Δεκάζεσθαι
to be bribed in tens
Translated by David Whitehead18 Oct 2000Vetting: high8 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] to take bribes.1
Also [sc. attested in the active voice] 'to bribe in tens' [deka/zein ]: to corrupt with money or gifts.
Aelian [writes]: "he corrupted many of the nomads, having bribed them in tens into treachery".2
Also3 [sc. attested is the participle] '[he] bribing in tens' [deka/zwn ], clear in its meaning. This is how the term came about.4 Lykos is a hero who has the shape of the beast [sc. of a wolf]. A stone monument to him stands near the jurycourts in Athens; at this [monument], bribers used to gather, forming themselves into groups of ten. This gave rise to the proverb: Lykos's Company of Ten. So from the Company of Ten came [the terms] bribing in tens and to be bribed in tens.
Also [sc. attested in the active voice] 'to bribe in tens' [
Aelian [writes]: "he corrupted many of the nomads, having bribed them in tens into treachery".2
Also3 [sc. attested is the participle] '[he] bribing in tens' [
Greek original · Adler’s text
Δεκάζεσθαι· δωροδοκεῖσθαι. καὶ Δεκάζειν, διαφθείρειν χρήμασιν, ἢ δώροις. Αἰλιανός· πολλοὺς διέφθειρε νομάδων δεκάσας εἰς προδοσίαν. καὶ Δεκάζων, τὸ σημαινόμενον δῆλον. ἐποιήθη δὲ τὸ ὄνομα ἐντεῦθεν. Λύκος μέν ἐστιν ἥρως μορφὴν ἔχων τοῦ θηρίου. πρὸς δὲ τοῖς ἐν Ἀθήναις ἀνεστήλωται δικαστηρίοις· πρὸς ὃν οἱ δωροδοκοῦντες κατὰ ιʹ γινόμενοι ἀνεστρέφοντο. ἔνθα καὶ ἡ παροιμία· λύκου δεκάς. ἐξ οὖν τῆς δεκάδος τὸ δεκάζειν καὶ δεκάζεσθαι.
Betacode
*deka/zesqai: dwrodokei=sqai. kai\ *deka/zein, diafqei/rein xrh/masin, h)\ dw/rois. *ai)liano/s: pollou\s die/fqeire noma/dwn deka/sas ei)s prodosi/an. kai\ *deka/zwn, to\ shmaino/menon dh=lon. e)poih/qh de\ to\ o)/noma e)nteu=qen. *lu/kos me/n e)stin h(/rws morfh\n e)/xwn tou= qhri/ou. pro\s de\ toi=s e)n *)aqh/nais a)nesth/lwtai dikasthri/ois: pro\s o(\n oi( dwrodokou=ntes kata\ i# gino/menoi a)nestre/fonto. e)/nqa kai\ h( paroimi/a: lu/kou deka/s. e)c ou)=n th=s deka/dos to\ deka/zein kai\ deka/zesqai.
Notes (3)
- [1] See already delta 173, and cf. in brief delta 187 epsilon 205.↩
- 2Aelian fr. 142 Domingo-Forasté (139 Hercher). ↩
- 3The source now becomes Harpokration s.v., commenting on Isocrates 8.50 (web address 1). ↩
- 4Harpokration ascribes this explanation to the learned hellenistic scholar Eratosthenes. (Harvey [76-118 at 88-89] briefly discusses it.) See also eta 271, lambda 820.
References
F.D. Harvey, "Dona ferentes: some aspects of bribery in Greek politics", in CRUX: studies presented to G.E.M. de Ste.Croix on his 75th birthday (Exeter 1985)
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from4 entries
- α436Ἀδεκάστωςincorruptibly[Meaning] impartially, justly, without taking bribes, properly.
- δ173Δεκάζεσθαιto bribe by tens[A term] coined from the practice of corrupting with bribes in groups of ten [kata\ deka/da]. For when certain people wanted to acquire an official position or to influence anything else, they gave things to groups of…
- δ187Δεκασμόςbeing bribed by tens[Meaning sc. the act of] taking bribes.
- ε205Ἐδέκαζε πολλούςwas ten-bribing many[Meaning he/she/it] was bribing many.
Neighbouring entries
Revision history8 revisions · last 24 Jun 2020
- tweaked translation — Catharine Roth
- Revised — David Whitehead
- updated reference, upgraded link — Catharine Roth
- more keywords; tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- added cross-references — Catharine Roth
- modified translation, added link and keywords, cosmetics, set status — William Hutton
- added x-ref — David Whitehead
- augmented notes and keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — David Whitehead