The poems have all been
translated
by W.
Greek Anthology
Greek Anthology
The Greek Anthology is the largest surviving collection of short Greek poems, starting from the earliest poets and going up to Byzantine times. It is primarily based on a compilation of epigrams made by the Byzantine scholar Constantinus Cephalas in the 10th century, with some additions by Maximus Planudes in the late 13th century. It is sometimes called the Palatine Anthology, because the only surviving manuscript of Cephalas' compliation is preserved in the Palatine Library at Heidelberg.
The poems have all been translated by W. R. Paton (1916). The traditional arrangement is in 16 books (with the Planudean Anthology as Book 16); but here the poems are mostly arranged by author. All the poets who are listed here wrote before the end of the 1st century A. D. ; the earlier poets (ones who lived around 100 B. C. or earlier) are marked with an asterisk.
Alcaeus of Messene * Antipater of Sidon *
Antipater of Thessalonica Antiphilus
Anyte * Apollonides
Archias Asclepiades *
Bianor Callimachus *
Crinagoras Dioscorides *
Leonidas of Tarentum * Lucillius
Marcus Argentarius Meleager *
Mnasalcas * Nicarchus
Philippus Philodemus
Simonides * Theodoridas *
The epigrams of Poseidippus are available on the elfinspell. com website.
The epigrams of Theocritus are available on the theoi. com website.
Links to the epigrams of other poets can be found in the List of Other Poets.
Epigrams by other poets, arranged by book:
Book 3 - The Cyzicene Epigrams
Book 5 - The Amatory Epigrams
Book 6 - The Dedicatory Epigrams
Book 7 : 1-356 , 362-748 - The Sepulchral Epigrams
Book 9 : 1-312 , 313-827 - The Declamatory Epigrams
Book 10 - The Hortatory and Admonitory Epigrams
Book 11 - The Convivial and Satirical Epigrams
Book 12 - Strato's 'Musa Puerilis'
Book 13 - Epigrams in Various Metres
Book 16 - Epigrams of the Planudean Anthology
Attalus' home page
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Greek Anthology: Book 3
THE CYZICENE EPIGRAMS
Translated by W. R. Paton. The Greek text of the epigrams can be found on Perseus.
In the temple at Cyzicus of Apollonis, the mother of Attalus and Eumenes, inscribed on the tablets of the columns, which contained scenes in relief, as follows :-
[1] On Dionysus conducting his mother Semele to heaven, preceded by Hermes, Satyrs, and Sileni escorting them with Torches.
The fair-haired daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, slain in childbirth by the bolt of Zeus, is being led up from Acheron by her son Dionysus, the thyrsus-lover, who avenges the godless insolence of Pentheus.
[2] Telephus recognised by his Mother.
Leaving the valleys of Arcadia because of my mother Auge, I Telephus, myself the dear son of Heracles, set foot on this Teuthranian land, that I might bring her back to Arcadia.
[3] Phoenix blinded by his father Amyntor, whom his own wife Alcimede attempts to restrain.
Alcimede is holding back her husband Amyntor from their son Phoenix, wishing to appease his father's wrath. He quarrelled with his father for his virtuous mother's sake, because he desired to lie with a slave concubine. His father, listening to crafty whispered slander, was wrath with the young man, and approached him with a torch to burn out his eyes.
[4] Polymedes and Clytius, the sons of Phineus the Thracian, who slew their father's Phrygian wife, because he took her to wife while still married to their mother Cleopatra.
Clytius and Polymedes, renowned for wisdom, are slaying their Phrygian stepmother for their own mother's sake. Cleopatra therefore is glad of heart, having seen the wife of Phineus justly slain.
[5] Cresphontes is killing Polyphontes, the slayer of his father ; Merope is there holding a staff and helping her son to slay him.
Thou didst formerly slay, O Polyphontes, the father of Cresphontes, desiring to defile the bed of his wedded wife. And long after came his son to avenge his father's murder, and slew thee for the sake of his mother Merope. Therefore hath he planted his spear in thy back, and she is helping, striking thee on the forehead with a heavy staff.
[6] The Pytho slain by Apollo and Artemis, because it appeared and prevented Leto from approaching the oracle at Delphi which she went to occupy.
Leto in utter loathing is turning away from the earthborn Pytho, a creeping thing, all confusedly coiled ; for it wishes to annoy the wise goddess : but Phoebus, shooting from the height, lays it low in its blood. He shall make the Delphian tripod inspired, but the Pytho shall yield up its life with groans and bitter hisses.
ON THE NORTH SIDE
[7] The story of Zethus and Amphion. They are tying Dirce to the bull, because instigated by jealousy she treated with excessive harshness their mother Antiope, whom her father, Nycteus, owing to her seduction, abandoned to Lycus, Dirce's husband.
Amphion and Zethus, scions of Zeus, slay this woman Dirce, the injurer of your mother Antiope, whom formerly she kept in prison owing to her jealous spite, but whom she now beseeches with tears. Attach her to the bull with a double rope, that it may drag her body through this thicket.
[8] Odysseus in Hades questioning his mother Anticleia concerning affairs at home.
Anticleia, mother of wise Odysseus, you did not live to receive your son in Ithaca ; but now he marvels, seeing you, his sweet mother, on the shore of Acheron.
[9] Pelias and Neleus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering from bonds their mother Tyro, whom her father Salmoneus imprisoned owing to her seduction, and whom her step-mother Sidero tortured.
Let not the bonds of Sidero torment thee any longer, Tyro, crouching before this thy father, Salmoneus ; for he shall not keep thee in bondage longer, now he sees Neleus and Pelias approach to restrain him.
ON THE WEST SIDE
[10] The recognition of Eunous and Thoas, the children of Hypsipyle, by their mother. They are showing her the golden vine, the token of their birth, and saving her from her punishment at the hands of Eurydice for the death of Archemorus.
Show, Thoas, this plant of Bacchus, for so shall you save from death thy mother, the slave Hypsipyle, who suffered from the wrath of Eurydice, since the earth-born snake slew Archemorus. And go thou too, Eunous, leaving the borders of the Asopian land, to take thy mother to pleasant Lemnos.
[11] Polydectes the King of Seriphus being turned into stone by Perseus with the Gorgon's head. He had sent Perseus to seek this in order to marry his mother, and the death he had designed for another he suffered himself by the providence of Justice.
Thou didst dare, Polydectes, to defile the bed of Danaē, succeeding Zeus in unholy wedlock. Therefore, Perseus here uncovered the Gorgon's eyes and made thy limbs stone, to do pleasure to his mother.
[12] Ixion killing Phorbas and Polymelus, for their murder of his mother Megara. They slew her out of anger, because she would not consent to marry either of them.
Ixion, whom you see, laid low Phorbas and Polymelus, taking vengeance on them for their vengeance on his mother.
[13] Heracles leading his mother Alcmene to the Elysian Plains to wed her to Rhadamanthys, and his own reception into the number of the gods.
Bold Heracles gave this his mother Alcmene in holy wedlock to Rhadamanthys.
[14] Tityus shot down by Apollo and Artemis for daring to assault their mother Leto.
Lustful and drunk with folly, why did you try to force the bride of Zeus, who now, as you deserved, bathed you in blood and left you righteously on the ground, food for beasts and birds.
[15] Bellerophon saved by his son Glaucus, when having fallen from the back of Pegasus into the Aleian plain he was about to be killed by Megapenthes, the son of Proetus.
No longer could Bellerophon stay the murderous hand of this son of Proetus, nor the death designed for him by his father. Glaucus, in vain you fear for him (? ) ; he shall escape the plot of Iobates, for thus the Fates decreed. Yourself, too, then did shield your father from death, standing near him, and were an observant witness to the truth of the glorious story.
[16] At the door of the temple as we approach it are Aeolus and Boeotus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering their mother Melanippe from the fetters in which she was placed by her father owing to her seduction.
Aeolus and Boeotus, a clever and pious task ye performed in saving your mother from death. Therefore ye were proved to be brave men, one of you from Aeolis, the other from Boeotia.
[17] Anapis and Amphinomus, who on the occasion of the eruption in Sicily carried through the flames to safety their parents and nought else.
[ The epigram has perished. ]
[18] Cleobis and Biton, who enabled their mother Cydippe, the priestess of Hera at Argos, to sacrifice, by putting their own necks under the yoke, when the oxen delayed. They say she was so pleased that she prayed to Hera that the highest human happiness possible for man should befall her sons; thus she prayed, and that night they died.
This story of Cydippe and her sons' piety is not false, but has the beauty of truth. A delightful labour and a seasonable for men was theirs ; they undertook a glorious task out of piety to their mother. Rejoice even among the dead ye men famous for your piety and may you alone have age-long story.
[19] Romulus and Remus deliver their mother Servilia from the cruelty of Amulius. Mars had seduced her, and they were his children. They were exposed, and suckled by a wolf. When they came to man's estate, they delivered their mother from bondage. After founding Rome they re-established Numitor in the kingdom.
Thou didst bear secretly this offspring to Ares, Romulus and Remus, at one birth. A she-wolf brought them up in a cave, and they delivered thee by force from woe ill to cure.
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Greek Anthology: Book 5
THE AMATORY EPIGRAMS
This selection from Book 5 of the Greek Anthology contains all the epigrams written before the middle of the first century A. D. , as listed in three editions:
(H) A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page, "The Greek Anthology: Hellenistic Epigrams"
(Ph) A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page, "The Greek Anthology: The Garland of Philip and Some Contemporary Epigrams"
(F) D. L. Page, "Further Greek Epigrams"
The labels in green are the numbers assigned to the epigrams in one of these editions. The labels in red are their numbers within the Anthology.
Translations of most of the epigrams are already available elsewhere, as indicated by the links. The translations of the remaining epigrams are taken from the edition by W. R. Paton (1916-18), but have been modified to remove some of the archaic language. Click on G to go to the Greek text of each epigram.
[3]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[4]
Philodemus →
[5] STATYLLIUS FLACCUS { Ph 1 } G
To faithless Napē Flaccus gave myself, this silver lamp, the faithful confidant of the loves of the night ; and now I droop at her bedside, looking on the lewdness of the forsworn girl. But you, Flaccus, lie awake, tormented by cruel care, and both of us are burning far away from each other.
[6]
Callimachus (27)
[7]
Asclepiades →
[8]
Meleager →
[10]
Alcaeus →
[11] Anonymous { F 7 } G
Cypris, if you save those at sea, save me, beloved goddess, who perish ship-wrecked on land.
[13]
Philodemus →
[16]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[17] GAETULICUS { F 1 } G
O guardian of the surf-beaten shore, I send you, Cypris, these little cakes and simple gifts of sacrifice. For to-morrow I shall cross the broad Ionian Sea, hasting to the bosom of my Eidothea. Shine favourable on my love, and on my boat, you who are queen alike of the chamber and of the shore.
[20] HONESTUS { Ph 1 } G
I neither wish to marry a young girl nor an old woman. The one I pity, the other I revere. Neither sour grape nor raisin would I have, but a beauty ripe for the chamber of Love.
[23]
Callimachus (64)
[24]
Meleager →
[25]
Philodemus →
[29] CILLACTOR { F 1 } G
Sweet is fruition, who denies it ? but when it demands money it becomes bitterer than hellebore.
[30]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[31]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[32]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[33] PARMENION { Ph 1 } G
You fell in rain of gold on Danaē, Olympian Zeus, that the child might yield to you as to a gift, and not tremble before you as before a god.
[34] PARMENION { Ph 2 } G
Zeus bought Danaē for gold, and I buy you for a gold coin. I can't give more than Zeus did.
[38]
Nicarchus →
[39]
Nicarchus →
[40]
Nicarchus →
[45] CILLACTOR { F 2 } G
A young girl increases her little store not by her art, but by her nature.
[46]
Philodemus →
[49] GALLUS { F 1 } G
{adapted from the translation by M. Johnson & T. Ryan}
Lyde, who renders service to three men at one and the same time, one over her belly, the other below, and another from above, said: "I let in the boy-lover, the woman-lover, and the violence-lover. If you're urgent, even if you get in alongside two others, don't hold back! "
[51] Anonymous { F 8 } G
I fell in love, I kissed, I was favoured, I enjoyed, I am loved ; but who am I, and who is she, and how it befell, Cypris alone knows.
[54]
Dioscorides →
[55]
Dioscorides →
[56]
Dioscorides →
[57]
Meleager →
[58]
Archias →
[59]
Archias →
[63]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[64]
Asclepiades →
[67] CAPITO { F 1 } G
Beauty without charm only pleases us, but does not hold us ; it is like a bait floating without a hook.
[68]
Lucillius →
[78] PLATO { F 3 } G
My soul was on my lips as I was kissing Agathōn. Poor soul ! she came hoping to cross over to him.
[79] PLATO { F 4 } G
I throw the apple at you, and you, if you love me from your heart, take it and give me of your maidenhead ; but if your thoughts be what I pray they are not, take it still and reflect how short-lived is beauty.
[80] PLATO { F 5 } G
I am an apple ; one who loves you throws me at you. But consent, Xanthippe ; both you and I decay.
[81] DIONYSIUS THE SOPHIST { F 1 } G
You with the roses, rosy is your charm ; but what do you sell, yourself or the roses, or both ?
[82] DIONYSIUS THE SOPHIST { F 2 } G
Proud waitress of the bath, why do you bathe me so fiercely ? Before I have stripped I feel the fire.
[83] Anonymous { F 9 } G
Oh, would I were the wind, that walking on the shore you might bare your bosom and take me to you as I blow.
[84] Anonymous { F 10 } G
Oh, would I were a pink rose, that your hand might pluck me to give to your snowy breasts.
[85]
Asclepiades →
[90] Anonymous { F 11 } G
I send you sweet perfume, ministering to scent with scent, even as one who to Bacchus offers the flowing gift of Bacchus.
[91] Anonymous { F 12 } G
I send you sweet perfume, not so much honouring you as it ; for you can perfume the perfume.
[94] Anonymous { F 13} G
You have Hera's eyes, Melite, and Athene's hands, the breasts of Aphrodite, and the feet of Thetis. Blessed is he who looks on you, thrice blessed he who hears you talk, a demigod he who kisses you, and a god he who takes you to wife.
[96]
Meleager →
[98]
Archias →
[100] Anonymous { F 1 } G
If anyone blame me because, a skilled servant of Love, I go to the chase, my eyes armed with birdlime to catch ladies, let him know that Zeus and Hades and the Lord of the Sea were slaves of violent desire. If the gods are such and they bid men follow their example, what wrong do I do in learning their deeds ?
[101] Anonymous { F 6 } G
He. Good day, my dear. She. Good day. He. Who is she who is walking in front of you ? She. What is that to you ? He. I have a reason for asking. She. My mistress. He. May I hope? She. What do you want? He. A night. She. What have you for her ? He. Gold. She. Then take heart. He. So much {showing the amount}. She. You can't.
[102]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[104]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[105]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[106] DIOTIMUS OF MILETUS { Ph 1 } G
Granny, dear nurse, why do you bark at me when I approach; and cast me into torments twice as cruel. You accompany a lovely girl, and look how treading in her steps I go my own way, only gazing at her sweet form. Why be jealous of eyes, ill-fated nurse ? We are allowed to look on the forms of even the immortals.
[107]
Philodemus →
[108]
Crinagoras →
[109]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[110]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[111]
Antiphilus →
[112]
Philodemus →
[113]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[114] MACCIUS { Ph 1 } G
That persistently cruel Philistiŏn, who never tolerated an admirer unless he had money, seems less insufferable now than formerly. It is not a great miracle her seeming so, but I don't believe her nature is changed. The merciless asp grows tamer at times, but when it bites, it always means death.
[115]
Philodemus →
[116]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[117] MACCIUS { Ph 2 } G
Cornelius' beauty melts me ; but I fear this flame, which is already becoming a fierce fire.
[118]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[119]
Crinagoras →
[120]
Philodemus →
[121]
Philodemus →
[122] DIODORUS { Ph 2 } G
Son of illustrious Megistocles, I beseech you, not even though he seem to you more precious than your two eyes, though he be glowing from the bath of the Graces, do not hang around the lovely boy. Neither gentle nor simple-hearted is he, but courted by many, and no novice in love. Beware, my friend, and fan not the flame.
[123]
Philodemus →
[124]
Philodemus →
[125] BASSUS { Ph 1 } G
I am never going to turn into gold, and let some one else become a bull or the melodious swan of the shore. Such tricks I leave to Zeus, and instead of becoming a bird I will give Corinna my two obols.
[126]
Philodemus →
[127]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[128]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[129] AUTOMEDON { Ph 1 } G
{translated by A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page}
I praise the dancing girl from Asia, her who quivers from her tender finger-tips in lascivious postures, not because she commands every gesture of passion, nor because she flings so tenderly her hands this way and that, but because she knows how to dance around the worn-out peg, and does not shun the wrinkles of age. She tongues and tickles and hugs, and when she throws her leg across, she resurrects the club from Hades.
[130] MACCIUS { Ph 4 } G
Why so gloomy, and what do these untidy ruffled locks mean, Philaenis, and those eyes suffused with tears ? Did you see your lover with a rival on his lap ? Tell me ; I know a cure for sorrow. You cry, but don't confess ; in vain you seek to deny ; eyes are more to be trusted than the tongue.
[131]
Philodemus →
[132]
Philodemus →
[133] MACCIUS { Ph 5 } G
By your majesty, Cythereia, I swore to keep away two nights from Hedyliŏn, and knowing the complaint of my poor heart, methinks you did smile. For I will not support the second, and I cast my oath to the winds.
The poems have all been translated by W. R. Paton (1916). The traditional arrangement is in 16 books (with the Planudean Anthology as Book 16); but here the poems are mostly arranged by author. All the poets who are listed here wrote before the end of the 1st century A. D. ; the earlier poets (ones who lived around 100 B. C. or earlier) are marked with an asterisk.
Alcaeus of Messene * Antipater of Sidon *
Antipater of Thessalonica Antiphilus
Anyte * Apollonides
Archias Asclepiades *
Bianor Callimachus *
Crinagoras Dioscorides *
Leonidas of Tarentum * Lucillius
Marcus Argentarius Meleager *
Mnasalcas * Nicarchus
Philippus Philodemus
Simonides * Theodoridas *
The epigrams of Poseidippus are available on the elfinspell. com website.
The epigrams of Theocritus are available on the theoi. com website.
Links to the epigrams of other poets can be found in the List of Other Poets.
Epigrams by other poets, arranged by book:
Book 3 - The Cyzicene Epigrams
Book 5 - The Amatory Epigrams
Book 6 - The Dedicatory Epigrams
Book 7 : 1-356 , 362-748 - The Sepulchral Epigrams
Book 9 : 1-312 , 313-827 - The Declamatory Epigrams
Book 10 - The Hortatory and Admonitory Epigrams
Book 11 - The Convivial and Satirical Epigrams
Book 12 - Strato's 'Musa Puerilis'
Book 13 - Epigrams in Various Metres
Book 16 - Epigrams of the Planudean Anthology
Attalus' home page
back
Greek Anthology: Book 3
THE CYZICENE EPIGRAMS
Translated by W. R. Paton. The Greek text of the epigrams can be found on Perseus.
In the temple at Cyzicus of Apollonis, the mother of Attalus and Eumenes, inscribed on the tablets of the columns, which contained scenes in relief, as follows :-
[1] On Dionysus conducting his mother Semele to heaven, preceded by Hermes, Satyrs, and Sileni escorting them with Torches.
The fair-haired daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, slain in childbirth by the bolt of Zeus, is being led up from Acheron by her son Dionysus, the thyrsus-lover, who avenges the godless insolence of Pentheus.
[2] Telephus recognised by his Mother.
Leaving the valleys of Arcadia because of my mother Auge, I Telephus, myself the dear son of Heracles, set foot on this Teuthranian land, that I might bring her back to Arcadia.
[3] Phoenix blinded by his father Amyntor, whom his own wife Alcimede attempts to restrain.
Alcimede is holding back her husband Amyntor from their son Phoenix, wishing to appease his father's wrath. He quarrelled with his father for his virtuous mother's sake, because he desired to lie with a slave concubine. His father, listening to crafty whispered slander, was wrath with the young man, and approached him with a torch to burn out his eyes.
[4] Polymedes and Clytius, the sons of Phineus the Thracian, who slew their father's Phrygian wife, because he took her to wife while still married to their mother Cleopatra.
Clytius and Polymedes, renowned for wisdom, are slaying their Phrygian stepmother for their own mother's sake. Cleopatra therefore is glad of heart, having seen the wife of Phineus justly slain.
[5] Cresphontes is killing Polyphontes, the slayer of his father ; Merope is there holding a staff and helping her son to slay him.
Thou didst formerly slay, O Polyphontes, the father of Cresphontes, desiring to defile the bed of his wedded wife. And long after came his son to avenge his father's murder, and slew thee for the sake of his mother Merope. Therefore hath he planted his spear in thy back, and she is helping, striking thee on the forehead with a heavy staff.
[6] The Pytho slain by Apollo and Artemis, because it appeared and prevented Leto from approaching the oracle at Delphi which she went to occupy.
Leto in utter loathing is turning away from the earthborn Pytho, a creeping thing, all confusedly coiled ; for it wishes to annoy the wise goddess : but Phoebus, shooting from the height, lays it low in its blood. He shall make the Delphian tripod inspired, but the Pytho shall yield up its life with groans and bitter hisses.
ON THE NORTH SIDE
[7] The story of Zethus and Amphion. They are tying Dirce to the bull, because instigated by jealousy she treated with excessive harshness their mother Antiope, whom her father, Nycteus, owing to her seduction, abandoned to Lycus, Dirce's husband.
Amphion and Zethus, scions of Zeus, slay this woman Dirce, the injurer of your mother Antiope, whom formerly she kept in prison owing to her jealous spite, but whom she now beseeches with tears. Attach her to the bull with a double rope, that it may drag her body through this thicket.
[8] Odysseus in Hades questioning his mother Anticleia concerning affairs at home.
Anticleia, mother of wise Odysseus, you did not live to receive your son in Ithaca ; but now he marvels, seeing you, his sweet mother, on the shore of Acheron.
[9] Pelias and Neleus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering from bonds their mother Tyro, whom her father Salmoneus imprisoned owing to her seduction, and whom her step-mother Sidero tortured.
Let not the bonds of Sidero torment thee any longer, Tyro, crouching before this thy father, Salmoneus ; for he shall not keep thee in bondage longer, now he sees Neleus and Pelias approach to restrain him.
ON THE WEST SIDE
[10] The recognition of Eunous and Thoas, the children of Hypsipyle, by their mother. They are showing her the golden vine, the token of their birth, and saving her from her punishment at the hands of Eurydice for the death of Archemorus.
Show, Thoas, this plant of Bacchus, for so shall you save from death thy mother, the slave Hypsipyle, who suffered from the wrath of Eurydice, since the earth-born snake slew Archemorus. And go thou too, Eunous, leaving the borders of the Asopian land, to take thy mother to pleasant Lemnos.
[11] Polydectes the King of Seriphus being turned into stone by Perseus with the Gorgon's head. He had sent Perseus to seek this in order to marry his mother, and the death he had designed for another he suffered himself by the providence of Justice.
Thou didst dare, Polydectes, to defile the bed of Danaē, succeeding Zeus in unholy wedlock. Therefore, Perseus here uncovered the Gorgon's eyes and made thy limbs stone, to do pleasure to his mother.
[12] Ixion killing Phorbas and Polymelus, for their murder of his mother Megara. They slew her out of anger, because she would not consent to marry either of them.
Ixion, whom you see, laid low Phorbas and Polymelus, taking vengeance on them for their vengeance on his mother.
[13] Heracles leading his mother Alcmene to the Elysian Plains to wed her to Rhadamanthys, and his own reception into the number of the gods.
Bold Heracles gave this his mother Alcmene in holy wedlock to Rhadamanthys.
[14] Tityus shot down by Apollo and Artemis for daring to assault their mother Leto.
Lustful and drunk with folly, why did you try to force the bride of Zeus, who now, as you deserved, bathed you in blood and left you righteously on the ground, food for beasts and birds.
[15] Bellerophon saved by his son Glaucus, when having fallen from the back of Pegasus into the Aleian plain he was about to be killed by Megapenthes, the son of Proetus.
No longer could Bellerophon stay the murderous hand of this son of Proetus, nor the death designed for him by his father. Glaucus, in vain you fear for him (? ) ; he shall escape the plot of Iobates, for thus the Fates decreed. Yourself, too, then did shield your father from death, standing near him, and were an observant witness to the truth of the glorious story.
[16] At the door of the temple as we approach it are Aeolus and Boeotus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering their mother Melanippe from the fetters in which she was placed by her father owing to her seduction.
Aeolus and Boeotus, a clever and pious task ye performed in saving your mother from death. Therefore ye were proved to be brave men, one of you from Aeolis, the other from Boeotia.
[17] Anapis and Amphinomus, who on the occasion of the eruption in Sicily carried through the flames to safety their parents and nought else.
[ The epigram has perished. ]
[18] Cleobis and Biton, who enabled their mother Cydippe, the priestess of Hera at Argos, to sacrifice, by putting their own necks under the yoke, when the oxen delayed. They say she was so pleased that she prayed to Hera that the highest human happiness possible for man should befall her sons; thus she prayed, and that night they died.
This story of Cydippe and her sons' piety is not false, but has the beauty of truth. A delightful labour and a seasonable for men was theirs ; they undertook a glorious task out of piety to their mother. Rejoice even among the dead ye men famous for your piety and may you alone have age-long story.
[19] Romulus and Remus deliver their mother Servilia from the cruelty of Amulius. Mars had seduced her, and they were his children. They were exposed, and suckled by a wolf. When they came to man's estate, they delivered their mother from bondage. After founding Rome they re-established Numitor in the kingdom.
Thou didst bear secretly this offspring to Ares, Romulus and Remus, at one birth. A she-wolf brought them up in a cave, and they delivered thee by force from woe ill to cure.
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Greek Anthology: Book 5
THE AMATORY EPIGRAMS
This selection from Book 5 of the Greek Anthology contains all the epigrams written before the middle of the first century A. D. , as listed in three editions:
(H) A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page, "The Greek Anthology: Hellenistic Epigrams"
(Ph) A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page, "The Greek Anthology: The Garland of Philip and Some Contemporary Epigrams"
(F) D. L. Page, "Further Greek Epigrams"
The labels in green are the numbers assigned to the epigrams in one of these editions. The labels in red are their numbers within the Anthology.
Translations of most of the epigrams are already available elsewhere, as indicated by the links. The translations of the remaining epigrams are taken from the edition by W. R. Paton (1916-18), but have been modified to remove some of the archaic language. Click on G to go to the Greek text of each epigram.
[3]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[4]
Philodemus →
[5] STATYLLIUS FLACCUS { Ph 1 } G
To faithless Napē Flaccus gave myself, this silver lamp, the faithful confidant of the loves of the night ; and now I droop at her bedside, looking on the lewdness of the forsworn girl. But you, Flaccus, lie awake, tormented by cruel care, and both of us are burning far away from each other.
[6]
Callimachus (27)
[7]
Asclepiades →
[8]
Meleager →
[10]
Alcaeus →
[11] Anonymous { F 7 } G
Cypris, if you save those at sea, save me, beloved goddess, who perish ship-wrecked on land.
[13]
Philodemus →
[16]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[17] GAETULICUS { F 1 } G
O guardian of the surf-beaten shore, I send you, Cypris, these little cakes and simple gifts of sacrifice. For to-morrow I shall cross the broad Ionian Sea, hasting to the bosom of my Eidothea. Shine favourable on my love, and on my boat, you who are queen alike of the chamber and of the shore.
[20] HONESTUS { Ph 1 } G
I neither wish to marry a young girl nor an old woman. The one I pity, the other I revere. Neither sour grape nor raisin would I have, but a beauty ripe for the chamber of Love.
[23]
Callimachus (64)
[24]
Meleager →
[25]
Philodemus →
[29] CILLACTOR { F 1 } G
Sweet is fruition, who denies it ? but when it demands money it becomes bitterer than hellebore.
[30]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[31]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[32]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[33] PARMENION { Ph 1 } G
You fell in rain of gold on Danaē, Olympian Zeus, that the child might yield to you as to a gift, and not tremble before you as before a god.
[34] PARMENION { Ph 2 } G
Zeus bought Danaē for gold, and I buy you for a gold coin. I can't give more than Zeus did.
[38]
Nicarchus →
[39]
Nicarchus →
[40]
Nicarchus →
[45] CILLACTOR { F 2 } G
A young girl increases her little store not by her art, but by her nature.
[46]
Philodemus →
[49] GALLUS { F 1 } G
{adapted from the translation by M. Johnson & T. Ryan}
Lyde, who renders service to three men at one and the same time, one over her belly, the other below, and another from above, said: "I let in the boy-lover, the woman-lover, and the violence-lover. If you're urgent, even if you get in alongside two others, don't hold back! "
[51] Anonymous { F 8 } G
I fell in love, I kissed, I was favoured, I enjoyed, I am loved ; but who am I, and who is she, and how it befell, Cypris alone knows.
[54]
Dioscorides →
[55]
Dioscorides →
[56]
Dioscorides →
[57]
Meleager →
[58]
Archias →
[59]
Archias →
[63]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[64]
Asclepiades →
[67] CAPITO { F 1 } G
Beauty without charm only pleases us, but does not hold us ; it is like a bait floating without a hook.
[68]
Lucillius →
[78] PLATO { F 3 } G
My soul was on my lips as I was kissing Agathōn. Poor soul ! she came hoping to cross over to him.
[79] PLATO { F 4 } G
I throw the apple at you, and you, if you love me from your heart, take it and give me of your maidenhead ; but if your thoughts be what I pray they are not, take it still and reflect how short-lived is beauty.
[80] PLATO { F 5 } G
I am an apple ; one who loves you throws me at you. But consent, Xanthippe ; both you and I decay.
[81] DIONYSIUS THE SOPHIST { F 1 } G
You with the roses, rosy is your charm ; but what do you sell, yourself or the roses, or both ?
[82] DIONYSIUS THE SOPHIST { F 2 } G
Proud waitress of the bath, why do you bathe me so fiercely ? Before I have stripped I feel the fire.
[83] Anonymous { F 9 } G
Oh, would I were the wind, that walking on the shore you might bare your bosom and take me to you as I blow.
[84] Anonymous { F 10 } G
Oh, would I were a pink rose, that your hand might pluck me to give to your snowy breasts.
[85]
Asclepiades →
[90] Anonymous { F 11 } G
I send you sweet perfume, ministering to scent with scent, even as one who to Bacchus offers the flowing gift of Bacchus.
[91] Anonymous { F 12 } G
I send you sweet perfume, not so much honouring you as it ; for you can perfume the perfume.
[94] Anonymous { F 13} G
You have Hera's eyes, Melite, and Athene's hands, the breasts of Aphrodite, and the feet of Thetis. Blessed is he who looks on you, thrice blessed he who hears you talk, a demigod he who kisses you, and a god he who takes you to wife.
[96]
Meleager →
[98]
Archias →
[100] Anonymous { F 1 } G
If anyone blame me because, a skilled servant of Love, I go to the chase, my eyes armed with birdlime to catch ladies, let him know that Zeus and Hades and the Lord of the Sea were slaves of violent desire. If the gods are such and they bid men follow their example, what wrong do I do in learning their deeds ?
[101] Anonymous { F 6 } G
He. Good day, my dear. She. Good day. He. Who is she who is walking in front of you ? She. What is that to you ? He. I have a reason for asking. She. My mistress. He. May I hope? She. What do you want? He. A night. She. What have you for her ? He. Gold. She. Then take heart. He. So much {showing the amount}. She. You can't.
[102]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[104]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[105]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[106] DIOTIMUS OF MILETUS { Ph 1 } G
Granny, dear nurse, why do you bark at me when I approach; and cast me into torments twice as cruel. You accompany a lovely girl, and look how treading in her steps I go my own way, only gazing at her sweet form. Why be jealous of eyes, ill-fated nurse ? We are allowed to look on the forms of even the immortals.
[107]
Philodemus →
[108]
Crinagoras →
[109]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[110]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[111]
Antiphilus →
[112]
Philodemus →
[113]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[114] MACCIUS { Ph 1 } G
That persistently cruel Philistiŏn, who never tolerated an admirer unless he had money, seems less insufferable now than formerly. It is not a great miracle her seeming so, but I don't believe her nature is changed. The merciless asp grows tamer at times, but when it bites, it always means death.
[115]
Philodemus →
[116]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[117] MACCIUS { Ph 2 } G
Cornelius' beauty melts me ; but I fear this flame, which is already becoming a fierce fire.
[118]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[119]
Crinagoras →
[120]
Philodemus →
[121]
Philodemus →
[122] DIODORUS { Ph 2 } G
Son of illustrious Megistocles, I beseech you, not even though he seem to you more precious than your two eyes, though he be glowing from the bath of the Graces, do not hang around the lovely boy. Neither gentle nor simple-hearted is he, but courted by many, and no novice in love. Beware, my friend, and fan not the flame.
[123]
Philodemus →
[124]
Philodemus →
[125] BASSUS { Ph 1 } G
I am never going to turn into gold, and let some one else become a bull or the melodious swan of the shore. Such tricks I leave to Zeus, and instead of becoming a bird I will give Corinna my two obols.
[126]
Philodemus →
[127]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[128]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[129] AUTOMEDON { Ph 1 } G
{translated by A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page}
I praise the dancing girl from Asia, her who quivers from her tender finger-tips in lascivious postures, not because she commands every gesture of passion, nor because she flings so tenderly her hands this way and that, but because she knows how to dance around the worn-out peg, and does not shun the wrinkles of age. She tongues and tickles and hugs, and when she throws her leg across, she resurrects the club from Hades.
[130] MACCIUS { Ph 4 } G
Why so gloomy, and what do these untidy ruffled locks mean, Philaenis, and those eyes suffused with tears ? Did you see your lover with a rival on his lap ? Tell me ; I know a cure for sorrow. You cry, but don't confess ; in vain you seek to deny ; eyes are more to be trusted than the tongue.
[131]
Philodemus →
[132]
Philodemus →
[133] MACCIUS { Ph 5 } G
By your majesty, Cythereia, I swore to keep away two nights from Hedyliŏn, and knowing the complaint of my poor heart, methinks you did smile. For I will not support the second, and I cast my oath to the winds. I choose rather to be impious to you for her sake than by keeping my oath to you to die of piety.
[134]
Poseidippus (I)
[135] Anonymous { H 57 } G
To his Jug
Round, well-moulded, one-eared, long-necked, babbling with your little mouth, merry waitress of Bacchus and the Muses and Cythereia, sweetly-laughing treasuress of our club, why when I am sober are you full and when I get tipsy do you become sober ? You don't keep the laws of conviviality.
[136]
Meleager →
[137]
Meleager →
[138]
Dioscorides →
[139]
Meleager →
[140]
Meleager →
[141]
Meleager →
[142] Anonymous { H 23 } G
Which is it ?
The Greek Anthology is the largest surviving collection of short Greek poems, starting from the earliest poets and going up to Byzantine times. It is primarily based on a compilation of epigrams made by the Byzantine scholar Constantinus Cephalas in the 10th century, with some additions by Maximus Planudes in the late 13th century. It is sometimes called the Palatine Anthology, because the only surviving manuscript of Cephalas' compliation is preserved in the Palatine Library at Heidelberg.
The poems have all been translated by W. R. Paton (1916). The traditional arrangement is in 16 books (with the Planudean Anthology as Book 16); but here the poems are mostly arranged by author. All the poets who are listed here wrote before the end of the 1st century A. D. ; the earlier poets (ones who lived around 100 B. C. or earlier) are marked with an asterisk.
Alcaeus of Messene * Antipater of Sidon *
Antipater of Thessalonica Antiphilus
Anyte * Apollonides
Archias Asclepiades *
Bianor Callimachus *
Crinagoras Dioscorides *
Leonidas of Tarentum * Lucillius
Marcus Argentarius Meleager *
Mnasalcas * Nicarchus
Philippus Philodemus
Simonides * Theodoridas *
The epigrams of Poseidippus are available on the elfinspell. com website.
The epigrams of Theocritus are available on the theoi. com website.
Links to the epigrams of other poets can be found in the List of Other Poets.
Epigrams by other poets, arranged by book:
Book 3 - The Cyzicene Epigrams
Book 5 - The Amatory Epigrams
Book 6 - The Dedicatory Epigrams
Book 7 : 1-356 , 362-748 - The Sepulchral Epigrams
Book 9 : 1-312 , 313-827 - The Declamatory Epigrams
Book 10 - The Hortatory and Admonitory Epigrams
Book 11 - The Convivial and Satirical Epigrams
Book 12 - Strato's 'Musa Puerilis'
Book 13 - Epigrams in Various Metres
Book 16 - Epigrams of the Planudean Anthology
Attalus' home page
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Greek Anthology: Book 3
THE CYZICENE EPIGRAMS
Translated by W. R. Paton. The Greek text of the epigrams can be found on Perseus.
In the temple at Cyzicus of Apollonis, the mother of Attalus and Eumenes, inscribed on the tablets of the columns, which contained scenes in relief, as follows :-
[1] On Dionysus conducting his mother Semele to heaven, preceded by Hermes, Satyrs, and Sileni escorting them with Torches.
The fair-haired daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, slain in childbirth by the bolt of Zeus, is being led up from Acheron by her son Dionysus, the thyrsus-lover, who avenges the godless insolence of Pentheus.
[2] Telephus recognised by his Mother.
Leaving the valleys of Arcadia because of my mother Auge, I Telephus, myself the dear son of Heracles, set foot on this Teuthranian land, that I might bring her back to Arcadia.
[3] Phoenix blinded by his father Amyntor, whom his own wife Alcimede attempts to restrain.
Alcimede is holding back her husband Amyntor from their son Phoenix, wishing to appease his father's wrath. He quarrelled with his father for his virtuous mother's sake, because he desired to lie with a slave concubine. His father, listening to crafty whispered slander, was wrath with the young man, and approached him with a torch to burn out his eyes.
[4] Polymedes and Clytius, the sons of Phineus the Thracian, who slew their father's Phrygian wife, because he took her to wife while still married to their mother Cleopatra.
Clytius and Polymedes, renowned for wisdom, are slaying their Phrygian stepmother for their own mother's sake. Cleopatra therefore is glad of heart, having seen the wife of Phineus justly slain.
[5] Cresphontes is killing Polyphontes, the slayer of his father ; Merope is there holding a staff and helping her son to slay him.
Thou didst formerly slay, O Polyphontes, the father of Cresphontes, desiring to defile the bed of his wedded wife. And long after came his son to avenge his father's murder, and slew thee for the sake of his mother Merope. Therefore hath he planted his spear in thy back, and she is helping, striking thee on the forehead with a heavy staff.
[6] The Pytho slain by Apollo and Artemis, because it appeared and prevented Leto from approaching the oracle at Delphi which she went to occupy.
Leto in utter loathing is turning away from the earthborn Pytho, a creeping thing, all confusedly coiled ; for it wishes to annoy the wise goddess : but Phoebus, shooting from the height, lays it low in its blood. He shall make the Delphian tripod inspired, but the Pytho shall yield up its life with groans and bitter hisses.
ON THE NORTH SIDE
[7] The story of Zethus and Amphion. They are tying Dirce to the bull, because instigated by jealousy she treated with excessive harshness their mother Antiope, whom her father, Nycteus, owing to her seduction, abandoned to Lycus, Dirce's husband.
Amphion and Zethus, scions of Zeus, slay this woman Dirce, the injurer of your mother Antiope, whom formerly she kept in prison owing to her jealous spite, but whom she now beseeches with tears. Attach her to the bull with a double rope, that it may drag her body through this thicket.
[8] Odysseus in Hades questioning his mother Anticleia concerning affairs at home.
Anticleia, mother of wise Odysseus, you did not live to receive your son in Ithaca ; but now he marvels, seeing you, his sweet mother, on the shore of Acheron.
[9] Pelias and Neleus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering from bonds their mother Tyro, whom her father Salmoneus imprisoned owing to her seduction, and whom her step-mother Sidero tortured.
Let not the bonds of Sidero torment thee any longer, Tyro, crouching before this thy father, Salmoneus ; for he shall not keep thee in bondage longer, now he sees Neleus and Pelias approach to restrain him.
ON THE WEST SIDE
[10] The recognition of Eunous and Thoas, the children of Hypsipyle, by their mother. They are showing her the golden vine, the token of their birth, and saving her from her punishment at the hands of Eurydice for the death of Archemorus.
Show, Thoas, this plant of Bacchus, for so shall you save from death thy mother, the slave Hypsipyle, who suffered from the wrath of Eurydice, since the earth-born snake slew Archemorus. And go thou too, Eunous, leaving the borders of the Asopian land, to take thy mother to pleasant Lemnos.
[11] Polydectes the King of Seriphus being turned into stone by Perseus with the Gorgon's head. He had sent Perseus to seek this in order to marry his mother, and the death he had designed for another he suffered himself by the providence of Justice.
Thou didst dare, Polydectes, to defile the bed of Danaē, succeeding Zeus in unholy wedlock. Therefore, Perseus here uncovered the Gorgon's eyes and made thy limbs stone, to do pleasure to his mother.
[12] Ixion killing Phorbas and Polymelus, for their murder of his mother Megara. They slew her out of anger, because she would not consent to marry either of them.
Ixion, whom you see, laid low Phorbas and Polymelus, taking vengeance on them for their vengeance on his mother.
[13] Heracles leading his mother Alcmene to the Elysian Plains to wed her to Rhadamanthys, and his own reception into the number of the gods.
Bold Heracles gave this his mother Alcmene in holy wedlock to Rhadamanthys.
[14] Tityus shot down by Apollo and Artemis for daring to assault their mother Leto.
Lustful and drunk with folly, why did you try to force the bride of Zeus, who now, as you deserved, bathed you in blood and left you righteously on the ground, food for beasts and birds.
[15] Bellerophon saved by his son Glaucus, when having fallen from the back of Pegasus into the Aleian plain he was about to be killed by Megapenthes, the son of Proetus.
No longer could Bellerophon stay the murderous hand of this son of Proetus, nor the death designed for him by his father. Glaucus, in vain you fear for him (? ) ; he shall escape the plot of Iobates, for thus the Fates decreed. Yourself, too, then did shield your father from death, standing near him, and were an observant witness to the truth of the glorious story.
[16] At the door of the temple as we approach it are Aeolus and Boeotus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering their mother Melanippe from the fetters in which she was placed by her father owing to her seduction.
Aeolus and Boeotus, a clever and pious task ye performed in saving your mother from death. Therefore ye were proved to be brave men, one of you from Aeolis, the other from Boeotia.
[17] Anapis and Amphinomus, who on the occasion of the eruption in Sicily carried through the flames to safety their parents and nought else.
[ The epigram has perished. ]
[18] Cleobis and Biton, who enabled their mother Cydippe, the priestess of Hera at Argos, to sacrifice, by putting their own necks under the yoke, when the oxen delayed. They say she was so pleased that she prayed to Hera that the highest human happiness possible for man should befall her sons; thus she prayed, and that night they died.
This story of Cydippe and her sons' piety is not false, but has the beauty of truth. A delightful labour and a seasonable for men was theirs ; they undertook a glorious task out of piety to their mother. Rejoice even among the dead ye men famous for your piety and may you alone have age-long story.
[19] Romulus and Remus deliver their mother Servilia from the cruelty of Amulius. Mars had seduced her, and they were his children. They were exposed, and suckled by a wolf. When they came to man's estate, they delivered their mother from bondage. After founding Rome they re-established Numitor in the kingdom.
Thou didst bear secretly this offspring to Ares, Romulus and Remus, at one birth. A she-wolf brought them up in a cave, and they delivered thee by force from woe ill to cure.
Attalus' home page | 15. 12. 16 | Any comments?
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Greek Anthology: Book 5
THE AMATORY EPIGRAMS
This selection from Book 5 of the Greek Anthology contains all the epigrams written before the middle of the first century A. D. , as listed in three editions:
(H) A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page, "The Greek Anthology: Hellenistic Epigrams"
(Ph) A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page, "The Greek Anthology: The Garland of Philip and Some Contemporary Epigrams"
(F) D. L. Page, "Further Greek Epigrams"
The labels in green are the numbers assigned to the epigrams in one of these editions. The labels in red are their numbers within the Anthology.
Translations of most of the epigrams are already available elsewhere, as indicated by the links. The translations of the remaining epigrams are taken from the edition by W. R. Paton (1916-18), but have been modified to remove some of the archaic language. Click on G to go to the Greek text of each epigram.
[3]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[4]
Philodemus →
[5] STATYLLIUS FLACCUS { Ph 1 } G
To faithless Napē Flaccus gave myself, this silver lamp, the faithful confidant of the loves of the night ; and now I droop at her bedside, looking on the lewdness of the forsworn girl. But you, Flaccus, lie awake, tormented by cruel care, and both of us are burning far away from each other.
[6]
Callimachus (27)
[7]
Asclepiades →
[8]
Meleager →
[10]
Alcaeus →
[11] Anonymous { F 7 } G
Cypris, if you save those at sea, save me, beloved goddess, who perish ship-wrecked on land.
[13]
Philodemus →
[16]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[17] GAETULICUS { F 1 } G
O guardian of the surf-beaten shore, I send you, Cypris, these little cakes and simple gifts of sacrifice. For to-morrow I shall cross the broad Ionian Sea, hasting to the bosom of my Eidothea. Shine favourable on my love, and on my boat, you who are queen alike of the chamber and of the shore.
[20] HONESTUS { Ph 1 } G
I neither wish to marry a young girl nor an old woman. The one I pity, the other I revere. Neither sour grape nor raisin would I have, but a beauty ripe for the chamber of Love.
[23]
Callimachus (64)
[24]
Meleager →
[25]
Philodemus →
[29] CILLACTOR { F 1 } G
Sweet is fruition, who denies it ? but when it demands money it becomes bitterer than hellebore.
[30]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[31]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[32]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[33] PARMENION { Ph 1 } G
You fell in rain of gold on Danaē, Olympian Zeus, that the child might yield to you as to a gift, and not tremble before you as before a god.
[34] PARMENION { Ph 2 } G
Zeus bought Danaē for gold, and I buy you for a gold coin. I can't give more than Zeus did.
[38]
Nicarchus →
[39]
Nicarchus →
[40]
Nicarchus →
[45] CILLACTOR { F 2 } G
A young girl increases her little store not by her art, but by her nature.
[46]
Philodemus →
[49] GALLUS { F 1 } G
{adapted from the translation by M. Johnson & T. Ryan}
Lyde, who renders service to three men at one and the same time, one over her belly, the other below, and another from above, said: "I let in the boy-lover, the woman-lover, and the violence-lover. If you're urgent, even if you get in alongside two others, don't hold back! "
[51] Anonymous { F 8 } G
I fell in love, I kissed, I was favoured, I enjoyed, I am loved ; but who am I, and who is she, and how it befell, Cypris alone knows.
[54]
Dioscorides →
[55]
Dioscorides →
[56]
Dioscorides →
[57]
Meleager →
[58]
Archias →
[59]
Archias →
[63]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[64]
Asclepiades →
[67] CAPITO { F 1 } G
Beauty without charm only pleases us, but does not hold us ; it is like a bait floating without a hook.
[68]
Lucillius →
[78] PLATO { F 3 } G
My soul was on my lips as I was kissing Agathōn. Poor soul ! she came hoping to cross over to him.
[79] PLATO { F 4 } G
I throw the apple at you, and you, if you love me from your heart, take it and give me of your maidenhead ; but if your thoughts be what I pray they are not, take it still and reflect how short-lived is beauty.
[80] PLATO { F 5 } G
I am an apple ; one who loves you throws me at you. But consent, Xanthippe ; both you and I decay.
[81] DIONYSIUS THE SOPHIST { F 1 } G
You with the roses, rosy is your charm ; but what do you sell, yourself or the roses, or both ?
[82] DIONYSIUS THE SOPHIST { F 2 } G
Proud waitress of the bath, why do you bathe me so fiercely ? Before I have stripped I feel the fire.
[83] Anonymous { F 9 } G
Oh, would I were the wind, that walking on the shore you might bare your bosom and take me to you as I blow.
[84] Anonymous { F 10 } G
Oh, would I were a pink rose, that your hand might pluck me to give to your snowy breasts.
[85]
Asclepiades →
[90] Anonymous { F 11 } G
I send you sweet perfume, ministering to scent with scent, even as one who to Bacchus offers the flowing gift of Bacchus.
[91] Anonymous { F 12 } G
I send you sweet perfume, not so much honouring you as it ; for you can perfume the perfume.
[94] Anonymous { F 13} G
You have Hera's eyes, Melite, and Athene's hands, the breasts of Aphrodite, and the feet of Thetis. Blessed is he who looks on you, thrice blessed he who hears you talk, a demigod he who kisses you, and a god he who takes you to wife.
[96]
Meleager →
[98]
Archias →
[100] Anonymous { F 1 } G
If anyone blame me because, a skilled servant of Love, I go to the chase, my eyes armed with birdlime to catch ladies, let him know that Zeus and Hades and the Lord of the Sea were slaves of violent desire. If the gods are such and they bid men follow their example, what wrong do I do in learning their deeds ?
[101] Anonymous { F 6 } G
He. Good day, my dear. She. Good day. He. Who is she who is walking in front of you ? She. What is that to you ? He. I have a reason for asking. She. My mistress. He. May I hope? She. What do you want? He. A night. She. What have you for her ? He. Gold. She. Then take heart. He. So much {showing the amount}. She. You can't.
[102]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[104]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[105]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[106] DIOTIMUS OF MILETUS { Ph 1 } G
Granny, dear nurse, why do you bark at me when I approach; and cast me into torments twice as cruel. You accompany a lovely girl, and look how treading in her steps I go my own way, only gazing at her sweet form. Why be jealous of eyes, ill-fated nurse ? We are allowed to look on the forms of even the immortals.
[107]
Philodemus →
[108]
Crinagoras →
[109]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[110]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[111]
Antiphilus →
[112]
Philodemus →
[113]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[114] MACCIUS { Ph 1 } G
That persistently cruel Philistiŏn, who never tolerated an admirer unless he had money, seems less insufferable now than formerly. It is not a great miracle her seeming so, but I don't believe her nature is changed. The merciless asp grows tamer at times, but when it bites, it always means death.
[115]
Philodemus →
[116]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[117] MACCIUS { Ph 2 } G
Cornelius' beauty melts me ; but I fear this flame, which is already becoming a fierce fire.
[118]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[119]
Crinagoras →
[120]
Philodemus →
[121]
Philodemus →
[122] DIODORUS { Ph 2 } G
Son of illustrious Megistocles, I beseech you, not even though he seem to you more precious than your two eyes, though he be glowing from the bath of the Graces, do not hang around the lovely boy. Neither gentle nor simple-hearted is he, but courted by many, and no novice in love. Beware, my friend, and fan not the flame.
[123]
Philodemus →
[124]
Philodemus →
[125] BASSUS { Ph 1 } G
I am never going to turn into gold, and let some one else become a bull or the melodious swan of the shore. Such tricks I leave to Zeus, and instead of becoming a bird I will give Corinna my two obols.
[126]
Philodemus →
[127]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[128]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[129] AUTOMEDON { Ph 1 } G
{translated by A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page}
I praise the dancing girl from Asia, her who quivers from her tender finger-tips in lascivious postures, not because she commands every gesture of passion, nor because she flings so tenderly her hands this way and that, but because she knows how to dance around the worn-out peg, and does not shun the wrinkles of age. She tongues and tickles and hugs, and when she throws her leg across, she resurrects the club from Hades.
[130] MACCIUS { Ph 4 } G
Why so gloomy, and what do these untidy ruffled locks mean, Philaenis, and those eyes suffused with tears ? Did you see your lover with a rival on his lap ? Tell me ; I know a cure for sorrow. You cry, but don't confess ; in vain you seek to deny ; eyes are more to be trusted than the tongue.
[131]
Philodemus →
[132]
Philodemus →
[133] MACCIUS { Ph 5 } G
By your majesty, Cythereia, I swore to keep away two nights from Hedyliŏn, and knowing the complaint of my poor heart, methinks you did smile. For I will not support the second, and I cast my oath to the winds.
The poems have all been translated by W. R. Paton (1916). The traditional arrangement is in 16 books (with the Planudean Anthology as Book 16); but here the poems are mostly arranged by author. All the poets who are listed here wrote before the end of the 1st century A. D. ; the earlier poets (ones who lived around 100 B. C. or earlier) are marked with an asterisk.
Alcaeus of Messene * Antipater of Sidon *
Antipater of Thessalonica Antiphilus
Anyte * Apollonides
Archias Asclepiades *
Bianor Callimachus *
Crinagoras Dioscorides *
Leonidas of Tarentum * Lucillius
Marcus Argentarius Meleager *
Mnasalcas * Nicarchus
Philippus Philodemus
Simonides * Theodoridas *
The epigrams of Poseidippus are available on the elfinspell. com website.
The epigrams of Theocritus are available on the theoi. com website.
Links to the epigrams of other poets can be found in the List of Other Poets.
Epigrams by other poets, arranged by book:
Book 3 - The Cyzicene Epigrams
Book 5 - The Amatory Epigrams
Book 6 - The Dedicatory Epigrams
Book 7 : 1-356 , 362-748 - The Sepulchral Epigrams
Book 9 : 1-312 , 313-827 - The Declamatory Epigrams
Book 10 - The Hortatory and Admonitory Epigrams
Book 11 - The Convivial and Satirical Epigrams
Book 12 - Strato's 'Musa Puerilis'
Book 13 - Epigrams in Various Metres
Book 16 - Epigrams of the Planudean Anthology
Attalus' home page
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Greek Anthology: Book 3
THE CYZICENE EPIGRAMS
Translated by W. R. Paton. The Greek text of the epigrams can be found on Perseus.
In the temple at Cyzicus of Apollonis, the mother of Attalus and Eumenes, inscribed on the tablets of the columns, which contained scenes in relief, as follows :-
[1] On Dionysus conducting his mother Semele to heaven, preceded by Hermes, Satyrs, and Sileni escorting them with Torches.
The fair-haired daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, slain in childbirth by the bolt of Zeus, is being led up from Acheron by her son Dionysus, the thyrsus-lover, who avenges the godless insolence of Pentheus.
[2] Telephus recognised by his Mother.
Leaving the valleys of Arcadia because of my mother Auge, I Telephus, myself the dear son of Heracles, set foot on this Teuthranian land, that I might bring her back to Arcadia.
[3] Phoenix blinded by his father Amyntor, whom his own wife Alcimede attempts to restrain.
Alcimede is holding back her husband Amyntor from their son Phoenix, wishing to appease his father's wrath. He quarrelled with his father for his virtuous mother's sake, because he desired to lie with a slave concubine. His father, listening to crafty whispered slander, was wrath with the young man, and approached him with a torch to burn out his eyes.
[4] Polymedes and Clytius, the sons of Phineus the Thracian, who slew their father's Phrygian wife, because he took her to wife while still married to their mother Cleopatra.
Clytius and Polymedes, renowned for wisdom, are slaying their Phrygian stepmother for their own mother's sake. Cleopatra therefore is glad of heart, having seen the wife of Phineus justly slain.
[5] Cresphontes is killing Polyphontes, the slayer of his father ; Merope is there holding a staff and helping her son to slay him.
Thou didst formerly slay, O Polyphontes, the father of Cresphontes, desiring to defile the bed of his wedded wife. And long after came his son to avenge his father's murder, and slew thee for the sake of his mother Merope. Therefore hath he planted his spear in thy back, and she is helping, striking thee on the forehead with a heavy staff.
[6] The Pytho slain by Apollo and Artemis, because it appeared and prevented Leto from approaching the oracle at Delphi which she went to occupy.
Leto in utter loathing is turning away from the earthborn Pytho, a creeping thing, all confusedly coiled ; for it wishes to annoy the wise goddess : but Phoebus, shooting from the height, lays it low in its blood. He shall make the Delphian tripod inspired, but the Pytho shall yield up its life with groans and bitter hisses.
ON THE NORTH SIDE
[7] The story of Zethus and Amphion. They are tying Dirce to the bull, because instigated by jealousy she treated with excessive harshness their mother Antiope, whom her father, Nycteus, owing to her seduction, abandoned to Lycus, Dirce's husband.
Amphion and Zethus, scions of Zeus, slay this woman Dirce, the injurer of your mother Antiope, whom formerly she kept in prison owing to her jealous spite, but whom she now beseeches with tears. Attach her to the bull with a double rope, that it may drag her body through this thicket.
[8] Odysseus in Hades questioning his mother Anticleia concerning affairs at home.
Anticleia, mother of wise Odysseus, you did not live to receive your son in Ithaca ; but now he marvels, seeing you, his sweet mother, on the shore of Acheron.
[9] Pelias and Neleus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering from bonds their mother Tyro, whom her father Salmoneus imprisoned owing to her seduction, and whom her step-mother Sidero tortured.
Let not the bonds of Sidero torment thee any longer, Tyro, crouching before this thy father, Salmoneus ; for he shall not keep thee in bondage longer, now he sees Neleus and Pelias approach to restrain him.
ON THE WEST SIDE
[10] The recognition of Eunous and Thoas, the children of Hypsipyle, by their mother. They are showing her the golden vine, the token of their birth, and saving her from her punishment at the hands of Eurydice for the death of Archemorus.
Show, Thoas, this plant of Bacchus, for so shall you save from death thy mother, the slave Hypsipyle, who suffered from the wrath of Eurydice, since the earth-born snake slew Archemorus. And go thou too, Eunous, leaving the borders of the Asopian land, to take thy mother to pleasant Lemnos.
[11] Polydectes the King of Seriphus being turned into stone by Perseus with the Gorgon's head. He had sent Perseus to seek this in order to marry his mother, and the death he had designed for another he suffered himself by the providence of Justice.
Thou didst dare, Polydectes, to defile the bed of Danaē, succeeding Zeus in unholy wedlock. Therefore, Perseus here uncovered the Gorgon's eyes and made thy limbs stone, to do pleasure to his mother.
[12] Ixion killing Phorbas and Polymelus, for their murder of his mother Megara. They slew her out of anger, because she would not consent to marry either of them.
Ixion, whom you see, laid low Phorbas and Polymelus, taking vengeance on them for their vengeance on his mother.
[13] Heracles leading his mother Alcmene to the Elysian Plains to wed her to Rhadamanthys, and his own reception into the number of the gods.
Bold Heracles gave this his mother Alcmene in holy wedlock to Rhadamanthys.
[14] Tityus shot down by Apollo and Artemis for daring to assault their mother Leto.
Lustful and drunk with folly, why did you try to force the bride of Zeus, who now, as you deserved, bathed you in blood and left you righteously on the ground, food for beasts and birds.
[15] Bellerophon saved by his son Glaucus, when having fallen from the back of Pegasus into the Aleian plain he was about to be killed by Megapenthes, the son of Proetus.
No longer could Bellerophon stay the murderous hand of this son of Proetus, nor the death designed for him by his father. Glaucus, in vain you fear for him (? ) ; he shall escape the plot of Iobates, for thus the Fates decreed. Yourself, too, then did shield your father from death, standing near him, and were an observant witness to the truth of the glorious story.
[16] At the door of the temple as we approach it are Aeolus and Boeotus, the sons of Poseidon, delivering their mother Melanippe from the fetters in which she was placed by her father owing to her seduction.
Aeolus and Boeotus, a clever and pious task ye performed in saving your mother from death. Therefore ye were proved to be brave men, one of you from Aeolis, the other from Boeotia.
[17] Anapis and Amphinomus, who on the occasion of the eruption in Sicily carried through the flames to safety their parents and nought else.
[ The epigram has perished. ]
[18] Cleobis and Biton, who enabled their mother Cydippe, the priestess of Hera at Argos, to sacrifice, by putting their own necks under the yoke, when the oxen delayed. They say she was so pleased that she prayed to Hera that the highest human happiness possible for man should befall her sons; thus she prayed, and that night they died.
This story of Cydippe and her sons' piety is not false, but has the beauty of truth. A delightful labour and a seasonable for men was theirs ; they undertook a glorious task out of piety to their mother. Rejoice even among the dead ye men famous for your piety and may you alone have age-long story.
[19] Romulus and Remus deliver their mother Servilia from the cruelty of Amulius. Mars had seduced her, and they were his children. They were exposed, and suckled by a wolf. When they came to man's estate, they delivered their mother from bondage. After founding Rome they re-established Numitor in the kingdom.
Thou didst bear secretly this offspring to Ares, Romulus and Remus, at one birth. A she-wolf brought them up in a cave, and they delivered thee by force from woe ill to cure.
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Greek Anthology: Book 5
THE AMATORY EPIGRAMS
This selection from Book 5 of the Greek Anthology contains all the epigrams written before the middle of the first century A. D. , as listed in three editions:
(H) A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page, "The Greek Anthology: Hellenistic Epigrams"
(Ph) A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page, "The Greek Anthology: The Garland of Philip and Some Contemporary Epigrams"
(F) D. L. Page, "Further Greek Epigrams"
The labels in green are the numbers assigned to the epigrams in one of these editions. The labels in red are their numbers within the Anthology.
Translations of most of the epigrams are already available elsewhere, as indicated by the links. The translations of the remaining epigrams are taken from the edition by W. R. Paton (1916-18), but have been modified to remove some of the archaic language. Click on G to go to the Greek text of each epigram.
[3]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[4]
Philodemus →
[5] STATYLLIUS FLACCUS { Ph 1 } G
To faithless Napē Flaccus gave myself, this silver lamp, the faithful confidant of the loves of the night ; and now I droop at her bedside, looking on the lewdness of the forsworn girl. But you, Flaccus, lie awake, tormented by cruel care, and both of us are burning far away from each other.
[6]
Callimachus (27)
[7]
Asclepiades →
[8]
Meleager →
[10]
Alcaeus →
[11] Anonymous { F 7 } G
Cypris, if you save those at sea, save me, beloved goddess, who perish ship-wrecked on land.
[13]
Philodemus →
[16]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[17] GAETULICUS { F 1 } G
O guardian of the surf-beaten shore, I send you, Cypris, these little cakes and simple gifts of sacrifice. For to-morrow I shall cross the broad Ionian Sea, hasting to the bosom of my Eidothea. Shine favourable on my love, and on my boat, you who are queen alike of the chamber and of the shore.
[20] HONESTUS { Ph 1 } G
I neither wish to marry a young girl nor an old woman. The one I pity, the other I revere. Neither sour grape nor raisin would I have, but a beauty ripe for the chamber of Love.
[23]
Callimachus (64)
[24]
Meleager →
[25]
Philodemus →
[29] CILLACTOR { F 1 } G
Sweet is fruition, who denies it ? but when it demands money it becomes bitterer than hellebore.
[30]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[31]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[32]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[33] PARMENION { Ph 1 } G
You fell in rain of gold on Danaē, Olympian Zeus, that the child might yield to you as to a gift, and not tremble before you as before a god.
[34] PARMENION { Ph 2 } G
Zeus bought Danaē for gold, and I buy you for a gold coin. I can't give more than Zeus did.
[38]
Nicarchus →
[39]
Nicarchus →
[40]
Nicarchus →
[45] CILLACTOR { F 2 } G
A young girl increases her little store not by her art, but by her nature.
[46]
Philodemus →
[49] GALLUS { F 1 } G
{adapted from the translation by M. Johnson & T. Ryan}
Lyde, who renders service to three men at one and the same time, one over her belly, the other below, and another from above, said: "I let in the boy-lover, the woman-lover, and the violence-lover. If you're urgent, even if you get in alongside two others, don't hold back! "
[51] Anonymous { F 8 } G
I fell in love, I kissed, I was favoured, I enjoyed, I am loved ; but who am I, and who is she, and how it befell, Cypris alone knows.
[54]
Dioscorides →
[55]
Dioscorides →
[56]
Dioscorides →
[57]
Meleager →
[58]
Archias →
[59]
Archias →
[63]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[64]
Asclepiades →
[67] CAPITO { F 1 } G
Beauty without charm only pleases us, but does not hold us ; it is like a bait floating without a hook.
[68]
Lucillius →
[78] PLATO { F 3 } G
My soul was on my lips as I was kissing Agathōn. Poor soul ! she came hoping to cross over to him.
[79] PLATO { F 4 } G
I throw the apple at you, and you, if you love me from your heart, take it and give me of your maidenhead ; but if your thoughts be what I pray they are not, take it still and reflect how short-lived is beauty.
[80] PLATO { F 5 } G
I am an apple ; one who loves you throws me at you. But consent, Xanthippe ; both you and I decay.
[81] DIONYSIUS THE SOPHIST { F 1 } G
You with the roses, rosy is your charm ; but what do you sell, yourself or the roses, or both ?
[82] DIONYSIUS THE SOPHIST { F 2 } G
Proud waitress of the bath, why do you bathe me so fiercely ? Before I have stripped I feel the fire.
[83] Anonymous { F 9 } G
Oh, would I were the wind, that walking on the shore you might bare your bosom and take me to you as I blow.
[84] Anonymous { F 10 } G
Oh, would I were a pink rose, that your hand might pluck me to give to your snowy breasts.
[85]
Asclepiades →
[90] Anonymous { F 11 } G
I send you sweet perfume, ministering to scent with scent, even as one who to Bacchus offers the flowing gift of Bacchus.
[91] Anonymous { F 12 } G
I send you sweet perfume, not so much honouring you as it ; for you can perfume the perfume.
[94] Anonymous { F 13} G
You have Hera's eyes, Melite, and Athene's hands, the breasts of Aphrodite, and the feet of Thetis. Blessed is he who looks on you, thrice blessed he who hears you talk, a demigod he who kisses you, and a god he who takes you to wife.
[96]
Meleager →
[98]
Archias →
[100] Anonymous { F 1 } G
If anyone blame me because, a skilled servant of Love, I go to the chase, my eyes armed with birdlime to catch ladies, let him know that Zeus and Hades and the Lord of the Sea were slaves of violent desire. If the gods are such and they bid men follow their example, what wrong do I do in learning their deeds ?
[101] Anonymous { F 6 } G
He. Good day, my dear. She. Good day. He. Who is she who is walking in front of you ? She. What is that to you ? He. I have a reason for asking. She. My mistress. He. May I hope? She. What do you want? He. A night. She. What have you for her ? He. Gold. She. Then take heart. He. So much {showing the amount}. She. You can't.
[102]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[104]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[105]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[106] DIOTIMUS OF MILETUS { Ph 1 } G
Granny, dear nurse, why do you bark at me when I approach; and cast me into torments twice as cruel. You accompany a lovely girl, and look how treading in her steps I go my own way, only gazing at her sweet form. Why be jealous of eyes, ill-fated nurse ? We are allowed to look on the forms of even the immortals.
[107]
Philodemus →
[108]
Crinagoras →
[109]
Antipater_of_Thessalonica →
[110]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[111]
Antiphilus →
[112]
Philodemus →
[113]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[114] MACCIUS { Ph 1 } G
That persistently cruel Philistiŏn, who never tolerated an admirer unless he had money, seems less insufferable now than formerly. It is not a great miracle her seeming so, but I don't believe her nature is changed. The merciless asp grows tamer at times, but when it bites, it always means death.
[115]
Philodemus →
[116]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[117] MACCIUS { Ph 2 } G
Cornelius' beauty melts me ; but I fear this flame, which is already becoming a fierce fire.
[118]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[119]
Crinagoras →
[120]
Philodemus →
[121]
Philodemus →
[122] DIODORUS { Ph 2 } G
Son of illustrious Megistocles, I beseech you, not even though he seem to you more precious than your two eyes, though he be glowing from the bath of the Graces, do not hang around the lovely boy. Neither gentle nor simple-hearted is he, but courted by many, and no novice in love. Beware, my friend, and fan not the flame.
[123]
Philodemus →
[124]
Philodemus →
[125] BASSUS { Ph 1 } G
I am never going to turn into gold, and let some one else become a bull or the melodious swan of the shore. Such tricks I leave to Zeus, and instead of becoming a bird I will give Corinna my two obols.
[126]
Philodemus →
[127]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[128]
Marcus_Argentarius →
[129] AUTOMEDON { Ph 1 } G
{translated by A. S. F. Gow & D. L. Page}
I praise the dancing girl from Asia, her who quivers from her tender finger-tips in lascivious postures, not because she commands every gesture of passion, nor because she flings so tenderly her hands this way and that, but because she knows how to dance around the worn-out peg, and does not shun the wrinkles of age. She tongues and tickles and hugs, and when she throws her leg across, she resurrects the club from Hades.
[130] MACCIUS { Ph 4 } G
Why so gloomy, and what do these untidy ruffled locks mean, Philaenis, and those eyes suffused with tears ? Did you see your lover with a rival on his lap ? Tell me ; I know a cure for sorrow. You cry, but don't confess ; in vain you seek to deny ; eyes are more to be trusted than the tongue.
[131]
Philodemus →
[132]
Philodemus →
[133] MACCIUS { Ph 5 } G
By your majesty, Cythereia, I swore to keep away two nights from Hedyliŏn, and knowing the complaint of my poor heart, methinks you did smile. For I will not support the second, and I cast my oath to the winds. I choose rather to be impious to you for her sake than by keeping my oath to you to die of piety.
[134]
Poseidippus (I)
[135] Anonymous { H 57 } G
To his Jug
Round, well-moulded, one-eared, long-necked, babbling with your little mouth, merry waitress of Bacchus and the Muses and Cythereia, sweetly-laughing treasuress of our club, why when I am sober are you full and when I get tipsy do you become sober ? You don't keep the laws of conviviality.
[136]
Meleager →
[137]
Meleager →
[138]
Dioscorides →
[139]
Meleager →
[140]
Meleager →
[141]
Meleager →
[142] Anonymous { H 23 } G
Which is it ?
