Ὄνος ἄγων μυστήρια

a donkey celebrating the Mysteries

Translated by David Whitehead21 Jul 2006Vetting: high4 revisions

1 note · 45 words

[Sc. a proverbial phrase] in reference to those doing something undeservedly.
For at that time as they were carrying the necessary items they were somewhat chafed. Demon says that [the proverb] was used in reference to the mill, because at that time they garland it.¹

Greek original · Adler’s text

Ὄνος ἄγων μυστήρια· ἐπὶ τῶν παρ' ἀξίαν τι πραττόντων. τότε γὰρ θλίβονται μᾶλλον τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν ἀγόμενα βαστάζοντες. Δήμων ἐπὶ τοῦ μύλου γενέσθαι φησίν, ὅτι στεφανοῦσιν αὐτὸν τότε.

Betacode

*)/onos a)/gwn musth/ria: e)pi\ tw=n par' a)ci/an ti pratto/ntwn. to/te ga\r qli/bontai ma=llon ta\ pro\s th\n xrei/an a)go/mena basta/zontes. *dh/mwn e)pi\ tou= mu/lou gene/sqai fhsi/n, o(/ti stefanou=sin au)to\n to/te.

Notes (1)

See already omicron 383.
1Demon (one of the later Atthidographers: fl. 300 BCE) FGrH 327 F12. Similar entry in Photius (omicron352 Theodoridis, with other references). ↩

Linked from1 entry

ο382Ὄνος ἄγων μυστήριαa donkey celebrating the Mysteries[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those doing something undeservedly. For at the Mysteries the necessary items used to be conveyed out of town to Eleusis on donkeys. Hence the proverb, [used] because the donkeys…

Neighbouring entries

ο381Ὄνοςcapstan, windlass ο382Ὄνος ἄγων μυστήριαa donkey celebrating the Mysteries ο383Ὄνος ἄγων μυστήριαa donkey celebrating the Mysteries ο384Ὄνος ἀκροᾷ σάλπιγγοςa donkey hears a trumpet ο385Ὄνος πρὸς αὐλόνa donkey [listens] to the aulos

Revision history4 revisions · last 4 Jul 2013

4 Jul 2013Revised — David Whitehead
4 Jul 2013Revised — David Whitehead
23 Jul 2006tweaked tr; expanded n.2 — David Whitehead
21 Jul 2006set status — Catharine Roth
21 Jul 2006Translated — David Whitehead

Translation

Greek original · Adler’s text

Notes (1)

Linked from1 entry

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