Οὐδὲ πυρφόρος
not even a fire-bearer
Translated by David Whitehead30 Sep 2002Vetting: high5 revisions
Translation
Whenever we want to indicate that the dead [sc. after a battle] are numerous, we say that not even a fire-bearer was left behind. In effect, not even the man who will carry the fire into the city. [It is] the same as if we were saying not even a tent-watchman, or someone similar.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Οὐδὲ πυρφόρος· ὅταν πολλοὺς ἀποφῆναι βουλώμεθα τοὺς τελευτήσαντας, λέγομεν, ὅτι οὐδὲ πυρφόρος ὑπελείφθη. οἷον οὐδὲ ὁ τὸ πῦρ οἴσων εἰς τὴν πόλιν. καθάπερ εἰ ἐλέγομεν, οὐδὲ σκηνοφύλαξ, ἤ τις τῶν παραπλησίων.
Betacode
*ou)de\ purfo/ros: o(/tan pollou\s a)pofh=nai boulw/meqa tou\s teleuth/santas, le/gomen, o(/ti ou)de\ purfo/ros u(pelei/fqh. oi(=on ou)de\ o( to\ pu=r oi)/swn ei)s th\n po/lin. kaqa/per ei) e)le/gomen, ou)de\ skhnofu/lac, h)/ tis tw=n paraplhsi/wn.
Notes
- Same entry in Photius, Lexicon omicron621 Theodoridis (with references to similar ones elsewhere, including in several of the paroemiographers); and see also omicron 814, pi 3251.
This (eventually) proverbial phrase is first attested in Herodotus 8.6.2: the Persians' intention at Artemisium (480 BCE) was that 'not even a fire-bearer should escape and survive'. See generally LSJ s.v.purfo/ros , II (web address 1).
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from1 entry
Neighbouring entries
ο811Οὐ δέονnot right(ly)ο812Οὐδέποτ' ἐγὼ τοῦτον ὑποδέξομαι οὐδὲ παρ' ἐμοί ποτε τὸν Ἁρμόδιον ᾄσεται ὅτι παροίνιος ἀνὴρ ἔφυnever will I receive this man, nor at my house will he ever sing the Harmodios [song], because he was a drinking manο813Οὐδὲ πυρφόροςnot even a fire-bearerο814Οὐδὲ πυρφόρος ἐλείφθηnot even a fire-bearer was leftο815Οὐδ' ἔργα μείω χειρὸς ἀρκέσας ἐμῆςhaving performed deeds not less than my own hand
Revision history5 revisions · last 22 Feb 2021
- tweaked link — Catharine Roth
- Revised — David Whitehead
- another note — David Whitehead
- another x-ref — David Whitehead
- added link — Catharine Roth
- Translated — David Whitehead