Lucian of Samosata, De saltatione, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 41

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[41] And next comes Megara, with Nisus and Scylia, the purple lock, the expedient of Minos, and his ingratitude towards his benefactress.¹ To these succeed Cithaeron, with all that befell the Thebans and the house of Labdacus; the advent of Cadmus, the heifer’s taking ground, the serpent’s teeth, and the emergence of the Sown Men; further, the transformation of Cadmus into a serpent, the rising of the walls to the music of the lyre, the madness of the wall-builder,² the boastfulness of his wife Niobe, and her grief-stricken silence, the story of Pentheus and of Actaeon, the story of Oedipus, Heracles with all his labours, and the murder of his children.

De saltatione. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

The Dance (English) (Lucian, Vol. 5. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1936 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Περὶ Ὀρχήσεως Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 5. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1936 (printing).) — 41 focus

Λυκῖνος

ἑξῆς δὲ τὰ Μέγαρα καὶ Νῖσος καὶ Σκύλλα καὶ πορφυροῦς πλόκαμος καὶ Μίνωος πόρος καὶ περὶ τὴν εὐεργέτιν ἀχαριστία. οἷς ἑξῆς ὁ Κιθαιρὼν καὶ τὰ Θηβαίων καὶ Λαβδακιδῶν πάθη καὶ Κάδμου ἐπιδημία καὶ βοὸς ὄκλασις καὶ ὄφεως ὀδόντες καὶ Σπαρτῶν ἀνάδοσις καὶ αὖθις τοῦ Κάδμου εἰς δράκοντα μεταβολὴ καὶ πρὸς λύραν τείχισις καὶ μανία τοῦ τειχοποιοῦ καὶ τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ τῆς Νιόβης ἡ μεγαλαυχία καὶ ἡ ἐπὶ τῷ πένθει σιγὴ καὶ τὰ Πενθέως καὶ Ἀκταίωνος καὶ τὰ Οἰδίποδος καὶ Ἡρακλῆς σὺν τοῖς ἄθλοις αὐτοῦ ἅπασιν καὶ ἡ τῶν παίδων σφαγή.

Translations (1)

Of Pantomime Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 2. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 41 focus

[41] Then in Megara we have Nisus, his daughter Scylla, and his purple lock; the invasion of Minos, and his ingratitude towards his benefactress. Then we come to Cithaeron, and the story of the Thebans, and of the race of Labdacus; the settlement of Cadmus on the spot where the cow rested, the dragon’s teeth from which the Thebans sprang up, the transformation of Cadmus into a serpent, the building of the walls of Thebes to the sound of Amphion’s lyre, the subsequent madness of the builder, the boast of Niobe his wife, her silent grief; Pentheus, Actaeon, Oedipus, Heracles; his labours and slaughter of his children.

Notes on the current edition

The Dance

Minos tied her to the stern of his ship and dragged her in its wake. In representing this as an “expedient,” Lucian seems to be thinking of it as Minos’ way of carrying out a revious bargain with Scylla to “take her with him,” or the ike. So Tarpeia bargained with the Sabines for what they had on their arms, expecting their bracelets; but they crushed her with their shields.

Amphion, who went mad of grief over the slaying of his and Niobe’s children by Apollo and Artemis.

Lucian of Samosata De saltatione 41

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

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