Λειπανδρεῖν

to be short of men, to lack manpower

Translated by David Whitehead8 Sep 2001Vetting: high5 revisions

42 words

[They say that] when the Athenians wanted to enlarge the population because they were short of men, they decreed that [it would be permissible for a citizen] to marry one woman and procreate [sc. legitimately] by another -- which Socrates duly did.

Greek original · Adler’s text

Λειπανδρεῖν· βουληθέντας Ἀθηναίους διὰ τὸ λειπανδρεῖν αὐξῆσαι τὸ πλῆθος, ψηφίσασθαι γαμεῖν μὲν ἀστὴν μίαν, παιδοποιεῖσθαι δὲ καὶ ἐξ ἑτέρας. ὅθεν τοῦτο ποιῆσαι καὶ Σωκράτην.

Betacode

*leipandrei=n: boulhqe/ntas *)aqhnai/ous dia\ to\ leipandrei=n au)ch=sai to\ plh=qos, yhfi/sasqai gamei=n me\n a)sth\n mi/an, paidopoiei=sqai de\ kai\ e)c e(te/ras. o(/qen tou=to poih=sai kai\ *swkra/thn.

Notes

From Diogenes Laertius 2.26. But this supposed decree is highly dubious, and seems to be nothing more than an escape-route from the biographical confusion about the number and names of the wives of Socrates (sigma 829). (For a greater readiness to believe in it see Patterson 142-3.)

References

C. Patterson, Pericles' Citizenship Law of 451-450 BC (New York 1981)

Neighbouring entries

λ375ΛειώκριτοςLeiokritos, Leocritus λ376Λειώσαςgrinding smooth, pounding fine λ377Λειπανδρεῖνto be short of men, to lack manpower λ378Λείπεσθαιto lose λ379Λειποθυμίαfainting

Revision history5 revisions · last 1 May 2020

1 May 2020another keyword — Catharine Roth
17 Apr 2013Revised — David Whitehead
27 Aug 2004x-ref — David Whitehead
9 Nov 2003added keyword; cosmetics — David Whitehead
7 Nov 2003Added italics; cosmetics; set status — Elizabeth Vandiver
8 Sep 2001Translated — David Whitehead

Translation

Greek original · Adler’s text

Notes

References

Neighbouring entries

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