Σελίνου δεῖται ὁ νοσῶν
the sick man is in need of celery
Translated by David Whitehead31 Oct 2001Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those breathing their last, because when people were about to lay out the dead they would spread celery on the tombs.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Σελίνου δεῖται ὁ νοσῶν· ἐπὶ τῶν ἐν ἐσχάταις πνοαῖς ὄντων, ἐπειδὴ τοὺς τάφους, ὅτε ἔμελλον τοὺς νεκροὺς τιθέναι, σελίνοις ἐστρώννυον.
Betacode
*seli/nou dei=tai o( nosw=n: e)pi\ tw=n e)n e)sxa/tais pnoai=s o)/ntwn, e)peidh\ tou\s ta/fous, o(/te e)/mellon tou\s nekrou\s tiqe/nai, seli/nois e)strw/nnuon.
Notes
Linked from3 entries
- σ207ΣέλινονceleryA kind of vegetable.
- σ212Σελίνου στέφανοςa crown of celeryOne of mourning; for celery is appropriate to grief; so says Douris in his [treatise] On Contests.
- τ832Τοῦ σελίνου δεῖταιis in need of the celery[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those seriously ill. For it is our habit to crown [grave-]monuments with celery, as Plutarch says.
Neighbouring entries
Revision history4 revisions · last 25 May 2016
- Revised — David Whitehead
- tweaked tr; expanded note — David Whitehead
- augmented note and keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- set status — Catharine Roth
- Translated — David Whitehead