, o(/per e)kti/nein e)/dei tou\s parrhsiazome/nous.
Notes
- Likewise in Hesychius, Zenobius 2.70, and elsewhere. This proverb is used by, amongst others, Theognis, verse 815, and Aeschylus, Agamemnon 36 (text at web address 1).
Only the first of the explanations given has any merit: the version in Strattis fr. 67 Kock, now 72 K.-A., specifically says "large" ox; and the Athenians had no such coin.
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from (1)
Neighbours in Adler order
Revisions (6)
- David Whiteheadupdated a ref
- Catharine Rothupgraded link
- David Whiteheadexpanded note; more keywords; tweaking
- David Whiteheadaugmented note and keywords; cosmetics
- Catharine Rothtranslated