Σημεῖα ἀρθῆναι ἑκατέροις
standards to be raised on either side
Translated by William Hutton28 Oct 2013Vetting: high3 revisions
Translation
[sc. The idiom is used] in Thucydides. They used to have certain symbols, which [were] shown at the time of battle. And when they lifted up the symbols, they began the battle; but when they drew them down, they stopped.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Σημεῖα ἀρθῆναι ἑκατέροις· παρὰ Θουκυδίδῃ. σύμβολά τινα εἶχον, ἃ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τῆς μάχης δεικνύμενα. καὶ ὅτε μὲν ἀνετείνετο τὰ σύμβολα, ἤρχοντο τῆς μάχης· ὅτε δὲ κατεσπῶντο, ἐπαύοντο.
Betacode
*shmei=a a)rqh=nai e(kate/rois: para\ *qoukudi/dh|. su/mbola/ tina ei)=xon, a(\ kata\ to\n kairo\n th=s ma/xhs deiknu/mena. kai\ o(/te me\n a)netei/neto ta\ su/mbola, h)/rxonto th=s ma/xhs: o(/te de\ katespw=nto, e)pau/onto.
Notes
- The body of the entry, after 'in Thucydides', comes from the scholia to Thucydides 1.49.1 (on the sea-battle of Sybota, 433 BCE), where a specific form of the headword phrase appears:
ta\ shmei=a e(kate/rois h)/rqh ("the standards on either side were raised").
Contrary to Gomme's note on the passage, which refers to trumpets, some sort of visual signal is implied; or at least, if trumpets are involved, they are secondary. For the same in land-warfare, see 1.63.2.
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Revision history3 revisions · last 23 Dec 2013
- Revised — David Whitehead
- expanded note; tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- set status — Catharine Roth
- Translated — William Hutton