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Λαλάγημα · babbling, prattling (λ 74) · 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 λ74

λ70Lakratides, Lacratides; Lakrateides
λ71pestle
λ72Lakydes, Lacydes
λ73babbling
λ74babbling, prattling
λ75chattering, speaking
λ76worthy of mention
λ77discourse
λ78most talkative, very talkative

Suda/Λ lambda/λ74

← Previous entry,λ73 Next entry,λ75 →

Λαλάγημα

babbling, prattling

Translated by Oliver Phillips ✝26 Apr 2007Vetting: high5 revisions

biography
definition
dialects, grammar, and etymology
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+4

2 notes · 23 words

Translation

[Meaning an] utterance, sound.¹
"To you a holy refuge -- as a thank-offering for my life -- and a babbling [...] I dedicate."²

Greek original · Adler’s text

Λαλάγημα· τὸ ἀναφώνημα, τὸ ἤχημα. ἱρήν σοι θαλάμην, ζωάγρια καὶ λαλάγημα ἀντίθεμαι.

Betacode

*lala/ghma: to\ a)nafw/nhma, to\ h)/xhma. i(rh/n soi qala/mhn, zwa/gria kai\ lala/ghma a)nti/qemai.

Notes (2)

cf. generally lambda 73, lambda 75, lambda 76, lambda 77, lambda 78, lambda 79, lambda 80.
1A standard, reference-book definition of the headword, a neuter noun (see LSJ s.v.) -- which the following quotation perhaps belies: see next note. ↩
2Abbreviated from an epigram in the Greek Anthology (6.220.15-16); see more fully under theta 6. For further extracts from this epigram, see epsilon 4078, theta 198, mu 1394, omicron 374, and tau 1167. Dioscorides is writing of the castrato Atys (= the 'Attis' of alpha 3822 and, famously, of Catullus' more effective epyllion, no.63), called a Gallus (devotee of the Phrygian goddess Cybele; gamma 41). He takes refuge in a cave only to find he has been followed by a lion, but he manages to fend off the beast by the noise of his tambour. This instrument -- apparently called a 'babbling', though the term seems inappropriate for a small drum -- and the place of refuge, his qala/mh, he dedicates to the goddess, at least according to the interpretation of Gow and Page, vol. 2, pp. 246-48. Paton, the Loeb translator (vol.1 p.414) regards qala/mai as 'the receptacles in which the organs of these castrated priests were deposited', like the "pao" of eunuchs in Imperial China. For these see the references to Anderson below. This is, however, doubtful, and the cave may imply a 'nook' here.
For 'thank-offering for my life' see generally zeta 112.

References

Mary M. Anderson, Hidden Power: The Palace Eunuchs of Imperial China, 1990, 15-18, 307-11 (web address 1)
A. S. F. Gow and Denys Page, edd., Hellenistic Epigrams, 1965
W. R. Paton, ed. and tr., The Greek Anthology, 1969

External resources

Web address 1 usrf.org

Linked from2 entries

ε4078Ἐψύχθηcooled, refreshed[Meaning] was/were made to cease, rested. "The fierce winds of [Atys'] divine possession were cooled."
λ73Λαλαγεῦσανbabbling[Meaning] sounding melodically. In the Epigrams: "the rustic strain formerly babbling in the groves [the cicada] adapted to the tune of our lyre-plucking."

Neighbouring entries

λ72ΛακύδηςLakydes, Lacydes λ73Λαλαγεῦσανbabbling λ74Λαλάγημαbabbling, prattling λ75Λαλέοντοςchattering, speaking λ76Λαλητέοςworthy of mention

Revision history5 revisions · last 23 Nov 2021

23 Nov 2021added cross-references n.2 — Ronald Allen
28 Mar 2013tweak — Catharine Roth
28 Mar 2013Revised — David Whitehead
27 Apr 2007augmented and rearranged notes; another keyword; tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
27 Apr 2007cosmetics — Catharine Roth
26 Apr 2007Translated — Oliver Phillips ✝

Cite this entry

Suda On Line, s.v. Λαλάγημα (Adler number lambda 74), trans. Oliver Phillips ✝, 26 Apr 2007. https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/lambda/74

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