Πυκνί
on the Pnyx
Translated by Norita Dobyns24 Feb 2004Vetting: high7 revisions
Translation
As in the [phrase] of Aristophanes:1 "except not on the Pnyx."2
Also [sc. attested is] Pyknites; [in the phrase] "Demos of the Pnyx."3 Pnyx, a place in Athens, where the Athenians used to hold assembly. He spoke of a 'Pyknites' just as [if he were saying] a citizen [= demesman] of the Pnyx. It is called Pnyx on account of the packing-in [puknou=sqai ] [sc. of those attending].4 And the jurycourt in Athens used to be called Pnyx.
Also [sc. attested is] Pyknites; [in the phrase] "Demos of the Pnyx."3 Pnyx, a place in Athens, where the Athenians used to hold assembly. He spoke of a 'Pyknites' just as [if he were saying] a citizen [= demesman] of the Pnyx. It is called Pnyx on account of the packing-in [
Greek original · Adler’s text
Πυκνί· ὡς ἐν τῷ Ἀριστοφάνει· πλὴν μὴ 'ν τῇ Πυκνί. καὶ Πυκνίτης· δῆμος πυκνίτης. Πνύξ, τόπος Ἀθήνησιν, ἔνθα ἐκκλησίαζον οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι. ὥσπερ δὲ πολίτην τῆς Πυκνὸς Πυκνίτην εἶπε. Πνὺξ δὲ λέγεται παρὰ τὸ πυκνοῦσθαι. καὶ τὸ ἐν Ἀθήναις δὲ δικαστήριον Πνὺξ ἐκαλεῖτο.
Betacode
*pukni/: w(s e)n tw=| *)aristofa/nei: plh\n mh\ 'n th=| *pukni/. kai\ *pukni/ths: dh=mos pukni/ths. *pnu/c, to/pos *)aqh/nhsin, e)/nqa e)kklhsi/azon oi( *)aqhnai=oi. w(/sper de\ poli/thn th=s *pukno\s *pukni/thn ei)=pe. *pnu\c de\ le/getai para\ to\ puknou=sqai. kai\ to\ e)n *)aqh/nais de\ dikasth/rion *pnu\c e)kalei=to.
Notes (4)
- For the Pnyx hill see also pi 3151, and generally Hansen (1987) 12-19. For words possibly related to the name (if the etymology offered here is correct) see also all the other entries between pi 3142 and pi 3155, inclusive.
- 1The word Aristophanes is transmitted in the dative case; Bernhardy deleted it; an alternative would be to make it genitive. ↩
- 2Aristophanes, Knights 749 (web address 1). ↩
- 3A pretend deme-name in Aristophanes, Knights 42 (web address 2). It is followed here by comment from the scholia there. ↩
- 4cf. pi 1836. ↩
References
M.H. Hansen, The Athenian Assembly (Oxford 1987) 12-19
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
- Web address 2 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from3 entries
- π1836ΠνύξPnyx[sc. The place of the Athenian] assembly. [sc. Named] from the tight packing of the stones. Or from the crowding of the men in the assembly.
- π1837Πνυκόςof the PnyxAristophanes [writes]: "whichever of you benefits me the more, to him I shall give the reins of the Pnyx". That is, the power. Figuratively from chariots; for the horses are steered by the reins; and peoples through…
- π3151ΠύκνηPykne, PnyxThe Athenian assembly[-place] used to be called this. Clidemus maintains that it acquired the name Pykna through the dwellings [there] being packed tight [puknoume/nhn].
Neighbouring entries
Revision history7 revisions · last 24 Mar 2014
- tweak — David Whitehead
- Revised — David Whitehead
- augmented and rearranged general note and bibliography — William Hutton
- cosmetics — David Whitehead
- fixed links, other cosmetics — Catharine Roth
- modified translation; augmented notes and keywords — David Whitehead
- added punctuation, links, and keywords — Catharine Roth
- Translated — Norita Dobyns