Χελώνη μυιῶν
a tortoise [uncaring] of flies
Translated by Jennifer Benedict19 Mar 2008Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
[sc. a proverbial phrase] in reference to those who think little of someone/something.1
Also [sc. attested is] 'to a tortoise'. "You think your frankness is 'worth four obols', as the saying goes. You do not know that Thersites was also outspoken among the Greeks; but the frankness of Thersites mattered less to Agamemnon than flies to a tortoise, as the proverb has it."2
When a tortoise being carried by an eagle was thrown at the head of Aeschylus the Athenian, he died, being 58 years old.3
Also [sc. attested is] 'to a tortoise'. "You think your frankness is 'worth four obols', as the saying goes. You do not know that Thersites was also outspoken among the Greeks; but the frankness of Thersites mattered less to Agamemnon than flies to a tortoise, as the proverb has it."2
When a tortoise being carried by an eagle was thrown at the head of Aeschylus the Athenian, he died, being 58 years old.3