Περίγρα
calipers
Translated by John Mulhall2 Feb 2011Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] a compass/rule,1 by means of which wheels are made round; for one does not need fire-tongs to make a wagon. They are also a help in [making] the guiding line, since just as one uses fire-tongs on iron-wheeled wagons, so [one uses] calipers on wooden-wheeled ones.2 The theologian Gregory said to the assembly: "for if I [existed] for God's glory, and this [sc. the Trinity] because of me, [as] the calipers do because of the wagon or the saw because of the door, I prevail in causality."3
Greek original · Adler’s text
Περίγρα· ὁ διαβήτης, δι' ἧς οἱ τροχοὶ περιφερεῖς ἀποτελοῦνται· πυράγρας γὰρ οὐδεμία πρὸς ἁμάξης κατασκευὴν χρεία. ἔστι δὲ βοηθῆσαι καὶ τῇ κρατούσῃ γραφῇ, ἐπεὶ καὶ πυράγραις ἐπὶ ταῖς σιδηροτρόχοις ἁμάξαις χρῶνται, περίγραις δὲ ἐπὶ ταῖς ξυλίναις. ὁ Θεολόγος Γρηγόριός φησιν εἰς τὸν συντακτήριον· εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ μὲν εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ, τοῦτο δὲ δι' ἐμέ, ἡ πυράγρα διὰ τὴν ἅμαξαν ἢ ὁ πρίων διὰ τὴν θύραν· νικῶ τῇ αἰτίᾳ.
Betacode
*peri/gra: o( diabh/ths, di' h(=s oi( troxoi\ periferei=s a)potelou=ntai: pura/gras ga\r ou)demi/a pro\s a(ma/chs kataskeuh\n xrei/a. e)/sti de\ bohqh=sai kai\ th=| kratou/sh| grafh=|, e)pei\ kai\ pura/grais e)pi\ tai=s sidhrotro/xois a(ma/cais xrw=ntai, peri/grais de\ e)pi\ tai=s culi/nais. o( *qeolo/gos *grhgo/rio/s fhsin ei)s to\n suntakth/rion: ei) ga\r e)gw\ me\n ei)s do/can qeou=, tou=to de\ di' e)me/, h( pura/gra dia\ th\n a(/macan h)\ o( pri/wn dia\ th\n qu/ran: nikw= th=| ai)ti/a|.
Notes (3)
- A marginal addition (to pi 1101), Adler reports, in ms V.
For the LSJ entry (via the Perseus Project), see web address 1 below; forpura/gra , see web address 2. - 1Same glossing in some other lexica. ↩
- 2(From the scholia to Gregory of Nazianzus: see next note.) There seems to have been some ambiguity over the difference between the
peri/gra (the present headword) and thepura/gra , such that it was necessary to provide a specific contrast between the functions of the two tools. The strong relationship between these two is emphasized when one notes that the Suda's main entry forpura/gra (pi 3184, cf. pi 3185) cross-references the present entry. ↩ - 3Gregory of Nazianzus, Orations 42.17 (PG 36, 477d). ↩
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
- Web address 2 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from2 entries
Neighbouring entries
Revision history4 revisions · last 27 Dec 2021
- another link — Catharine Roth
- coding — David Whitehead
- Revised — David Whitehead
- modifications to tr; augmented notes and keywords; tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — John Mulhall