51. ΝΗΣΑΙ IN SOPHOCLES, FR. 439 R
- Author
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S. Douglas Olson
- Subjects
Philosophy ,History ,Literature and Literary Theory ,Classics - Abstract
πέπλους τε νῆσαι λινογενεῖς τ’ ἐπενδύταςτε νῆσαιCanter: τε νίσαιPoll.A: τάνυσαιPoll.FSnêsaimantles and outer garments born of flaxGreek has three verbs νέω: (A) ‘swim’, (B) ‘spin’ and (C) ‘heap up, pile’. The aorist infinitive of both (B) and (C) is νῆσαι. LSJ (followed by Ellendt) takes Sophocles, fr. 439 R. (fromNausicaa or Washing-women) to be an instance of νέω (B). Pearson comments: ‘νῆσαι is loosely used for ὑϕαίνειν. The process of spinning, being preparatory to that of weaving, was apt to be regarded as part of the same operation rather than as a distinct art … Soph. probably had in mind η 96 πέπλοι | λεπτοὶ ἐΰννητοι βεβλήατο, ἔργα γυναικῶν’ (cloth spread on the seats in the banqueting hall of the Phaeacian king Alcinous). Lloyd-Jones accordingly translates the fragment ‘to weave robes and tunics made of linen’. more...
- Published
- 2015
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