Νέμεσις
nemesis, Nemesis
Translated by Jennifer Benedict13 Jun 2000Vetting: high10 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] vengeance, justice, outrage, [divine] spite, chance.1
"[They] perceiving Nemesis, the executioner of braggarts, who pursued them with justice."2 And elsewhere: "[he] did not escape the notice of Nemesis who opposes all the arrogant, but was compelled to be taught a lesson in [his] private misfortunes."3
"Nemesis was present, she who watches the things of the earth"; or in other words, she who watches unjust acts. Babrius says [this] in the Fables.4
And Aelian [writes]: "palpable evidence of Nemesis the overseer, chastizing proud and disdainful ways".5
And [there is] a proverb: "at least Nemesis walks at your feet"; tantamount [to saying] the goddess swiftly pursues wrong-doers.6
"Unnoticed you walk at one's feet, snap one's haughty neck, and always hold sway over one's life with your forearm."7
"[They] perceiving Nemesis, the executioner of braggarts, who pursued them with justice."2 And elsewhere: "[he] did not escape the notice of Nemesis who opposes all the arrogant, but was compelled to be taught a lesson in [his] private misfortunes."3
"Nemesis was present, she who watches the things of the earth"; or in other words, she who watches unjust acts. Babrius says [this] in the Fables.4
And Aelian [writes]: "palpable evidence of Nemesis the overseer, chastizing proud and disdainful ways".5
And [there is] a proverb: "at least Nemesis walks at your feet"; tantamount [to saying] the goddess swiftly pursues wrong-doers.6
"Unnoticed you walk at one's feet, snap one's haughty neck, and always hold sway over one's life with your forearm."7
Greek original · Adler’s text
Νέμεσις· μέμψις, δίκη, ὕβρις, φθόνος, τύχη. τὴν τῶν ἀλαζόνων τιμωρὸν συνέντες Νέμεσιν, ἥπερ αὐτοὺς μετῆλθε σὺν τῇ δίκῃ. καὶ αὖθις· οὐκ ἔλαθε τὴν ἅπασιν ἐναντιουμένην τοῖς ὑπερηφάνοις Νέμεσιν, ἀλλ' ἐν ταῖς ἰδίαις ἠναγκάσθη παιδευθῆναι συμφοραῖς. παρῆν δ' ἡ Νέμεσις, ἣ τὰ γῆς ἐποπτεύει· ἢ καὶ ἄλλως, ἣ τἄδικ' ἐποπτεύει. Βάβριός φησιν ἐν Μυθικοῖς. καὶ Αἰλιανός· Νεμέσεως ἐφόρου, τρόπους ὑπερόπτας καὶ ὑπερηφάνους κολαζούσης, ἐναργῆ μαρτύρια. καὶ παροιμία· Νέμεσις δέ γε πὰρ πόδας βαίνει· παρόσον μέτεισι ταχέως ἡ δαίμων τοὺς ἡμαρτηκότας. λήθουσα δὲ πὰρ πόδας βαίνεις, γαυρούμενον αὐχένα κλίνεις, ὑπὸ πῆχυν ἀεὶ βιοτὰν κρατεῖς.
Betacode
*ne/mesis: me/myis, di/kh, u(/bris, fqo/nos, tu/xh. th\n tw=n a)lazo/nwn timwro\n sune/ntes *ne/mesin, h(/per au)tou\s meth=lqe su\n th=| di/kh|. kai\ au)=qis: ou)k e)/laqe th\n a(/pasin e)nantioume/nhn toi=s u(perhfa/nois *ne/mesin, a)ll' e)n tai=s i)di/ais h)nagka/sqh paideuqh=nai sumforai=s. parh=n d' h( *ne/mesis, h(\ ta\ gh=s e)popteu/ei: h)\ kai\ a)/llws, h(\ ta)/dik' e)popteu/ei. *ba/brio/s fhsin e)n *muqikoi=s. kai\ *ai)liano/s: *neme/sews e)fo/rou, tro/pous u(pero/ptas kai\ u(perhfa/nous kolazou/shs, e)nargh= martu/ria. kai\ paroimi/a: *ne/mesis de/ ge pa\r po/das bai/nei: paro/son me/teisi taxe/ws h( dai/mwn tou\s h(marthko/tas. lh/qousa de\ pa\r po/das bai/neis, gaurou/menon au)xe/na kli/neis, u(po\ ph=xun a)ei\ biota\n kratei=s.
Notes (7)
- See already nu 162, and generally OCD4 Nemesis.
- 1This compendious list of synonyms (some closer than others) for the headword is also in other lexica, with other permutations elsewhere: see the references at Photius nu111 Theodoridis. ↩
- 2Aelian fr. 231 Domingo-Forasté (232 Hercher). ↩
- 3Aelian fr. 232 Domingo-Forasté (233 Hercher). ↩
- 4Babrius 43.6. (The Suda adds the definite article.) ↩
- 5Aelian fr. 163 Domingo-Forasté (160 Hercher). ↩
- 6See generally Tosi (cited under alpha 378) no.898, on Horace's culpam poena premit comes and Greek parallels. ↩
- 7Synesius, Letter 95, p.235b Hercher, quoting Mesomedes (translation at web address 1); see under upsilon 559. On Mesomedes, see mu 668. ↩
External resources
- Web address 1 livius.org
Linked from4 entries
- ν157Νεμεσητικόςdisposed to indignation, indignantThe opposite of jealous [fqonero/s]. For the jealous man is grieved at the prosperity of the good, since jealousy [fqo/nos] is like this. But the indignant man [nemeshtiko/s] is one who is grieved at the prosperity of…
- ν160Νεμεσίζειfeels justified resentment[Meaning he/she/it] blames.
- ν162Νέμεσιςnemesis, Nemesis[Meaning] justice. Aristophanes [writes]: "O Nemesis, and deep-roaring thunderclaps."
- ν164ΝεμεσῶI am wrathful, I feel justified resentment[Used] with a dative.
Neighbouring entries
Revision history10 revisions · last 13 Nov 2023
- cross-reference — Catharine Roth
- tweaked translation, added a link — Catharine Roth
- more keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Revised — David Whitehead
- augmented notes; tweaking — David Whitehead
- updated references — Catharine Roth
- another note — David Whitehead
- augmented note, added keyword — Catharine Roth
- added notes, bibliography, keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Minor changes — William Hutton
- Translated — Jennifer Benedict