A quotation from Euripides

CHORUS: Many are the forms of what is unknown.
   Much that the gods achieve is surprise.
   What we look for does not come to pass;
   God finds a way for what none foresaw.
   Such was the end of this story.
 
[ΧΟΡΟΣ: πολλαὶ μορφαὶ τῶν δαιμονίων,
   πολλὰ δ᾽ ἀέλπτως κραίνουσι θεοί:
   καὶ τὰ δοκηθέντ᾽ οὐκ ἐτελέσθη,
   τῶν δ᾽ ἀδοκήτων πόρον ηὗρε θεός.
   τοιόνδ᾽ ἀπέβη τόδε πρᾶγμα.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 1688ff, final lines (412 BC) [tr. Lattimore (1956)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/80032/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #helen #coda #divinepower #divinewill #expectations #fate #gods #moral #divineplan #destiny

Only when we discussed this story in my Greek class did I see that the story continued. After the tragic actor Jason (τραγῳδιῶν δὲ ὑποκριτὴς Ἰάσων ὄνομα) used the head of Crassus as a prop, reciting lines from the Bacchae:

"This delighted everybody; but when the following dialogue with the chorus was chanted:

(Chorus) ‘Who slew him?’
(Agave) ‘Mine is the honour,’

"Pomaxathres, who happened to be one of the banqueters, sprang up and laid hold of the head, feeling that it was more appropriate for him to say this than for Jason. The king was delighted, and bestowed on Pomaxathres the customary gifts, while to Jason He gave a talent. With such a farce as this the expedition of Crassus is said to have closed, just like a tragedy."

Plut. Crass. 33.4 (tr. B. Perrin)

#Euripides #AncientRome #Crassus #AncientGreek

Translating the Bacchae, so this hits hard when Dodds refers to the Parthians using the actual head of Crassus as a stage prop.

"Now when the head of Crassus was brought to the king's door ... a tragic actor, Jason by name, of Tralles, was singing that part of the ‘Bacchae’ of Euripides where Agave is about to appear. While he was receiving his applause, Sillaces stood at the door of the banqueting-hall, and ... cast the head of Crassus into the centre of the company.

"The Parthians lifted it up with clapping of hands and shouts of joy, and at the king's bidding his servants gave Sillaces a seat at the banquet. Then Jason handed his costume of Pentheus to one of the chorus, seized the head of Crassus, and assuming the role of the frenzied Agave, sang these verses through as if inspired:

"We bring from the mountain
A tendril fresh-cut to the palace,
A wonderful prey."

Plut. Crass. 33.2-3 (tr. B. Perrin)

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0038%3Achapter%3D33%3Asection%3D2

#Euripides #AncientRome #Crassus #AncientGreek

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲" 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 -

You basically have two choices when a god and his cult arrive on your doorstep. They chose . . . poorly.

#books #bookreviews #bookworm #readreadread #tbr #tbrpile #tbrlist #quotes #reading #Euripides #thebacchae #dionysis #thebes #drama #classicaldrama #greekdrama

A quotation from Euripides

CHORUS: Why have the sons of Priam
Received each his portion in chambers of quiet earth,
When reasonable words could have solved the quarrel for Helen?
Now they live deep in the lap of Death;
And flames leaping like Zeus’s thunderbolt
Have levelled their walls with dust.
 
[ΧΟΡΟΣ: ᾇ Πριαμίδος γᾶς ἔλαχον θαλάμους,
ἐξὸν διορθῶσαι λόγοις
1160σὰν ἔριν, ὦ Ἑλένα.
νῦν δ᾽ οἳ μὲν Ἅιδᾳ μέλονται κάτω,
τείχεα δὲ φλογμὸς ὥστε Διός ἐπέσυτο φλόξ,
ἐπὶ δὲ πάθεα πάθεσι φέρεις
† ἀθλίοις συμφοραῖς αἰλίνοις.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 1158ff, Stasimon 1, Antistrophe 2 (412 BC) [tr. Vellacott (1954), Strophe 2]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/79662/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #death #destruction #diplomacy #negotiation #peace #war

A quotation from Euripides

CHORUS:Fools who fain would carve a name
   Of honour in the fields of fame,
   Valiant in the press of war,
   Men and fighters — fools they are!
   How shall death and wounds and shame
   Heal the world’s distrated life?
   Vain endeavour! Strife of strife
Misbegotten bringeth no release,
Nor by conquest shall man conquer peace.
 
[ΧΟΡΟΣ: ἄφρονες ὅσοι τὰς ἀρετὰς πολέμῳ
λόγχαισί τ᾽ ἀλκαίου δορὸς
κτᾶσθε, πόνους ἀμαθῶς θνα-
τῶν καταπαυόμενοι:
εἰ γὰρ ἅμιλλα κρινεῖ νιν
αἵματος, οὔποτ᾽ ἔρις
λείψει κατ᾽ ἀνθρώπων πόλεις]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 1151ff, Stasimon 1, Antistrophe 2 (412 BC) [tr. Sheppard (1925)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/79538/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #battle #blood #clash #conflict #dispute #glory #peacemaking #problemsolving #provingsomething #strife #valor #war

A quotation from Euripides

CHORUS: Who among men, though he search to the uttermost end,
   can claim to have found what is meant
   by god or the absence of god or of something between?
   For he sees the works of the gods
   turning now here and now there,
   now backwards again through a fate
   beyond calculation or forethought.
   
[ΧΟΡΟΣ: ὅ τι θεὸς ἢ μὴ θεὸς ἢ τὸ μέσον,
   τίς φησ᾽ ἐρευνήσας βροτῶν
   μακρότατον πέρας εὑρεῖν
   ὃς τὰ θεῶν ἐσορᾷ
   δεῦρο καὶ αὖθις ἐκεῖσε
   καὶ πάλιν ἀντιλόγοις
   πηδῶντ᾽ ἀνελπίστοις τύχαις;]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 1137ff (412 BC) [tr. Warner (1951)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/79396/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #mystery #caprice #divinepurpose #divinewill #gods #ineffability #undependability #unfathomability

📚Kaksi kirjavinkkiä📚

✨Euripides & Otto Manninen (suomennos: Medeia
(Oppijan, 2021)

Tämä oli vähän turhan hankalasti luettava siihen hetkeen, jossa tämän luin...

Tarina oli itsessään hyvin synkkä. Näyttämöllä varmasti toimii paremmin kuin luettuna, kun näyttelijät pystyvät tuomaan hahmoihin syvyyttä. Medeia on hahmona kiinnostava, mutta pelkän tekstin perusteella hänestä ei ihan saa otetta.

✨Erja Eteläinen: Gaian tyttäret
(Momentum, 2024)

Kiinnostava utopiamaailma, jossa on kuitenkin dystopian piirteitä tämän "paratiisin" ulkopuolella.

Tällaiset suljetun yhteisön tarinat ovat kiinnostavia, kun kirjassa saadaan helposti aikaiseksi vastakkainasettelua ulkomaailman kanssa. Tässä suljettu yhteisö on se tavoiteltava, lempeä ja hyvä paikka, mikä oli virkistävää.

Pidän kirjan hahmoista. Varsinkin päähenkilö on kiinnostava. Pidän siitä, että tässä kirjassa ihmiset saavat olla, mitä ovat. Tässä kritisoidaan samalla taitavasti meidän maailman ongelmakohtia.

Tälle lämmin suositus!🥰

#queerlukuhaaste2025
Eri sukupuolijärjestelmä

#maaginenkesäkisa2025
Lue jokin antiikin tragedia
Näytelmä

#kirjafedi #kirjamastodon #kirjadontti #kirjasome #lukuhaasteet #queerkirjallisuus #sateenkaarikirjallisuus #sukupuolenmoninaisuus #utopia #näytelmä #näytelmäkirjallisuus #antiikintragedia #oppiankirjat #Euripides #OttoManninen #Medeia #momentumkirjat #ErjaEteläinen #Gaiantyttäret

A quotation from Euripides

CHORUS:                     But why
Be sure of the worst, and weep too soon?
 
[ΧΟΡΟΣ: μὴ πρόμαντις ἀλγέων
προλάμβαν᾽, ὦ φίλα, γόους.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 338ff (412 BC) [tr. Vellacott (1954)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/78984/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #anticipation #catastrophize #confirmation #expectation #grief #lamentation #pessimism #sorrow #verification #woe

A quotation from Euripides

CHORUS: It is right for women to stand by a woman’s cause.
 
[ΧΟΡΟΣ: γυναῖκα γὰρ δὴ συμπονεῖν γυναικὶ χρή.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 329 (412 BC) [tr. Lattimore (1956)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/78915/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #feminism #help #mutualassistance #mutualsupport #solidarity #women

A quotation from Euripides

AGAMEMNON:                         But women?
   Women overpower men?
HECUBA:                                There is power
   in numbers, and cunning makes us strong.
 
ἈΓΑΜΈΜΝΩΝ: καὶ πῶς γυναιξὶν ἀρσένων ἔσται κράτος;
ἙΚΆΒΗ: δεινὸν τὸ πλῆθος σὺν δόλῳ τε δύσμαχον.

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Hecuba [Hekabe; Ἑκάβη], l. 883ff (c. 424 BC) [tr. Arrowsmith (1958)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/78722/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #hecuba #battleofthesexes #craftiness #cunning #men #numbers #sexism #strength #women

A quotation from Euripides

HELEN: Men think me wicked, though I did no wrong:
   And for the innocent to bear the load
   Of guilt is worse than wickedness itself.
 
[ἙΛΈΝΗ: πρῶτον μὲν οὐκ οὖσ᾽ ἄδικος, εἰμὶ δυσκλεής:
   καὶ τοῦτο μεῖζον τῆς ἀληθείας κακόν,
   ὅστις τὰ μὴ προσόντα κέκτηται κακά.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 270ff (412 BC) [tr. Sheppard (1925)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/euripides/78601/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #helenoftroy #accusation #blame #dishonor #guilt #injustice #innocence #punishment #reputation #shame

A quotation from Euripides

HELEN: When a man broods on a single misfortune and feels the gods are against him, though his suffering is real, it can be borne; but I am crushed by innumerable blows at once.
 
[ἙΛΈΝΗ: ὅστις μὲν οὖν ἐς μίαν ἀποβλέπων τύχην
   πρὸς θεῶν κακοῦται, βαρὺ μέν, οἰστέον δ᾽ ὅμως:
   ἡμεῖς δὲ πολλαῖς συμφοραῖς ἐγκείμεθα.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 267ff (412 BC) [tr. Vellacott (1954)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/euripides/78476/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #bearingup #crises #endurance #misfortune #overwhelmed #problems #troubles

A quotation from Euripides

MESSENGER: Nothing is more useful to mankind than a prudent distrust.
 
[ἌΓΓΕΛΟΣ:                    σώφρονος δ᾽ ἀπιστίας
   οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν χρησιμώτερον βροτοῖς.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 1617ff (412 BC) [tr. Coleridge (1891)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/euripides/81/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #disbelief #distrust #doubt #incredulity #judgment #mistrust #skepticism #trust #wisdom

A quotation from Euripides

MENELAUS:        But so it has to be.
   For the saying is not mine, but it was wisely said,
   that nothing has more strength than dire necessity.
 
[ΜΕΝΕΛΈΩΣ:        ἀλλ᾽ ἀναγκαίως ἔχει.
   λόγος γάρ ἐστιν οὐκ ἐμός, σοφὸν δ᾽ ἔπος,
   δεινῆς ἀνάγκης οὐδὲν ἰσχύειν πλέον.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Helen [Ἑλένη], l. 512ff (412 BC) [tr. Lattimore (1956)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/euripides/78063/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #helen #compulsion #constraint #fate #necessity #needful #requirement

A quotation from Euripides

CHORUS: Come away, dear ones, come away.
   To the camp, to the place of the ships, to the sea,
   To the strange new life of slavery,
   For all are the slaves of Destiny.
 
[ΧΟΡΟΣ: ἴτε πρὸς λιμένας σκηνάς τε, φίλαι,
   τῶν δεσποσύνων πειρασόμεναι
   μόχθων: στερρὰ γὰρ ἀνάγκη.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Hecuba [Hekabe; Ἑκάβη], l. 1293ff (c. 424 BC) [tr. Sheppard (1924)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/euripides/77851/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #hecuba #departure #despair #destiny #fate #hopelessness #slave #slavery

A quotation from Euripides

AGAMEMNON: Perhaps, for you, barbarians, it is easy to kill your guests but for us, Greeks, this is a thing of shame. How, then can I escape blame if I do not judge you guilty? I can’t do it. Since you could endure performing such a dishonourable deed, then you must also endure its awful consequences.
 
[ἈΓΑΜΈΜΝΩΝ: τάχ᾽ οὖν παρ᾽ ὑμῖν ῥᾴδιον ξενοκτονεῖν:
   ἡμῖν δέ γ᾽ αἰσχρὸν τοῖσιν Ἕλλησιν τόδε.
   πῶς οὖν σε κρίνας μὴ ἀδικεῖν φύγω ψόγον;
   οὐκ ἂν δυναίμην. ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεὶ τὰ μὴ καλὰ
   πράσσειν ἐτόλμας, τλῆθι καὶ τὰ μὴ φίλα.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Hecuba [Hekabe; Ἑκάβη], l. 1247ff (c. 424 BC) [tr. Theodoridis (2007)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/euripides/77695/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #hecuba #acquittal #crime #hospitality #judgment #justdeserts #justice #murder #punishment

A quotation from Euripides

CHORUS: Those whose cause is just will never lack
   good arguments.
 
[ΧΟΡΟΣ: φεῦ φεῦ: βροτοῖσιν ὡς τὰ χρηστὰ πράγματα
   χρηστῶν ἀφορμὰς ἐνδίδωσ᾽ ἀεὶ λόγων.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Hecuba [Hekabe; Ἑκάβη], l. 1238ff (c. 424 BC) [tr. Arrowsmith (1958)]

Sourcing, notes, other translations: wist.info/euripides/6658/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #euripides #hecuba #argument #cause #justice #persuasiveness #virtue #words

Die #Zeit entlarvt den #Bösen.
(#Euripides)
#psychotHHerapie #Zitat #Zitate #Gut #Böse #Vertrauen

https://www.jangoeritz.de/zitate