Aphrodite, Athena, and Epigram: the Story of Two Goddesses

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1 11/09/13 Maria Kanellou Aphrodite, Athena, and Epigram: the Story of Two Goddesses 1. Homeric Epics ἰκέλη χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ looking like golden Aphrodite (cf. Οd.17.37, Οd.19.54, Ιl , Ιl ) οὐδ εἰ χρυσείῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ κάλλος ἐρίζοι not though she vied in beauty with golden Aphrodite (Ιl.9.389) εἶδος ἔχε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης who had the beauty of golden Aphrodite (Od.4.14) 2 A. Sappho fr Voigt σε θέαι σ ἰκέλαν ἀρι- γνώται, σᾶι δὲ μάλιστ ἔχ ιρε μ λ ι.. you as being an easily recognised goddess, and took most delight in your song. B. Sappho fr Voigt φαίνεταί μοι κῆνος ἴσος θέοισιν ἔμμεν ὤνηρ, ὄττις ἐνάντι ς τοι ἰσδάνει κ ὶ λάσιον ἆδυ φωνείσ ς ὐ κούει κ ὶ γελ ίσ ς ἰμέροεν... He seems as equal to gods to me the one who sits opposite you and listens nearby to your sweet voice and lovely laughter... (trsl. D.A.Campbell, adapted) 3. Ibycus fr.288 Davies Eὐρύ λε γλ υκέων Χαρίτων θάλος, <Ὡρᾶν> Euryalus, offshoot of the blue-eyed Graces, κ λλικ μων μελέδημα, σὲ μὲν Κύπρις darling of the lovely-haired (Seasons), the ἅ τ ἀγ νοβλέφ ρος Πει- Cyprian and soft-lidded Persuasion nursed you θὼ ῥοδέοισιν ἐν ἄνθεσι θρέψαν. among rose-blossoms. (trsl. D.A.Campbell) 4. Aristophanes Ecclesiazussae, ὦ χρυσοδ ίδ λτον ἐμὸν You golden work of art, μέλημ, Κύπριδος ἔρνος, my darling, scion of Cypris, μέλιττ Μούσης, Χ ρίτων honeybee of the Muses, nursling θρέμμ, Τρυφῆς ρ σω ον, of the Graces, the very image of Delight, ἄνοιξον ἀσ άζου με open and welcome me; διά τοι σὲ νους ἔχω. it s for you, I tell you, that I suffer so. (trsl. A.H.Sommerstein) 1 P a g e

2 5 A. Nossis AP = 4 GP ἐλθοῖσ ι οτὶ ν ὸν ἰδώμεθ τᾶς Ἀφροδίτ ς Let us go to the temple and see Aphrodite s statue, τὸ βρέτ ς ὡς χρυσῷ δαιδαλόεν τελέθει. how intricately it is adorned with gold. εἵσ τ μιν Πολυ ρχὶς ἐ υρομέν μάλ ολλάν Polyarchis set it up, enjoying the benefits of the κτῆσιν ἀ οἰκείου σώμ τος ἀγλ ΐ ς. great wealth she has from the beauty of her own body. (trsl. K.Gutzwiller) 1 B. Nossis AP = 5 GP χ ίροισάν τοι ἔοικε κομᾶν ἄ ο τὰν Ἀφροδίτ ν With joy, I think, Aphrodite has received this ἄνθεμ κεκρύφ λον τ νδε λ βεῖν Σ μύθ ς, gift, a headband from the hair of Samytha. δαιδάλεός τε γάρ ἐστι κ ὶ ἁδύ τι νέκταρος ὄσδει For it is variegated and smells somewhat of τούτῳ κ ὶ τήν κ λὸν Ἄδων χρίει. sweet nectar; with this she, too, anoints lovely Adonis. (trsl. K.Gutzwiller) 6. Court Poets A. Posidippus AB = GP ἔνθ με Κ λλικράτης ἱδρύσ το κ ὶ β σιλίσσης Here Callicrates set me up and called me the ἱερὸν Ἀρσινόης Κύπριδος ὠν μ σεν. shrine of Queen Arsinoe-Aphrodite. ἀλλ ἐ ὶ τὴν Ζεφυρῖτιν ἀκουσομένην Ἀφροδίτην, So, then, to her who shall be named Zephyritis- Aphrodite, B. Posidippus AB = GP τοῦτο κ ὶ ἐν ντῳ κ ὶ ἐ ὶ χθονὶ τῆς Φιλαδέλφου Both on land and sea make offering to this Κύπριδος ἱλάσκεσθ ἱερὸν Ἀρσινόης, shrine of Aphrodite-Arsinoe-Philadelphus. C. Posidippus 39.2 AB χερσ θεν, Eὐπλοίᾳ χ ῖρε δὸς Ἀρσινόῃ, from the shore, say greetings to Arsinoe of fair sailing, (trsls. C.Austin & G.Bastianini) D. Callimachus Athen.7.318b.2 = 5Pf. = 39 GP Κύπρι, Σελην ίης ἄνθεμ ρῶτον ἔχεις, Cypris, I am yours, a first offering from Selenaea E. Asclepiades/ Posidippus AP = 34 GP ὐτοὶ τὴν ἁ λὴν Εἰρήνιον εἶδον Ἔρωτες Κύ ριδος ἐκ χρυσέων ἐρχ μενοι θ λάμων ἐκ τριχὸς ἄχρι οδῶν ἱερὸν θάλος οἷά τε λύγδου The Εrotes themselves looked on with favour soft Eirenion as they were coming out from the golden chambers of Cypris, from head 1 For epigrams, I have adapted Paton s translations (unless I state otherwise). 2 P a g e

3 γλυ τήν, ρθενίων βριθομένην χ ρίτων to feet a holy blossom/ child, as if carved from κ ὶ ολλοὺς τ τε χερσὶν ἐ ἠιθέοισιν ὀιστοὺς white marble, laden with a virgin s graces; and τ ξου ορφυρέης ἧκ ν ἀφ ἁρ εδ νης. then they let fly from their hands many arrows against young men, sent from the purple bowstrings. 7 A. Antipater of Sidon AP = GP ἡ κ ὶ ἔτ ἐκ βρέφεος κοιμωμένη Ἀντιοδημίς ορφυρέων Παφίης νοσσὶς ἐ ὶ κροκύδων, Antiodemis, a nursling of the Paphian, cuddled from her babyhood in purple coverlets, (trsl. K.Gutzwiller) B. Antipater of Sidon AP = 23 GP τὴν κ ὶ ἅμ χρυσῷ κ ὶ ἁλουργίδι κ ὶ σὺν Ἔρωτι I hold Lais, who exalted in her wealth and θρυ τομένην, ἁπαλῆς Κύπριδος ἁβροτέρην, purple dress and in her amours/ with the power Λ ΐδ ἔχω, ολιῆτιν ἁλιζώνοιο Κορίνθου, of Eros, more delicate than tender Cypris, Πειρήνης λευκῶν φ ιδροτέρην λιβάδων, the citizen of sea-girt Corinth, more sparkling τὴν θνητὴν Κυθέρειαν, ἐφ ἧ μνηστῆρες ἀγ υοὶ than the white water of Peirene, the mortal λείονες ἤ νύμφης εἴνεκ Τυνδ ρίδος, Cytherea, who had more noble suitors than the δρεπτόμενοι Χάριτάς τε καὶ ὠνητὴν Ἀφροδίτην daughter of Tyndareus, plucking her charms ἧς κ ὶ ὑ εὐώδει τύμβος ὄδωδε κρ κῳ, and mercenary favours. Her very tomb smells ἧς ἔτι κηώεντι μύρῳ τὸ διάβροχον ὀστεῦν of sweet-scented saffron, her skull is still soaked κ ὶ λι ρ ὶ θυ εν ἆσθμ νέουσι κ μ ι, with fragrant ointment, and her anointed locks ᾗ ἔ ι κ λὸν ἄμυξε κ τὰ ῥέθος Ἀφρογένει still breathe a perfume as of frankincense. κ ὶ γοερὸν λύζων ἐστονάχησεν Ἔρως. For her the Foam-born scratched her lovely εἰ δ οὐ πάγκοινον δούλην θέτο κέρδεος εὐνήν, face, and sobbing Eros groaned and wailed. If Ἑλλὰς ἄν ὡς Ἑλένης τῆσδ ὕ ερ ἔσχε νον. she had not made her bed the public slave of gain, Greece would have fought for her as for Helen. (trsl. K.Gutzwiller, adapted) 8. A. Meleager AP = 43 GP ἔγχει τᾶς Πειθοῦς καὶ Κύπριδος Ἡλιοδώρας, κ ὶ άλι τᾶς αὐτᾶς ἁδυλόγου Χάριτος. αὐτὰ γὰρ μί ἐμοὶ γράφεται θεός, ἆς τὸ οθεινὸν οὔνομ ἐν ἀκρήτῳ συγκεράσ ς ίομ ι. Pour in wine for Heliodora Peitho and for Heliodora Cypris, and again for the same Heliodora the sweet-speaking Grace. Because for me she herself is inscribed as the one goddess, whose desirable name I drink mixed with pure wine. 3 P a g e

4 B. Meleager AP = 44 GP ν ὶ τὸν Ἔρωτ, θέλω τὸ παρ οὔασιν Ἡλιοδώρας φθέγμα κλύειν ἢ τὰς Λατοΐδεω κιθάρας. By Eros I swear, I rather hear Heliodora s whisper in my ear than the harp of the son of Leto. 9. Rufinus AP 5.73 = 27 P δ ίμονες, οὐκ ᾔδειν ὅτι λούεται ἡ Κυθέρεια, Gods, I did not know that Cytherea was χερσὶ κ τ υχενίους λυσ μένη λοκάμους. bathing, releasing with her hands her ἱλήκοις, δέσ οιν, κ ὶ ὄμμ σιν ἡμετέροισι ringlets to fall upon the neck. Have mercy μή οτε μηνίσῃς, θεῖον ἰδοῦσι τύ ον. on me, mistress, and be not wroth with my νῦν ἔγνων Ῥοδ κλει, κ ὶ οὐ Κύ ρις. εἶτ τὸ κάλλος eyes that have seen your immortal form. τοῦτο θεν; σύ, δοκῶ, τὴν θεὸν ἐκδέδυκας. Now I realise; it is Rhodocleia and not Cypris. Then, whence this beauty? You, I believe, have despoiled the goddess. 10. Paulus Silentiarius AP = 69 Viansino μ ζοὺς χερσὶν ἔχω, στ μ τι στ μ, κ ὶ ερὶ δειρήν I press her breasts, our mouths are joined, and I ἄσχετ λυσσώων β σκομ ι ἀργυφέην. feed in unrestrained fury round her silver neck. οὔπω δ Ἀφρογένειαν ὅλην ἕλον ἀλλ ἔτι κάμνω However, I have not conquered the whole ρθένον ἀμφιέ ων λέκτρον ἀν ινομένην. Foam- born yet; I still toil pursuing a maiden, ἥμισυ γὰρ Παφίῃ, τὸ δ ἄρ ἥμισυ δῶκεν Ἀθήνῃ who refuses me her bed. Half of herself she has ὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μέσσος τήκομ ι ἀμφοτέρων. given to Paphia and half to Athena; and I waste away between the two. 11. Julian of Egypt AP οὔνομ μὲν Κ λή, φρεσὶ δὲ λέον ἠὲ ροσώ ῳ, She is dead, Beauty by name and more κάτθ νε φεῦ, Χ ρίτων ἐξ λωλεν ἔ ρ. so in mind than in face. Alas! The spring καὶ γὰρ ἔην Παφίῃ πανομοίϊος, ἀλλὰ συνεύνῳ season of the Graces has perished utterly. For μούνῳ τοῖς δ ἑτέροις Παλλὰς ἐρυμνοτάτη. she was identical to Aphrodite, but only for τίς λίθος οὐκ ἐγ ησεν, ὅτ ἐξήρ ξεν ἐκείνην her consort; for others an unassailable εὐρυβίης Ἀΐδης ἀνδρὸς ἀ ἀγκ λίδων; Athena. What stone did not mourn, when mighty Hades tore her from her husband s arms? 4 P a g e

5 Select Bibliography: Breitenberger, B. (2007) Aphrodite and Eros: the Development of Erotic Mythology in Early Greek Poetry and Cult, New York, London Cameron, A. and Cameron, Av. (1966) The Cycle of Agathias, Journal of Hellenic Studies 86, 6-25 Campbell, D. A. (2001) Greek Lyric III, Stesichorus, Ibycus, Simonides, and Others, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London (2002) Greek Lyric I, Sappho and Alcaeus, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London Garrison, D. H. (1978) Mild Frenzy: A Reading of the Hellenistic Love Epigram, Hermes Einzelschriften 41, Wiesbaden Gutzwiller, K. J. (1998) Poetic Garlands: Hellenistic Epigrams in Context, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London Höschele, R. (2006) Verrückt nach Frauen: Der Epigrammatiker Rufin, Classica Monacensia 31, Tübingen Jones, C. (2010) New Heroes in Antiquity: From Achilles to Antinoos, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London Kovacs, D. (1995) Euripides: Children of Heracles, Hippolytus, Andromache, Hecuba, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London Lieberg, G. (1962) Puella Divina: die Gestalt der göttlichen Geliebten bei Catull im Zusammenhang der antiken Dichtung, Amsterdam Paton, W. R. (ed. and trans.) ( ) The Greek Anthology with an English Translation, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, 5 vols. Pironti, G. (2007) Entre ciel et guerre: Figures d' Aphrodite en Grèce ancienne, Kernos Supplément 18, Centre International d Étude de la Religion Grecque Antique, Liege Rosenzweig, R. (2004) Worshipping Aphrodite: Art and Cult in Classical Athens, Ann Arbor Sens, A. (2007) One Things Leads (Back) to Another Allusion and the Invention of Tradition in Hellenistic Epigrams, Brill s Companion to Hellenistic Epigram, P. Bing & J. S. Bruss (eds.), Leiden, Boston, (2011) Asclepiades of Samos: Epigrams and Fragments. Edited with Translation and Commentary, Oxford Smith, A. & Pickup, S. (eds.) (2010) Brill s Companion to Aphrodite, Leiden, Boston Sommerstein, A. H. (2007) The Comedies of Aristophanes: Vol. 10, Ecclesiazusae, edited with an Introduction, Translation and Commentary, Aris and Phillips Classical Texts, Warminster Viansino, G. (1963) Paolo Silenziario: Epigrammi. Testo, Traduzione e Commento, Turin 5 P a g e