Χρῆμα
thing; matter
Translated by Jennifer Benedict5 Apr 2008Vetting: high9 revisions
Translation
[Meaning an] affair.
"A great and marvelous thing [is] a man [whose] mind is duly suited by his constitution from the outset to whatever he sets out to do within [the bounds] of human limitations."1
And elsewhere: "[one could] compare the thing to a great herd of cows." The phrase [is] about barbarian troop-marshalling.2
Herodotus [writes]: "the matter of the storm was unbearable."3
Aristophanes [writes]: "how long the matter of nights is!"4 [This means] the length, the stretch. It was customary for the Attic [speakers] to use a logical sequence, like "a horse is a rare thing", "a woman is an evil thing". And [they apply this] to other things similarly, however they wish to exaggerate.
"He was not rich in things, nor did he have as many [things] as would have been sufficient for another to lead a life of bare necessity."5
"A great and marvelous thing [is] a man [whose] mind is duly suited by his constitution from the outset to whatever he sets out to do within [the bounds] of human limitations."1
And elsewhere: "[one could] compare the thing to a great herd of cows." The phrase [is] about barbarian troop-marshalling.2
Herodotus [writes]: "the matter of the storm was unbearable."3
Aristophanes [writes]: "how long the matter of nights is!"4 [This means] the length, the stretch. It was customary for the Attic [speakers] to use a logical sequence, like "a horse is a rare thing", "a woman is an evil thing". And [they apply this] to other things similarly, however they wish to exaggerate.
"He was not rich in things, nor did he have as many [things] as would have been sufficient for another to lead a life of bare necessity."5
Greek original · Adler’s text
Χρῆμα· πρᾶγμα. μέγα τι χρῆμα καὶ θαυμάσιον, ἀνὴρ καὶ ψυχὴ δεόντως ἁρμοσθεῖσα κατὰ τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς σύστασιν, πρὸς ὅ τι ἂν ὁρμήσῃ τῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἔργων. καὶ αὖθις· εἰκάζειν ἂν βοῶν ἀγέλῃ μεγίστῃ τὸ χρῆμα. περὶ βαρβαρικῆς παρατάξεως ὁ λόγος. Ἡρόδοτος· ἦν τε τοῦ χειμῶνος χρῆμα ἀφόρητον. Ἀριστοφάνης· τὸ χρῆμα τῶν νυκτῶν ὅσον. τὸ μέγεθος, τὸ ἔκταμα. ἔθος δὲ τοῖς Ἀττικοῖς ἐπαγωγῇ χρῆσθαι, οἷον ἵππος σπάνιόν τι χρῆμα· γυνὴ κακόν τι χρῆμα. καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὁμοίως, ὧν ἂν ἐξαίρειν βούλωνται. ὁ δὲ χρημάτων οὐκ ἦν εὔπορος, οὐδὲ ὅσα ἂν ἐξήρκεσεν ἑτέρῳ πρὸς τὴν τοῦ ἀναγκαίου βίου διαγωγήν, οὐδὲ τοσαῦτα κεκτημένος.
Betacode
*xrh=ma: pra=gma. me/ga ti xrh=ma kai\ qauma/sion, a)nh\r kai\ yuxh\ deo/ntws a(rmosqei=sa kata\ th\n e)c a)rxh=s su/stasin, pro\s o(/ ti a)\n o(rmh/sh| tw=n e)c a)rxh=s e)/rgwn. kai\ au)=qis: ei)ka/zein a)\n bow=n a)ge/lh| megi/sth| to\ xrh=ma. peri\ barbarikh=s parata/cews o( lo/gos. *(hro/dotos: h)=n te tou= xeimw=nos xrh=ma a)fo/rhton. *)aristofa/nhs: to\ xrh=ma tw=n nuktw=n o(/son. to\ me/geqos, to\ e)/ktama. e)/qos de\ toi=s *)attikoi=s e)pagwgh=| xrh=sqai, oi(=on i(/ppos spa/nio/n ti xrh=ma: gunh\ kako/n ti xrh=ma. kai\ e)pi\ tw=n a)/llwn o(moi/ws, w(=n a)\n e)cai/rein bou/lwntai. o( de\ xrhma/twn ou)k h)=n eu)/poros, ou)de\ o(/sa a)\n e)ch/rkesen e(te/rw| pro\s th\n tou= a)nagkai/ou bi/ou diagwgh/n, ou)de\ tosau=ta kekthme/nos.
Notes (5)
- For this headword (and primary gloss) see already chi 474.↩
- 1Polybius 9.22.6 (web address 1), where
a)nqrwpi/nwn e)/rgwn has become the Suda'se)c a)rxh=s e)/rgwn , an obvious scribal error. (Incorrectly attributed to Damascius, as Life of Isidore fr. 285 Asmus; cf. n. 5 below.) ↩- 2Despite this helpful gloss, the quotation is unidentifiable. ↩
- 3Herodotus 7.188.3 (web address 2). ↩
- 4Aristophanes, Clouds 2 (web address 3); what follows in this entry is from the scholia to this line. See also alpha 3035. ↩
- 5Aelian fr. 315a Domingo-Forasté (318 Hercher). Or, "rich in money." (Formerly attributed to Damascius, as Life of Isidore fr. 167 Asmus.)
- 1Polybius 9.22.6 (web address 1), where
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
- Web address 2 perseus.tufts.edu
- Web address 3 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from4 entries
- α3035Ἀπέρατονendless[Meaning something] infinite, great, of which there is no end [pe/ras]. Those who write it with the nu are in error. Aristophanes in Clouds [writes]: "the business of the nights [is] almost endless." And elsewhere:…
- χ473Χρῆμαmatter; thing[Meaning an] issue, or possession, wealth, substance, income. "The little house was gloomy and misshapen and in the summer season particularly unsuitable, so that the thing seemed to be a prison." And elsewhere: "[the…
- χ475Χρῆμαthing, work, reality[Meaning] use. Thucydides [sc. uses the word]. Josephus [writes]: "the sabbath was a day of leisure from all work, highly honored among the Jews." And elsewhere: "the reality of truth risks being quenched." And xrh/mata…
- χ477υνκνοων—Χρήματα χρήματ' ἀνήρ πενιχρὸς δ' οὐδέποτ' ἐσθλόςmoney money (is the) man but a pauper (is) never noble[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to those who are successful due to wealth. Aristodemos says [this]. And Alcaeus mentions Aristodemus: "for as Aristodamos once in Sparta", he says, "spoke a speech that was not…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history9 revisions · last 28 Jun 2023
- tweaked note — Catharine Roth
- tweaked links — Catharine Roth
- — David Whitehead
- — David Whitehead
- updated reference, upgraded links — Catharine Roth
- augmented notes and keywords; tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- cosmetics, keywords, status — Catharine Roth
- —
- —
- Translated — Jennifer Benedict