Οὐδὲ πυρφόρος ἐλείφθη
not even a fire-bearer was left
Translated by David Whitehead30 Sep 2002Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
The proverb is applied to great dangers; since there was an onus on the seer, carrying boughs of laurel and wreaths and a torch, to take the lead in every aspect of military preparation; and convention dictated that the enemy spare him alone. So the proverb arose in circumstances of very heavy casualties.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Οὐδὲ πυρφόρος ἐλείφθη· ἐπὶ τῶν μεγάλων κινδύνων εἴρηται ἡ παροιμία· ἐπειδὴ πάσης πολεμικῆς παρασκευῆς ἔδει τὸν μάντιν ἡγεῖσθαι, δάφνης ἔχοντα κλάδους καὶ στέμματα καὶ λαμπάδα· καὶ τούτου νόμος ἦν μόνου φείδεσθαι τοὺς πολεμίους. ἐπὶ τοίνυν τῶν πανωλεθρίᾳ διεφθαρμένων καιρὸν ἔσχεν ἡ παροιμία.
Betacode
*ou)de\ purfo/ros e)lei/fqh: e)pi\ tw=n mega/lwn kindu/nwn ei)/rhtai h( paroimi/a: e)peidh\ pa/shs polemikh=s paraskeuh=s e)/dei to\n ma/ntin h(gei=sqai, da/fnhs e)/xonta kla/dous kai\ ste/mmata kai\ lampa/da: kai\ tou/tou no/mos h)=n mo/nou fei/desqai tou\s polemi/ous. e)pi\ toi/nun tw=n panwleqri/a| diefqarme/nwn kairo\n e)/sxen h( paroimi/a.
Notes
- Zenobius 5.34. See already omicron 813.
References
W.K. Pritchett, The Greek State at War, III (Berkeley & Los Angeles 1979) chap.3, 'The military mantike'
Linked from1 entry
Neighbouring entries
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 handο816Οὐδὲ τὰ τρία Στησιχόρου γινώσκειςyou do not even know the three things of Stesichorus
Revision history4 revisions · last 31 Jul 2013
- Revised — David Whitehead
- tweaks — David Whitehead
- Added italics — Elizabeth Vandiver
- modified translation — Catharine Roth
- Translated — David Whitehead