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Δελφίς · dolphin (δ 207) · Suda

Letters

Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω

Near δ207

δ203deltoid
δ204piglets
δ205suckling-pig
δ206Delphinion, Delphinium
δ207dolphin
δ208dolphin
δ209a Delphian man has a crown but dies of thirst.
δ210Delphi, Delphoi
δ211womb

Suda/Δ delta/δ207

← Previous entry,δ206 Next entry,δ208 →

Δελφίς

dolphin

Translated by Tony Natoli9 Apr 2002Vetting: high7 revisions

comedy
definition
historiography
imagery
military affairs
science and technology
+2
- trade and manufacture
- zoology

1 note · 35 words

Translation

An engine of war [sc. intended] for a sea-battle.¹ Whence also 'a dolphin-bearing ship'. Thucydides [book] 7 says : "at that point the dolphin-bearing spars suspended from the merchantmen over the entry channels hindered them".²

Greek original · Adler’s text

Δελφίς· πρὸς ναυμαχίαν πολεμιστήριον ὄργανον. ὅθεν καὶ δελφινοφόρον ναῦν Θουκυδίδης ἐν τῇ ζʹ φησίν· ἔπειτα αὐτοὺς αἱ κεραῖαι ὑπὲρ τῶν εὔπλων, αἱ ἀπὸ τῶν ὁλκάδων δελφινοφόροι, ἠρμέναι ἐκώλυον.

Betacode

*delfi/s: pro\s naumaxi/an polemisth/rion o)/rganon. o(/qen kai\ delfinofo/ron nau=n *qoukudi/dhs e)n th=| z# fhsi/n: e)/peita au)tou\s ai( kerai=ai u(pe\r tw=n eu)/plwn, ai( a)po\ tw=n o(lka/dwn delfinofo/roi, h)rme/nai e)kw/luon.

Notes (1)

[1] See also delta 208. A dolphin-shaped iron (or lead) weight suspended from a spar. When an enemy ship came within distance, the spar was swung over the approaching ship and the dolphin dropped on its deck. The aim was to breach the hull of the enemy ship and sink or disable it.
2Thucydides 7.41.2: web address 1. Consult Dover's note (in A Historical Commentary on Thucydides v.4, by A.W. Gomme, A. Andrewes and K.J. Dover. Oxford: O.U.P., 1970, 418), and see also e.g. Aristophanes, Knights 762.

References

Lionel Casson, Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (Baltimore & London 1995) 239 n.67

External resources

Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu

Linked from1 entry

δ208ΔελφίςdolphinThe fish [of that name]. Also a naval engine of war [made from] iron, or lead. Aristophanes [writes]: "before he comes upon you, hoist up your dolphins in readiness and bring your boat alongside". [He is referring to] a…

Neighbouring entries

δ205Δελφάκιονsuckling-pig δ206ΔελφίνιονDelphinion, Delphinium δ207Δελφίςdolphin δ208Δελφίςdolphin δ209Δελφὸς ἀνὴρ στέφανον μὲν ἔχει δίψει δὲ ἀπόλλυταιa Delphian man has a crown but dies of thirst.

Revision history7 revisions · last 18 Jun 2012

18 Jun 2012more keywords; item of bibliography — David Whitehead
8 Mar 2011tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
4 May 2002added cross-reference — Catharine Roth
10 Apr 2002added keyword; cosmetics — David Whitehead
9 Apr 2002simplified link — Catharine Roth
—
—
9 Apr 2002Translated — Tony Natoli

Cite this entry

Suda On Line, s.v. Δελφίς (Adler number delta 207), trans. Tony Natoli, 9 Apr 2002. https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/delta/207

Translation by Tony Natoli for Suda On Line, revised by David Whitehead, Catharine Roth, , licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Shown unchanged, under the same licence, non-commercially. Original on SOL ↗