Μὰ Δία
by Zeus
Translated by Catharine Roth1 Dec 2003Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
Not saying [this] in the sense of ma\ to\n *di/a , as some suppose: but they used to use it instead of ma\ *di/a , just as [they used] nh\ *di/a in the sense of nai/ ["yes"]. Therefore they say both nai\ *di/a and nai\ ma\ *di/a .1
Aristophanes in Wealth [writes]: "yes by Zeus and many more things than these". The [phrase]ma\ *di/a [is used] in application to an affirmative oath, when nai/ is put before it.2
Aristophanes in Wealth [writes]: "yes by Zeus and many more things than these". The [phrase]
Greek original · Adler’s text
Μὰ Δία· οὐκ ἐπὶ τοῦ μὰ τὸν Δία λέγων, ὡς οἴονταί τινες· ἐχρῶντο δὲ αὐτῷ ἀντὶ τοῦ μὰ Δία, ὥσπερ καὶ τῷ νὴ Δία ἐπὶ τῷ ναί· ὅθεν καὶ ναὶ Δία λέγουσιν καὶ ναὶ μὰ Δία. Ἀριστοφάνης Πλούτῳ· ναὶ μὰ Δία τούτων τε πολλῷ πλείονα. ἐπὶ κατωμοτικοῦ τὸ μὰ Δία, ὅταν αὐτοῦ προτάττηται τὸ ναί.
Betacode
*ma\ *di/a: ou)k e)pi\ tou= ma\ to\n *di/a le/gwn, w(s oi)/ontai/ tines: e)xrw=nto de\ au)tw=| a)nti\ tou= ma\ *di/a, w(/sper kai\ tw=| nh\ *di/a e)pi\ tw=| nai/: o(/qen kai\ nai\ *di/a le/gousin kai\ nai\ ma\ *di/a. *)aristofa/nhs *plou/tw|: nai\ ma\ *di/a tou/twn te pollw=| plei/ona. e)pi\ katwmotikou= to\ ma\ *di/a, o(/tan au)tou= prota/tthtai to\ nai/.
Notes (2)
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from5 entries
- μ1ΜάbyHomer uses this as having the status of a syllable. Sometimes however he uses nai/ instead of ma/, as in "yea by this scepter," when [someone] swears. But when [someone] makes a denial on oath, he adds the [particle] of…
- μ12Μὰ γῆν μὰ παγίδας μὰ νεφέλας μὰ δίκτυαby earth (and) by snares (and) by clouds (and) by netsThus they used to swear by random things, [for example] by springs, by rivers. Aristophanes in Birds [sc. illustrates this].
- ν348Νὴ τήνby the ...[nh\ th/n means the same as] ma\ th/n. [The expression is] elliptical, like ma\ to/n and ma\ ta/s.
- ν349Νὴ τὴν ἱερὰν κεφαλήνby the sacred headThe [particle] nh/ is an adverb used to swear affirmatively, that is to confirm with an oath, just as ma/ is used to swear negatively, to deny on oath.
- ν350Νὴ τὸνby the ...[nh\ to\n] and nai\ ma\ to/n: these [are expressions used in] affirmative oaths; but ma\ to\n *dia [and] ou) ma\ to/n [are used in] negative oaths. So [it is] the extreme of incorrectness to say, ma\ to\n *di/a poi/hson…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history4 revisions · last 17 May 2016
- coding — David Whitehead
- upgraded link — Catharine Roth
- another note and keyword — David Whitehead
- another keyword; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — Catharine Roth