3. μητρός , mother of Themis; not the general meaning Mother Earth. It is a striking evidence of the fluctuating character of these genealogies that the poet elsewhere (Prom. 209) speaks of Earth and Themis as the same; one form of many names.

3. ἔζετο with acc. Cf. Ag. 183 σέλμα σεμνὸν ἡμένων, 664 ναῦν ἐφέζετο.

5. λάχει , ‘lot;' vivid poetic for in the third place, third in order.

5. θελούσης , οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός, 'with her good will, neither in despite of any.' Aeschylus uses this stately emphasis because he is following (or inventing) a different story from what was apparently the received version: for Pindar says (quoted by Schol.) that 'Apollo by force occupied Pytho:' and Eurip. (Iph. Τ. 1259) says, 'Apollo came and took away Themis daughter of Earth from the divine oracles.' But this savage and doubtless older story was not suitable to the poet's purpose: the sanctity and dignity of the oracle (ideas which are required for the plot) are averse from such violence.

7. ἥ , she. Epic demonstrative use of ős, surviving in ἢ δ᾽ ὅς, ὃς δ᾽

7. ἔφη (' said he').

7. δίδωσι , gives it, the oracle.

7. γενέθλιον δόσιν . There were two birth-festivals at Athens-the ἀμφιδρόμια, when the infant was carried round the hearth on the seventh (or fifth day), and the δεκάτη, 'tenth-day festival, when it was named and formally recognised by the father. On both occasions, especially the latter, presents were given.

8. παρώνυμον , made like to hers.

9. λίμνη , the circular or rather oval tarn in the north of the island, often referred to by ancient writers (Eur. Ion 167, Iph. Taur. 1104, Herod. 2. 170, etc.), and apparently connected with the birth of Apollo.

9. χοιράς , 's back,hog lit., i.e. ridge or rock, of Mount Kynthos.

11. παῖδες Ἡφαίστου , because Hephaistos was father of Erichthonios, mythical king of Athens. The title is peculiarly appropriate to the hewers of the way, as Hephaistos was the god who invented many of the tools and the arts of civilised life.

16. Δελφός , the king and eponymous' hero of Delphians.

17. κτίζω , properly to build, a favourite word of Aeschylus, often used as a stately synonym for to make: e.g. Pers. 289 εὐνίδας ἔκτισσαν, Cho. 1060 ἐλεύθερόν σε κτίσει, Eum. 714 μηδ᾽ ἀκαρπώτους κτίσαι.

19. προφήτης , ‘the spokesman,' the interpreter of Zeus. So he says in a fragment (79) Ζεὺς ἐγκαθίει Λοξίᾳ θεσπίσματα. So Verg. A. 3. 251 'Quae Phoebo pater omnipotens, mihi Phoebus Apollo Praedixit.'

21. Παλλὰς προναία , ‘Pallas of the precincts;' the name of a temple of Athena near the great sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. It is mentioned by Herodotus in this form (προνηΐη) 1.92, and there exist two Delphic inscriptions containing it (ΠΡΟΝΑΙA): but it seems to have been afterwards corrupted into πρόνοια, the shape in which the name of Athena at Delphi appears in Demosthenes (780), Aeschines (Ctes. 69), and Pausanias (10.8.7). Some people suppose two Delphic Athenas, προναία and πρόνοια: but this, though possible, is hardly likely. The learned Alexandrine poet Callimachus (250 B.C.) has the old form (προναίην, quoted by Schol.).

22. Κωρυκίς . The Korykian cavern was a remarkable cave high up in Parnassus, seven miles from Delphi: the cavern contains two large chambers 100 and 200 feet long respectively: it was the refuge of the Delphians in the Persian invasion (Herod. 8. 36), and more than once when their country was invaded. It was sacred to Pan and the nymphs.

23. φίλορνις , loved of birds, using the shelter for roosting and building.

23. φἀναστροφή , abode, haunt. The verb ἀναστρέφεσθαι is common for to be engaged in, to live ; ἐν φανερῷ, ἐν ᾿Αργει, ἐν μέσῳ, ἐν ξυμμαχίᾳ, etc. (versari Latin).

24. Βρόμιος , a common title of Bacchus. Aeschylus in glorifying Delphi fixes there the scene of the great vengeance of Bacchus on Pentheus. [Pentheus, king of Thebes, forbade and tried to prevent the worship of Bacchus; but the god drove mad with Bacchic frenzy the women, including Agaue Pentheus' mother, and they tore the king in pieces.] Euripides in the Bacchae makes Kithairon (between Attica and Boeotia) the scene, and Schol. says that Aeschylus himself also follows this tradition in the lost play Ξαντρίαι.

25. οὗτε , Epic form of rel. common in Aeschylus. (ὅστε Pers. 297, αἵτε Eum. 1024, ἐξ οὗτε Pers. 762, ἅτε Cho. 615, etc.)

26. λαγὼ δίκην , like a hare, i. e. they tore him as dogs a hare. [Scholiast's int. 'crouching like a hare' is frigid and absurd.] Notice absence of caesura; Ag. 943, Cho. 493.

27. Πλειστός , a small river south of Delphi: Apollonius (2.711) speaks of Korykian nymphs daughters of Pleistos.

27. Ποσειδώνος : there was an altar of Poseidon at Delphi. [There were various old traditions about Poseidon having once possessed Delphi and exchanged it for other places, which may be connected with his worship there.]

28. τέλειον , the fulfiller: so Ag. 973 Ζεῦ Ζεῦ τέλειε, τὰς ἐμὰς εὐχὰς τέλει.

30. Abridged , but quite intelligible, expression for 'May I find this time better response than I found in my former entrances to the shrine.'

30. τυχεῖν με , acc. inf. of prayer, common constr. with or without δός or δοῖεν (Cho. 307, O. C. 868, etc.). For acc. ἄριστα with τυχεῖν, cf. Ag. 1228.

31. πάρ' , are here, for πάρεισιν, is commonly read here. But it is more natural to take παρά as a preposition; and it is quite easy to understand are come .

32. ἴτων , rare form for ἰόντων ος ἴτωσαν.

33. μαντεύεσθαι . is used both of prophesying and 'consulting the god,' or getting a prophecy. Here both would suit, but the former is the sense in which Aeschylus uses the word elsewhere.

33. ὡς ἄν , according as, indef. relat. use. [She passes into the temple, and there is a pause : then she comes out horror-stricken and half fainting.]

34. δεινά . is nom. λέξαι and δρακεῖν epex. inf. after the adj. Things terrible to tell of, terrible to behold have sent me back, etc.'

36. ὥς , Epic for ὥστε, common in Trag., esp. in Aeschylus (e.g. Ag. 358, 546, 575, 665, 1381).

36. σωκεῖν , ‘to be strong.'

36. ἀκταίνω , a unique word of which the meaning is disputed. The Schol. and old lexicons give (1) to uplift, or be uplifted. (2) to exult, ‘prance' (γαυριᾶν), ‘leap violently' (ἀτάκτως πηδᾶν). The sense however requires, not, 'I can't move violently, but rather 'I can hardly move at all:' it is best therefore to take ἀκταίνω, to lift. βάσιν, my step: this is a correction in the best MS., all the texts reading στάσιν, (which is perhaps possible, and then 'to uplift my standing' would mean to stand upright;) but βάσιν is easier and far more likely.

37. χερσίν , ‘by aid of hands:' holding on, to support her failing limbs. [Schol. actually says she comes out on all fours, τετραποδηδόν!!]

38. ἀντίπαιs , rather a strange compound, the preposition ἀντί governing (so to speak) the waῖς, and not some word outside as usual. Aeschylus is fond of these compounds : ἀντίκεντρον 136, 466, ἀντίφερνον Ag. 406, ἀντήνωρ ib. 443, ἀντίδουλος Cho. 135.

38. μὲν οὖν , corrective, as usual. 'Nay, she is as a child.'

40. ὀμφαλός , navel, was the name given to Delphi, as the centre of the earth, and particularly (as here) to a white stone in the μυχός of the temple¹. Strabo tells us (9. 3.) that 'an ὀμφαλός bound with fillets' was shown in the temple; and Pausanias (10. 16. 3) that 'the Delphians said their ὀμφαλός, which was made of white stone, was the centre of the earth, and quoted from Pindar a passage which agreed with their account. ¹ The ὀμφαλός as a round or oval object is often found on coins or vases or sculptures relating to Delphi.

40. μέν answers δέ 1. 46.

41. προστρόπαιον , lit. turning toward, hence suppliant. The supplication might be for vengeance (as Ag. 1587, Cho. 286), or more commonly for purification, as here. Hence the word contracts another meaning, guilty; see below 11. 234, 237.

43-45. σωφρόνως seems to mean duly , piously.

46. λόχος , ‘troop:' for the number of the Eumenides see Introduction.

48. Γοργόνας . : Aeschylus describes these in the Prometheus (899) as 'Three winged sisters with snakes for hair, loathed of men, whom no mortal shall see and live:' and the Furies are compared to them, Cho. 1047, 'In dusky robes and twined with many snakes, like Gorgons.’

51. γε μήν , ‘yet,' adversative as usual: γε μέντοι, γε μὲν δή (and in Homer γε μέν), also used in the same way. So σπορᾶς γε μὴν ἐκ τῆσδε Ρ. V. 871, σὺν χρόνῳ γε μήν Ag. 1378.

53. οὐ πλατοῖσι , ‘unapproachable:' for the breath was deadly with blood and fire, and withered up what it touched (138). MSS. read πλαστοῖσι, feigned: but the other is far more forcible.

55. κόσμος , their garb.

59. μὴ μεταστένειν πόνον , without repenting of its toil, is an elaborate repetition and explanation of ἀνατί, unharmed. [The inf. is literally the object of ἐπεύχεται : 'boasts that having reared... it does not repent,' i. e. 'boasts to rear without repenting'].

mvp-comment-3-1 οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός: οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός, nemini vim inferens. Pindarum fortasse tangit. Scholiastes enim ad v. 2. haec adnotavit, Πίνδαρός φησι πρὸς βίαν κρατῆσαι Πυθοῦς τὸν Ἀπόλλωνα· διὸ καὶ ταρταρῶσαι αὐτὸν ἐζήτει ἡ Γῆ. Pindarum sequi videtur Euripides in Iphigenia Taurica v. 1234. seqq.

mvp-comment-4-1 Τιτανὶς ἄλλη, παῖς Χθονός: Victorium secuti plerique sic interpungunt, Τιτανίς, ἄλλη παῖς Χθονός, nec rei ratione habita, nec sermonis poetici. Ego, ut iam olim, dedi Τιτανὶς ἄλλη, παῖς Χθονός, ut posse saltem distingui iam Stanleius in curis secundis et Wakefieldius viderant. Deinde za9era Rob.

mvp-comment-5-1 δίδωσιν ἣ: δίδωσιν ἣ Porsonus. δίδωσιν δ᾽ ἣ M. G. Ald. δίδωσι δ᾽ ἢ Ven. (sic Ven. Bekkero teste, δίδωσιν δ᾽ ἣ Franzius affert Flor. Farn. Turn. δίδωσι δ᾽ ἢ Rob.

mvp-comment-6-1 Φοίβῳ· τὸ Φοίβης δ᾽ ὄνομ᾽ ἔχει παρώνυμον: Apollonius in Lexico Homerico p. 164, 10. ed. Bekk. Φοῖβος, ἐπίθετον Απόλλωνος. ὁ μὲν Αἰσχύλος ἀπὸ Φοίβης, τῆς μητρὸς Μητους. V. Wassenberghium ad scholia Hom. p. 151.

mvp-comment-7-1 λίμνην Δηλίαν τε χοιράδα: Scholiastes τὴν Κύνθον. διὰ δὲ τοῦ χοιράδα σχεδὸν τὴν αἰτίαν φησὶ δι᾽ ἣν ἀπέλιπεν Απόλλων, ἐκκλίνων τὸ εὐτελὲς τοῦ χωρίου. Deinde ad eundem versum in M. sine lemmate adscriptum τὴν στρογγύλην, quod ad λίμνην pertinet. Lacus huius, τροχοειδοῦς νουcati, mentio est apud Herodotum II. 170. Theognidem v. 7. Euripidem in Iph. Taur. v. 1110. et in Ione v. 168. apud Callimachum h. Apoll. v. 59. Del. v. 261. Δήλιοι χοιράδες sunt apud Euripidem Troad. v. 89.

mvp-comment-8-1 Παρνησσοῦ θ' ἕδρας: Παρνησσοῦ θ᾽ ἕδρας Turn. παρνησοῦ θ᾽ ἕδρας Rob. παρνησοῦσθ᾽ ἕδρας M. G. παρνησούς θ' ἕδρας Flor. Ven. παρνήσους θ' έδρας Farn. πανησοῦς θ᾽ ἕδρας Ald. Scholiastes χαριζόμενος Αθηναίοις καταχθῆναί φησιν ἐκεῖσε Απόλλωνα κἀκεῖθεν τὴν περιπομπὴν αὐτῷ εἶναι. ὁ δὲ Πίνδαρος ἐκ Τανάγρας τῆς Βοιωτίας.

mvp-comment-9-1 σεβίζουσιν: σεβίζουσι Turn. θεσπίζουσι Par.

mvp-comment-10-1 κελευθοποιοὶ: κελευθοπιοὶ Αld. Scholiastes of Αθηναῖοι, Θησεὺς γὰρ τὴν ὁδὸν καθῇρε (sic M.) τῶν λῃστῶν· καὶ ὅταν πέμπωσιν εἰς Δελφοὺς θεωρίδα, προέρχονται (προέρχονται γὰρ Μ.) ἔχοντες πελέκεις ὡς διημερώσοντες τὴν γῆν. Hesychius Αφηστιάδαι, Αθηναῖοι. Sed cum Hesychio conferendum est quod Stephanus Byzantius habet, 'Hφαιστιάδαι, δῆμος Ακαμαντίδος φυλῆς, ἐν ᾧ ἦν Ηφαίστου ἱερόν. ὁ δημότης Ἡφαιστιάδης. τὰ τοπικὰ ἐξ Ηφαιστιαδῶν καὶ τὰ λοιπά. Censor Schützianae editionis in Bibliotheca nova Germanica vol. LVI. part. 1. p. 224. seqq. cuius censurae epitome inserta est Beckii Commentariis societatis philologicae vol. II. part. 2. p. 279. seqq. dubitat an Aeschylus simpliciter fabros, non universe Athenienses, solemni pompa, ut deinceps quotannis, Apollinem deduxisse dixerit: quare aliquid excidisse putat inter v. 12. et 13. Quae suspicio eiusmodi est ut certis quidem argumentis nec refelli posse nec probari videatur. Schoemanno, ut Stanleio aliisque, universe Athenienses significari videntur: Erechtheum enim filium esse Vulcani, ὃν τέκε γαίης αὔλακι νυμφεύσας γαμίην Ηφαιστος ξέρσην, ut Nonnus ait XLI. 63. Rem, quam Aeschylus narrat, Strabo tangit IX. p. 646 (422). Conf. Mülleri Orchom. p. 36. et 383. et diss. de tripode Delphico p. 18.

mvp-comment-11-1 ἀνήμερον τιθέντες: ἀνήμερόν τι θέντες Ald.

mvp-comment-12-1 τιμᾷ: τιμαλθεῖ Ven. τημαλφεῖ Ald. Turn. In Rob. pro his verbis, κάρτα τιμαλφεί λεώς, haec e v. 12. repetita sunt, καὶ σεβίζουσιν μέγα.

mvp-comment-13-1 Δελφός: Scholiastes Επαφρόδιτος ἐν ὑπομνήματι Καλλιμάχου Αιτίων β' φησί, Μελανθοῦς τῆς Δευκαλίωνος καὶ Κηφισσοῦ τοῦ ποταμοῦ γίνεται Μέλαινα τοὔνομα· Μελαίνης δὲ καὶ Ποσειδῶνος Δελφός, ἀφ' οὗ οἱ Δελφοί. Tzetzes ad Lycophr. v. 208. — κἂν ἄλλοι φασὶ Δελφοὺς κληθῆναι ἀπὸ Δελφοῦ υἱοῦ Ποσειδῶνος καὶ Μελανθοῦς τῆς Δευκαλίωνος θυγατρός. Alia narrat Pausanias X. 6.

mvp-comment-14-1 ἐν θρόνοις: ἐν θρόνοις Turn. ἐν χρόνοις M. G. Par. Ven. Flor. Farn. Ald. Rob.

mvp-comment-15-1 Διὸς προφήτης δ᾽ ἐστὶ Λοξίας πατρός: Libri διὸς προφήτης δ᾽ ἐστὶ λοξίας πατρός, nisi quod G. Ald. δ᾽ ἐστὶν habent. Sed Macrobius Sat. V. 22. ita scriptum affert hunc versum, πατρὸς προφήτης ἐστὶ Λοξίας Διός. Dubitari potest utro ordine melius haec dicantur.

mvp-comment-16-1 Παλλὰς προναία δ᾽ εὐλόγως πρεσβεύεται: Libri παλλὰς προναία δ᾽ ἐν λόγοις πρεσβεύεται, nisi quod in Ven. προναία esse adnotavit Bekkerus. Scribendum προνάα. De Minerva zgoraía sive noroi praeter alios disputavit Lennepius ad Phalar. p. 143. seqq. Εί πρόνοια sola vera appellatio videbatur. Alterum nomen ut verius atque antiquius defendit 0. Müllerus in iis quae de Pallade scripsit in Encyclopaedia universali III. 10. p. 101. Atque hane nominis formam Delphis usitatam fuisse constat nunc ex duabus inscriptionibus ab Ernesto Curtio in Anecdotis Delphicis p. 77. et 78. editis, in quibus scriptum est ΤΑΙΑΘΑΝ. ΑΙΤΑΙΡΟΝΑΙΑΙ. De situ templi huius deae Delphici exposuit H. N. Vlrichsius in Itinere Graeco (Reisen und forschungen in Griechenland) vol. I. p. 45. et 263. Quod apud Aeschylum sequitur ἐν λόγοις πρεσβεύεται, simili orationis specie dictum est in Choeph. v. 621. κακῶν δὲ πρεσβεύεται τὸ Λήμνιον λόγο. Sed hic tamen non satis aptum videtur ἐν λόγοις. Scribendum putavi Παλλὰς προνάα δ᾽ εὐλόγως πρεσβεύεται. Suppl. v. 574. τίν ἂν θεῶν ἐνδικωτέροισιν κεκλοίμαν εὐλόγως ἐπ' ἔργοις;

mvp-comment-17-1 Κωρυκὶς: κωρυκεὶς Ald. De Corycio antro dixit Vlrichsius p. 48. 55. 119. 126.

mvp-comment-18-1 ἀναστροφαί: ἀναστροφαί Ven. Flor. Farn. ἀναστροφὴ Μ. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. ἀναστροφὴ Victorius ex scholio ad sequentem versum in M. adscripto διὸ εἶπε δαιμόνων ἀναστροφή. Recipiendum erat ἀναστροφαί. Nulla est enim in plurali numero offensio. V. Pors. ad Eur. Or. v. 1051.

mvp-comment-19-1 Βρόμιος ἔχει τὸν χῶρον: βρόμιος δ' έχει Ven. Flor. G. Ald. Turn. et haud dubie etiam Farn. Non est d'in M. Rob. Erravit autem qui addidit. Aeschylus enim ne in primo quidem pede anapaestum admisit, qui sola positione esset anapaestus, praeter hos duos versus, Pers. 338. ἑκατὸν δὲς ἦσαν, et Ag. 487. ὑπατός τε χώρας Ζεύς, ubi excusatio est ex quadam necessitate. Hic autem non dubito quin versus ante hunc exciderit. Quare lacunae signa posui. χώρων Rob.

mvp-comment-20-1 ἐξ οὗτε: ἐξ οὗγε Porsonus, ut in Persis v. 763. in codice Veneto B. scriptum est.

mvp-comment-21-1 λαγὼ: λαγῶ Ven. Farn.

mvp-comment-22-1 Πλειστοῦ ... Ποσειδῶνος: πλείστους M. G. Ven. Flor. Ald. Rob. Πλείστου Turn. Πλειστοῦ ex Stanleii in curis secundis sententia Dindorfius. Εtym. Μ. p. 676. 5. Πλειστοῖο. Απολλώνιος (ΙΙ. 711.) "πολλὰ δὲ Κωρύκια νύμφαι Πλειστοῖο θύγατρες.” τινὲς ἀναγιγνώσκουσι προπερισπώμένως, ἐπειδὴ καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἐγχωρίων λέγεται Πλειστός ὀξυτόνως. ἔστι δὲ ποταμὸς ἐν Δελφοῖς. Ἡρωδιανὸς δὲ ἐν τῷ Καθόλου Πλεῖστος βαρύνει. Scholiastes ad Ποσειδῶνος κράτος haec adnotavit, τὴν Πυθὼ τὴν Ποσειδῶνος, ὑπὲρ ἧς Καλαύρειαν ἐδέξατο. Καλλίμαχος “μέσφα Καλαυρείης ἦλθεν ἐς ἀντίδοσιν.” Aliter hoc narrat Strabo VIII. p. 373. seq. (574.) Καλαυρία, νησίδιον ὅσον τριάκοντα σταδίων ἔχον τὸν κύκλον. ἐνταῦθα ἦν ἄσυλον Ποσειδῶνος ἱερόν· καί φασι τὸν θεὸν τοῦτον ἀλλάξασθαι πρὸς μὲν Λητὼ τὴν Καλαυρίαν, ἀντιδόντα Δῆλον, πρὸς Ἀπόλλωνα δὲ Ταίναρον, ἀντιδόντα Πυθώ. Ἔφορος δὲ καὶ τὸν χρησμὸν λέγει· ισόν τοι Δῆλον τε Καλαυριάν τε νέμεσθαι, Πυθώ τ' ἀγαθέην καὶ Ταίναρον ἠνεμόεντα. Pausanias X. 5, 6. ἔστι δὲ ἐν Ἕλλησι ποίησις, ὄνομα μὲν τοῖς ἔπεσίν ἐστι Ευμολπία, Μουσαίῳ δὲ τῷ Αντισφήμου προςποιοῦσι τὰ ἔπη· πεποιημένον οὖν ἐστὶν ἐν τούτοις Ποσειδῶνος ἐν κοινῷ καὶ Γῆς εἶναι τὸ μαντεῖον, καὶ τὴν μὲν χρᾶν αὐτήν, Ποσειδῶνι δὲ ὑπηρέτην ἐς τὰ μαντεύματα εἶναι Πύρκωνα. καὶ οὕτως ἔχει τὰ ἔπη, αὐτίκα δὲ Χθὼν μὲν σφῶῖν πινυτὸν φάτο μῦθον, σὺν δέ τε Πύρκων ἀμφίπολος κλυτοῦ Ἐννοσιγαίου (ita scribendum). Κρόνῳ δὲ ὕστερον, ὅσον Γῇ μετῆν, δοθῆναι Θέμιδι ὑπ' αὐτῆς λέγουσιν, Απόλλωνα δὲ παρὰ Θέμιδος λαβεῖν δωρεάν· Ποσειδῶνι δὲ ἀντὶ τοῦ μαντείου Καλαύρειαν ἀντιδοῦναι φασιν αὐτὸν τὴν πρὸ Τροιζῆνος. Erat autem in templo Delphico ara Neptuni. Pausanias X. 24, 4. ἐν δὲ τῷ ναῷ πεποίηται μὲν Ποσειδῶνος βωμός, ὅτι τὸ μαντεῖον τὸ ἀρχαιότατον κτῆμα ἦν καὶ Ποσειδῶνος, ἔστηκε δὲ καὶ ἀγάλματα Μοιρῶν δύο· ἀντὶ δὲ αὐτῶν τῆς τρίτης Ζεύς τε Μοιραγέτης καὶ ᾿Απόλλων σφίσι παρέστηκε Μοιραγέτης. Wieselerus memoravit Tzetzae ad Lycophr. v. 617. adnotationem, Αμοιβέα τὸν Ποσειδῶνα λέγει· οὕτω γὰρ ἐν Δελφοῖς τιμᾶται, ἐπεὶ ἠμείψαντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους ὁ μὲν Ποσειδῶν Καλαυρίαν, ὁ δὲ Ἀπόλλων Δελφούς, ὡς φησὶ Καλλίμαχος.

mvp-comment-23-1 Δία,: Recte in fine versus comma positum in Ald. Turn. Nulla interpunctio est in Rob. Vulgo inde a Victorio plene interpungitur.

mvp-comment-24-1 μακρῷ: μεστῶν pro με τῶν Par. μακρῶν Ald. Turn.

mvp-comment-25-1 κεἰ πάρ᾽: κει παρ' Rob. Ceteri κει παρ'. Recte Abreschius κεἰ πάρ'.

mvp-comment-26-1 ἴτων: ἴτων M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. et, ut videtur, Ven. ἴτην Farn. et, ut videtur, Flor. De sortitione oraculum consulentium v. Spanh. ad Callim. h. Apoll. v. 45.

mvp-comment-27-1 μαντεύομαι: μαντεύονται Ven. In margine codicum M. G. adscriptum est διάλειμμα γάρ. Etenim post hunc versum sacerdos Pythia in templum introit, mox autem revertitur.

mvp-comment-28-1 λέξαι: λείξαι Ald.

mvp-comment-29-1 σθένειν μήτε μ' ἀκταίνειν βάσιν: σωβεῖν Par. Deinde μή τ' ἐμακταίνειν Ald. Scholiastes ἀκταίνειν interpretatur κουφίζειν· σημαίνει δὲ καὶ τὸ γαυριᾶν καὶ ατάκτως πηδῶν. Ex hoc loco, ut videtur, Hesychius ακταίνειν, μεταεωρίζειν. Εtym. Μ. p. 54, 34. ἀκταίνω. ἐπὶ ἵππων ἀκταίνειν, τὸ μετεωρίζεσθαι καὶ ἐπαίρεσθαι, καὶ γαυριᾶν. παρὰ τὸ ἦκται ἀκτός, καὶ ῥῆμα ἀκτῶ, ἀφ᾽ οὗ ἀκταίνω τὸ κουφίζω παρὰ Αἰσχύλῳ, uti emendavit Ruhnkenius ad Tim. p. 21. ibidem p. 20. afferens quae apud Phrynichum (in Bekkeri Anecd. p. 23, 12.) leguntur, Αἰσχύλος “οὐκέτ ἀκταίνω” φησί, βαρυτόνως, οἷον οὐκέτι ὀρθοῦν δύναμαι ἐμαυτήν. In fine versus libri στάσιν, neque vituperari hoc potest, non erecta stare possum. Sed in M. G. supra adscriptum γρ. βάσιν, quod a Stephano commemoratum inde a Cantero plerique receperunt. Et videtur praestare.

mvp-comment-30-1 ποδωκίᾳ: Scholiastes ad v. 39. τὰ δεινὰ ἐξέπεμψέ με τοῦ μαντείου. ἰδοῦσα γὰρ Ὀρέστην ἐπὶ τοῦ βωμοῦ καὶ τὰς Ἐρινύας κοιμωμένας, ἔξεισι τεταραγμένη τετραποδηδὸν ἐκ τοῦ νεώ. Nihil aliud sacerdos indicat, quam manuum adiumento sibi ad incedendum opus esse. ποδωκείᾳ Flor. ποδωκεία Ven.

mvp-comment-31-1 οὐδέν, ἀντίπαις μὲν οὖν: Male μὲν οὖν olim mutaveram in μένος. Nam οὐδέν significat quod nos dicimus es ist nichts damit. Inde explicatio addi potest, quae, si οὐδέν graviorem haberet significationem, supervacanea atque inepta foret. Suppl. v. 719. γυνὴ μονωθεῖσ᾽ οὐδέν· οὐκ ἔνεστ᾽ Ἄρης. Euripides Hec. v. 626. τὰ δ᾽ οὐδén· ἄλλως φροντίδων βουλεύματα, γλώσσης τε κόμποι. Huius οὐδέν exempla inveniuntur etiam in Phoen. v. 417. εὖ πρᾶσσε· τὰ φίλων δ᾽ οὐδέν, ἤν τις δυςτυχῇ. Androm. v. 642. σὺ δ᾽ οὐδὲν εἶ. Iph. Taur. v. 114. τοὺς πόνους γὰρ ἀγαθοὶ τολμῶσι, δειλοὶ δ᾽ εἰσὶν οὐδὲν οὐδαμοῦ. Cycl. v. 639. ἄνδρες πονηροὶ κοὐδὲν οἶδε σύμμαχοι.

mvp-comment-32-1 ὀμφαλῷ ... θεομυσῆ: ὀφθαλμῷ Ven. θεομυσῆ Μ. θεομυσῇ Rob. θεομιση G. Ven. Farn. Ald. Θεομισεῖ Turn.

mvp-comment-33-1 ἕδραν ἔχοντα: ἕδρας Flor. Farn. ἔχοντα Ven. Flor. Turn. et in corrigendis Robortellus. Sic, ut videtur, etiam Farn. ἔχοντι M. G. Par. Ald. Rob.

mvp-comment-34-1 νεοσπαδὲς: νεοσπαδὲς M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. νεοσπαθές Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-35-1 λῆνῃ μεγίστῃ σωφρόνως ἐστεμμένον: Libri λήνει μεγίστῳ σωφρόνως ἐστεμμένον, nisi quod λίνει habent Ven. Flor. Farn. Rob. et μεγίστω sine iota subscripto G. Ald. Rob. Valckenarius ad Phoen. v. 994. “pro λήνει μεγίστῳ,” inquit, “Georg. Arnaldus in margine libri posuerat λήγει μὲν ολός, quae correctio mihi quidem Hemsterbusii videtur, quem docentem audierat." Exemplum dicit editionis Victorianae: id ego nunc possideo. Coniectura autem illa, cuiuscumque sit, non est talis quae inventori laudem parere possit. Nam nec uév hic locum habet, ut vidit Abreschius, neque, quod Schützius intellexit, opus habitura essent haec verba explicatione quam adiecit poeta. Mirum quantum differt illud, ἅλω δὲ πολλήν, ἀσπίδος κύκλον λέγω, ab Iosepho Scaligero, quem memoral Valckenarius, ad Varronem p. 49. comparatum. Sed ut λήνει μεγίστῳ a poeta dictum esse existimem, adduci non possum. Videtur Aeschylus scripsisse λήνει μεγιστοσοφρόνως ἐστεμμένον. Sic μεγιστότιμος invenitur in Suppl. v. 679.

mvp-comment-36-1 πρόσθεν δὲ τἀνδρὸς ... θαυμαστὸς λόχος: προέθεν Rob. Deinde δὲ τἀνδρὸς Ven. Flor. Turn. δέ τ' ἀνδρὸς M. G. Ald. Rob. Deinde θαυμαστὸς λόγος M. Ven. Flor. Rob. Turn. θαυμαστὸν λέχος G. (sic G.) Par. Ald.

mvp-comment-37-1 εὕδει: ἅδει pro εὕδει Ald.

mvp-comment-38-1 Γοργόνας: Similitudinem Furiarum cum Gorgonibus latius quam par erat extendit Böttigerus in libro de personis Furiarum p. 13. seqq. et p. 112. seqq. Sequemur, ut certa, quae ipse Aeschylus veteresque. tradunt: hic in Prometheo v. 799. πέλας δ᾽ ἀδελφαὶ τῶνδε τρεις κατάπτεροι, δρακοντόμαλλοι Γοργόνες βροτοστυγεῖς. Choeph. v. 1045. ποῖαι γυναῖκες αἵδε Γοργόνων δίκην φαιοχίτωνες καὶ πεπλεκτανημέναι πυκνοῖς δράκουσιν ; ex illis autem Pausanias I. 28, 6. πρῶτος δέ σφισιν (Furiis) Αισχύλος δράκοντας ἐποίησεν ὁμοῦ ταῖς ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ θριξὶν εἶναι.

mvp-comment-39-1 εἶδόν ποτ᾽ ἤδη: εἶδόν ποτ' ἤδη M. G. Ald. Rob. Τurn. εἶδόν ποτ᾽ εἶδον Ven. Flor. Farn. Ante hunc versum Wakefieldius et Northmorus versum excidisse putarunt, scholiis eam suspicionem adiuvare visis. Scholiastae in codice M. ad v. 50. haec est adnotatio, nullo praemisso lemmate, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ Αρπυίας αὐτὰς λέγω. εἶδον γὰρ αὐτὰς ἐν γραφῇ πτερωτάς. At non potest ex isto scholio versus restitui qualem confinxit Wakefieldius, metro laborantem, aut qualem Schutzius, metri vitio carentem. Excidisse videntur ante versum 52. plures versus, in quibus sacerdos dixerat, cur terrificae illae mulieres non viderentur esse Gorgones, et deinde Harpyias nominaverat. V. Opusc. VI. 2. p. 20. Dindorfio post haec verba, εἶδόν ποτ᾽ ἤδη, lacunam statuenti assensus est Linwoodius. De ea re ambigi potest: illud certum est, mancam esse sacerdotis orationem.

mvp-comment-40-1 βδελύκτροποι: βδελύκτροποι M. G. Turn, βδελύκτοποι Ald. κδελύτροποι Rob. quod in corrigendis in βδελύτροποι mulari iubetur. βδελύτροποι Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-41-1 οὐ πλαστοῖσι φυσιάμασιν: Schutzius haec ita interpretatus est, slertunt autem halitu, cui periculosum est appropinquare. Haec interpretatio si vera esset, scribendum esset οὐ πλατοῖσι, ut Elmsleius voluit ad Eur. Med. v. 149. Sed quod libri habent, οὐ πλαστοῖσι φυσιάμασιν, recte puto Stanleium interpretatum esse non fictis flatibus. Similiter Aeschylus loquitur in Prometheo v. 1034. πρὸς ταῦτα βούλευ· ὡς ὁδ᾽ οὐ πεπλασμένος ὁ κόμπος, ἀλλὰ καὶ λίαν εἰρημένος. In Sept. c. Th. 894. ἐτύμως δακρυχέων ἐκ φρενός. In Eum. v. 489. πολλὰ δ᾽ ἔτυμα παιδότρωτα πάθεα προςμένει τοκεῦσιν μεταὖθις ἐν χρόνῳ.

mvp-comment-42-1 λείβουσι δυςφιλῆ λίβα: λοίβουσι δυσφαλῆ Rob. Deinde δία M. G. Ald. codex Robortelli. βίαν Rob. ex coniectura Sophiani et Turnebus, et habent βίαν Ven. Flor. et, ut videtur, Farn. Egregie Burgesius λίβα. V. ad Choeph. v. 299. Similiter dixit Aeschylus in Choeph. v. 1055. κἀς ὀμμάτων στάζουσιν αἷμα δυςφιλές.

mvp-comment-43-1 τὸ φῦλον οὐκ ὄπωπα τῆσδ᾽ ὁμιλίας: Vix quisquam explicet, quomodo Schutzius adduci potuerit, ut haec ita interpretaretur, nusquam vidi mulierum genus, quocum hunc coetum comparare possem. . Hoc dicitur, genus huius societatis, vel nationem huius gentis non vidi.

mvp-comment-44-1 οὐδ᾽ ἥτις αἶα: οὐδ᾽ ἥτις αλα M. Rob. οὐδ᾽ ὅτι γαῖα Ven. (sic Ven. Flor. Farn. οὐδ᾽ εἴτις γαῖα G. Ald. οὐ δή τι γαῖα Turn.

mvp-comment-45-1 ἀνατὶ ... πόνον: ἀνατὶ Dindorfius. ἀνατεῖ Turn. ἀνατεί ceteri. Deinde μεμετὰ στένειν Turn. Denique πόνον Arnaldus. Libri πόνων. Legit πόvor etiam scholiastes, in cuius adnotatione, τὸ τῆς ἀνατροφῆς, scribendum est τὸν pro τό. Euripides Phoen. v. 1434. ἔκλαι, ἐθρήνει τὸν πολὺν μαστῶν πόνον στένουσα.

mvp-comment-46-1 τἀντεῦθεν ἤδη: τἀντεῖθεν ήδη M. G. Ald. Rob. Turn. τάντεῦθε μὲν οὖν Ven. Flor. Farn.

mvp-comment-47-1 δωμάτων: δομάτων G. Non opus est Wakefieldii coniectura, δειμάτων.

mvp-comment-2-1 ἢ δή] who, as all know, &c. So οὗ δὴ χολωθεὶς, Alcest. 5 ; see also Prom. 833 .

mvp-comment-3-1 θελούσης] The poet indirectly denies the truth of an old legend that Themis was forcibly ejected from the oracular seat by her sister Phoebe, the mother of Leto. Schol.

This note perhaps refers to the birthday present' from his grandmother Phoebe. The legend that Apollo dispossessed Themis is given at some length in Eur. Iph. T. 1260 seqq. It was in the mind of the poet in this play to deny the hostility of the gods against each other, and to represent them in their more beneficent aspect. It was a custom to bring presents, thence called ὀπτήρια, at the first sight of a newly-born child; see Eur. Ion 1127 .

mvp-comment-4-1 παρώνυμον] The name Phoebus came from Phoebe, either derived from it by the masculine termination, or with the interval of one, as παρ' ἡμέραν, ‘every other day.'

mvp-comment-5-1 λιπὼν δὲ κ.τ.λ.] The sense is, 'So he, leaving the island of his birth, came first to the shore of Attica, from which he was conducted with great honour by a Sacred Way then first made from Athens to Delphi by the descendants of Erichthonius the son of Hephaestus. On the via sacra alluded to, see Wordsworth's Greece, p. 237 , who describes the rugged and uneven nature of the soil, ἀνήμερον χθόνα. The Schol. records a ceremony kept up till later times, of pioneers carrying mattocks leading the annual procession of θεωροὶ to Delphi. ibid. χοιράδα] The low-lying reef, lit. 'hog's-back,' a term applied in disparagement to the barren island which the god exchanged for the wealthy Delphi (Schol.). See Pers. 423 .

mvp-comment-6-1 ἕδρας] ‘his sacred seat on Parnassus.'

mvp-comment-7-1 Either ἡμερώσαντες οι τιθέντες (θέντες) ἥμερον would be a more usual expression. The verb is technically applied to cutting roads through waste country. So Herod. 1. 126

Eur. Herc. F. 20

έξημερῶσαι γαῖαν.

mvp-comment-8-1 Δελφός] The eponym king or hero of the country came out to meet the god and give him an honourable reception. The Schol. cites a grammarian who wrote a commentary on Callimachus, to prove that Delphus was the son of Poseidon and Melaena, a daughter of the river Cephisus. -πρυμνήτης, see inf. 735, Theb. 2 .

mvp-comment-9-1 τόνδε] i.e. the present occupant. Similarly the gods are asked to receive the king on his return φαιδροῖσι τοισίδ᾽ ὄμμασι, Ag. 503 , ‘now with bright and cheery look.'

mvp-comment-10-1 προφήτης] the mouth-piece, or speaker for Zeus, Jovis interpres.

mvp-comment-11-1 ἐν λόγοις] This may mean that Pallas holds a first rank in the legends of the place, or it may be that prayers to Apollo are contrasted with honourable mention of Pallas Pronaea ( Herod. 1. 92, VIII. 37 ), who had a temple, or perhaps chapel, in front of the adytum. There was another title, sometimes confounded with this, Παλλάς Πρόvoia, the goddess of Providence, from her reputed wisdom, inf. 811.

mvp-comment-12-1 These verses, which somewhat interrupt the narrative, and the last of which is metrically faulty, are perhaps the interpolation of an early hand. The Schol. observes that the scene of Pentheus' death was not Parnassus, but Cithaeron. It has been proposed (by Weil) to insert v. 20 after v. 26, which, supposing the above lines to be genuine, would be an improvement. It is remarkable that the Schol. briefly says καλοῦσα φροιμιάζομαι. Cf. Ag. 1325 .

mvp-comment-13-1 Ποσειδώνος] There would seem to have been a κοινοβωμία ( Suppl. 218 ) at Delphi. There was a legend that the sea-god had resigned Pytho to Apollo in exchange for Taenarus, or, as Callimachus quoted by the Schol. says, for Calaurea, an island off Argolis.

mvp-comment-14-1 τυχεῖν ἄριστα] to get much better answers than on any former entry. For the accusative after τυγχάνειν see Cho. 698 .

mvp-comment-15-1 ἴτων, for ἴτωσαν, a unique example of this form. -πάλῳ, viz. without favour or claim of precedence on national grounds. -ὡς ἂv, according as. Cf. Soph. Αj. 1369

--After this verse there is a solemn pause.

mvp-comment-16-1 ἀκταίνειν] Schol.

Hesych.

μετεωρίζειν,

pedem levare. A similar form occurs Od. ΧΧΙΙΙ. 3

πόδες δ' ὑπερικταίνοντο.

Plat. Legg. 11. p. 672 c

καὶ ὅταν ἀκταινώσῃ ἑαυτὸ τάχιστα, ἀτάκτως αὖ πηδᾷ.

mvp-comment-17-1 χερσίν] By the support of my hands against the wall. The Schol. (unless indeed he records a stage tradition) seems wrongly to explain ἔξεισι τετραποδηδόν.

mvp-comment-18-1 ἀντίπαις] Rather she is as a child. Cf. Cho. 128

‘and I am no better than a slave.'

mvp-comment-19-1 The recent act of murder is described, as the Schol. remarks, in this verse.

mvp-comment-20-1 τῇδε γάρ] For in this respect (viz. the size of the tufts and the sober method of the arrangement, unlike that of some mad fanatic) I will give a clear account. Cf. Soph. El. 643

The Schol. says the interior of the shrine was seen by the spectators; but this does not seem certain. There is nothing in the narrative to suggest more than a description of what has scared the speaker. Indeed, the statement here is inconsistent with that at v. 64, where he says the interior of the shrine is now displayed by the eccyclema. car-

mvp-comment-21-1 τύποις] The earliest sculptures were ugly Gorgonheads cut in shallow relief, and called τύποι perhaps from a resemblance to heads on coins. She proceeds to say that she has seen drawings or paintings of winged winged harpies rying off the dinner from Phineus; but these Furies were different, in that they had no wings. The Argonautic story was well known to both Aeschylus and Pindar. It is alluded to also in Cho. 620 seqq.

mvp-comment-22-1 οὐ πλατοῖσι] not to be approached.

mvp-comment-23-1 καὶ κόσμος] Their dress, too, was such as neither could be brought as an offering to the statues of the gods (like the peplus to Pallas) nor admitted into the abodes of men.

mvp-comment-24-1 τὸ φύλον] the tribe or race to which they could be supposed to belong. Schol.

‘nor know I what land can aver that it rears this brood without harm to itself, and has not to repent afterwards of its pains.' -πόνον, Schol.

τὸν

(MS. τὸ) τῆς ἀνατροφῆς.

mvp-comment-25-1 τἀντεῦθεν] quae sequuntur. The priestess now retires, leaving to Apollo himself to get rid of the foul monsters which have beset and defiled his shrine.

mvp-comment-26-1 τοῖσιν ἄλλοις] i.e. and therefore much more so to himself. Schol.

mvp-comment-3-1 ἢ τῆς κοινῆς μητρὸς πάντων, ἢ τῆς Θέμιδος.

mvp-comment-4-1 κλήρωι.

mvp-comment-5-1 ἀντὶ τοῦ) ὀπτήριον. θεασαμένη τὸν τῆς ἀδελφῆς (richtig wäre θυγατρὸς) ἑαυτῆς Λητοῦς παῖδα δέδωκε συγγενικὴν δόσιν.

mvp-comment-6-1 ἀπόδειξις αὕτη τῆς δωρεᾶς οὐκ ἀχάριστος.

mvp-comment-7-1 τὴν Κύνθον. διὰ δὲ τοῦ „χοιράδα" σχεδὸν τὴν αἰτίαν φησὶ δι᾽ ἣν ἀπέλιπεν Ἀπόλλων, ἐκκλίνων τὸ εὐτελὲς τοῦ χωρίου. τὴν στρογγύλην (näml. λίμνην).

mvp-comment-8-1 χαριζόμενος Ἀθηναίοις καταχθῆναί φησιν ἐκεῖσε Ἀπόλλωνα κἀκεῖθεν τὴν παραπομπὴν (Heyne für περιπ.) αὐτῶι εἶναι. ὁ δὲ Πίνδαρος) ἐκ Τανάγρας τῆς Βοιωτίας.

mvp-comment-9-1 οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι. Θησεὺς γὰρ τὴν ὁδὸν ἐκάθηρε (Rob. f. καθῆρεν) τῶν ληιστῶν· καὶ ὅταν πέμπωσιν εἰς Δελφοὺς θεωρίαν (Weil f. θεωρίδα), προέρχονται [γάρ] (del. Rob., τινες Weckl.) ἔχοντες πελέκεις ὡς διημερώσοντες τὴν γῆν.

mvp-comment-10-1 καὶ ὁ Δελφὸς λεώς (λ. del. Vict.), ὃς (ὅ Μ) ἐστι τῆς χώρας ἄναξ καὶ κυβερνήτης.

mvp-comment-11-1 κτίσας: ποιήσας· ἰδίωμα δὲ τοῦτο Αἰσχύλου.

mvp-comment-12-1 „χή Παλλάς, Δελφοί νιν ὅθ᾽ ἱδρύοντο προναίην“ Καλλίμαχος.

mvp-comment-13-1 ὁ Παρνασσός.

mvp-comment-14-1 διὸ εἶπε δαιμόνων ἀναστροφή.“

mvp-comment-15-1 λαγωοῦ δίκην καταπτήξαντι καὶ μὴ ἀνθισταμένωι. νῦν φησὶν ἐν Παρνασῶι εἶναι τὰ κατὰ Πενθέα, ἐν δὲ ταῖς Ξαντρίαις ἐν Κιθαιρῶνι.

mvp-comment-16-1 ἡ (τὴν Μ) Πυθὼ ἦν (τὴν Μ) πρώην Ποσειδῶνος, ὑπὲρ ἧς Καλαύρειαν ἐδέξατο. Καλλίμαχος· „μέσφα Καλαυρείης ἦλθεν ἐς (Rob. f. εἰς) ἀντίδοσιν.“

mvp-comment-17-1 καλοῦσα φροιμιάζομαι.

mvp-comment-18-1 τοῦτό φησιν, ἐπεὶ δραματική ἐστιν ἡ ποίησις· εἰ δὲ ἦν διηγηματική, εἶπεν ἂν ὁ ποιητής· ταῦτα εἶποῦσα εἰς θρόνον ἐκαθέζετο.

mvp-comment-19-1 ἴτων: ἴτωσαν, Αττικώτερον.

mvp-comment-20-1 διάλειμμα γίνεται). πρὸς (παρ᾿ Μ) ὀλίγον ἔρημος ἡ σκηνὴ γίνεται. οὔτε γὰρ ὁ χορός) πω πάρεστιν, ἥ τε ἱέρεια εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν ναόν. τὰ δεινὰ ἐξέπεμψέ με τοῦ μαντείου. ἰδοῦσα γὰρ Ὀρέστην ἐπὶ τοῦ βωμοῦ καὶ τὰς Ἐρινύας κοιμωμένας, ἔξεισι τεταραγμένη τετραποδηδὸν ἐκ τοῦ νεώ.

mvp-comment-21-1 διὰ τὸ γῆρας. κουφίζειν· σημαίνει) δὲ καὶ τὸ γαυριᾶν καὶ ἀτάκτως πηδᾶν (s. Plat. Leg. II, 672 C).

mvp-comment-22-1 ἱκέτην.

mvp-comment-23-1 (zu νεοσπ.) ἐμφατικῶς τοῦτο νεωστὶ ηὐθεντηκότα (αὐθ. Μ) παρίστησιν. νεωστὶ ἐσπασμένον.

mvp-comment-24-1 εἰώθασιν, ὅταν ἀσαφές τι εἴπωσιν, οἱ ποιηταὶ ἐπεκδιδάσκειν αὐτό. Ὅμηρος (Ε 586) „κύμβαχος ἐν κονίηισιν, ἐπὶ βρεγμόν τε καὶ ὤμους“.

mvp-comment-25-1 τῶν Ἐρινύων.

mvp-comment-26-1 πρὸς τὸ φοβερὸν τῆς ὄψεως.

mvp-comment-27-1 ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ Αρπυίας αὐτὰς λέγω· εἶδον γὰρ αὐτὰς ἐν γραφῆι πτερωτάς.

mvp-comment-28-1 ἃς τις βδελύξαιτο καὶ ἐκτραπείη (so!) μισήσας. σκυθρωποί.

mvp-comment-29-1 οἷον αἱματηράν.

mvp-comment-30-1 ὃν ἔχουσι περικείμενον (Scal. für παρακ.) ἑαυταῖς.

mvp-comment-31-1 οὐδέποτε τοιοῦτον γένος εἶδον. συνηθείας, συνουσίας, συστήματος.

mvp-comment-32-1 τὸν (Herm. f. τὸ) τῆς ἀνατροφῆς.

mvp-comment-33-1 ὥστε εἰ θεραπείας χρεία, ἰατρός ἐστιν· εἶἴτε μαντείας, τερατοσκόπος· εἴτε καθαρμῶν, καθάρσιος.

mvp-comment-34-1 πόσωι μᾶλλον τῶν ἰδίων.

mvp-comment-1-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 251

mvp-comment-1-2 Prolog, wenn man das Erwachen der Erinyen 140-178 als Parodos und das zweite Erscheinen derselben 244-275 als Epiparodos gelten läfst. Andernfalls müfste man den Prolog bis zum eigentlichen Auftreten des Chors als der wirklichen Parodos, also 1-243 rechnen. Die Pythia, welche als Greisin (38) sich auf einen Stab stützt, kommt (durch eine Seitenthüre der Hinterwand) aus einem Nebenraume des Tempels zum Haupteingange desselben und verrichtet vor dem Eintritt ein Gebet (30 f.). Sie hat die χρηστηρία ἐσθής wie Kasandra in Agamemnon (zu Ag. 774 ). Gut bemerkt der Schol. :

(d. h. die Exposition ist nicht unvermittelt wie bei Euripides, sondern wohl motiviert). τὰ δὲ πρῶτα εὐχαὶ καὶ ἐπικλήσεις θεῶν, ἵνα ἀπὸ τῶν εὐφημοτέρων ἄρξηται ἡ προφῆτις (in der That breitet das Gebet der Priesterin über den Anfang eine weihevolle Stimmung aus). οἰκονομικῶς δὲ οὐκ ἐν ἀρχῇ διώκεται Ὀρέστης, ἀλλὰ τοῦτο ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ δράματος κατατάττει, ταμιευόμενος τὰ ἀκμαιότατα ἐν μέσῳ.

mvp-comment-3-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 251

mvp-comment-3-2 δή (eben) hebt hervor, dafs Themis als Tochter nachfolgte. τὸ .. μαντείον ἕζετο: zu Ag.193 . Der Zusatz ὡς λόγος τις weist auf andere Wendungen der Sage hin. Paus. X 5, 5 λέγεται δὲ πολλὰ μὲν καὶ διάφορα ἐς αὐτοὺς Δελφούς, πλείω δὲ ἔτι ἐς τοῦ ᾿Απόλλωνος τὸ μαντείον. φασὶ γὰρ δὴ τὰ ἀρχαιό τατα Γῆς εἶναι τὸ χρηστήριον καὶ Δάφνιδα ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ τετάχθαι πρόμαντιν ὑπὸ τῆς Γῆς κτέ.

mvp-comment-4-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 251

mvp-comment-4-2 λάχει: κλήρῳ Schol. Θελούσης scil. αὐτῆς τῆς Θέμιδος). Krüger I § 47, 4, 3 . Die gewöhnliche Wendung der Sage, nach welcher Apollon den das Orakel bewachenden Drachen Python tötete und Themis von der Stätte verdrängte (Schol. Πίνδαρός φησι πρὸς βίαν κρατῆσαι Πυθοῦς τὸν ᾿Απόλλωνα· διὸ καὶ ταρταρῶσαι αὐτὸν ἐζήτει ἡ Γῆ, Eur. Iph. T. 1249 ff. ) wird von dem religiösen Dichter nachdrücklich abgewiesen, und Phöbe, eine andere Tochter der Gäa ( Hes. Theog. 136 ), eingeschoben, damit die Verwandtschaft durchweg als Grund der Übertragung erscheine.

mvp-comment-5-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 252

mvp-comment-5-2 Τιτανίς als Tochter des Uranos und der Gäa. Τιτανὶς Θέμις Prom. 900 . C

mvp-comment-6-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 252

mvp-comment-6-2 ή in solcher Stellung (wie in ἦ δ' ή) nur hier. Sonst nur ἣ δέ, ἣ γάρ und καὶ ἥ. γενέθλιον δόσιν, als Geburtsgeschenk. Bei den Athenern wurden von den Verwandten solche Geschenke an den Ἀμφιδρόμια gegeben. Dieses Fest, an welchem das Kind den Namen erhielt, wurde bald nach der Geburt gefeiert (Hesych. und Harpokr. unter Ἀμφιδρόμια).

mvp-comment-7-1 ¹

mvp-comment-7-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 252

mvp-comment-7-3 τήθης (Grofsmutter): Phöbe wurde von Koios Mutter der Leto ( Hes. Theog. 406 ).

mvp-comment-8-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 252

mvp-comment-8-2 λίμνην Δηλίαν τε: zu Ag. 594 . λίμνη ( Herod. II 170

) ist der kreisförmige See auf Delos, an welchem Leto den Phöbos geboren hatte: Theogn. 5 Φοῖβε ἄναξ, ὅτε μέν σε θεὰ τέκε πότνια Λητὼ ... ἐπὶ τροχοειδέϊ λίμνῃ, Eur. Iph. Τ. 1103 , Ion 167 . χοιράδα: ein Schol. versteht darunter den Berg Kynthos ( Κύνθιον ὄχθον Eur. Iph. Τ. 1098 ), an welchem der runde See lag. Richtiger denkt ein anderer an das Felseneiland selbst: διὰ τοῦ χοιράδα σχεδὸν τὴν αἰτίαν φησὶ δι᾽ ἣν ἀπέλιπεν Ἀπόλλων, ἐκκλίνων τὸ εὐτελὲς τοῦ χωρίου. Ebenso Eur. Iph. T. 1239 φέρε (Leto) δ᾽ ἵνιν ἀπὸ δειράδος εἰναλίας λοχεῖα κλεινὰ λιποῦσ᾽, ἀστάκτων μάτειρ᾽ ὑδάτων, τὴν βακχεύουσαν Διονύσῳ Παρνάσιον κορυφαν nach dem ersten Hymn. auf Apollon V. 72 νῆσον ἀτιμήσας, ἐπειὴ κραναήπεδός εἰμι (Delos spricht). Man hat aber χοιράδα wohl mehr von dem Anblick, welchen die Insel vom Meere aus bietet, von der klippenreichen Küste zu verstehen wie Pers. 424

ἀκταὶ δὲ νεκρῶν χοιράδες τ᾽ ἐπλήθυον

und Eur. Tro.89

έκταὶ δὲ Μυκόνου Δήλιοι τε χοιράδες πολλῶν θανόντων σώμαθ᾽ ἕξουσιν νεκρῶν

.

mvp-comment-8-3 ²

mvp-comment-9-1 ³

mvp-comment-9-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 252

mvp-comment-9-3 Schol. :

O. Müller) τῆς Βοιωτίας. Auch in dem Hymnus auf den Pythischen Apollon V. 36 ff. ist die Richtung des Weges eine ardere. Die alte Sitte, dafs den athenischen Festgesandtschaften nach Delphi Leute mit Äxten um den Weg zu bahnen vorhergehen ( ὅταν πέμπωσιν εἰς Δελφοὺς θεωρίαν, προέρχονταί τινες ἔχοντες πελέκεις ὡς διημερώσοντες τὴν γῆν Schol.), wird auf die erste Ankunft des Apollon übertragen und darin eine Art Beweis gefunden, dafs er seinen Weg von Delos nach Delphi über Attika genommen habe. So auch Ephoros bei Strabon IX p. 422 καθ᾿ ὃν χρόνον Ἀπόλλωνα τὴν γῆν ἐπιόντα ἡμεροῦν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους .. ἐξ ᾿Αθηνῶν δ᾽ ὁρμηθέντα ἐπὶ Δελφοὺς ταύτην ἰέναι τὴν ὁδόν, ᾗ νῦν Ἀθηναῖοι τὴν Πυθιάδα πέμπουσι.

mvp-comment-10-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 252

mvp-comment-10-2 μέγα: zu Cho.137 .

mvp-comment-11-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 253

mvp-comment-11-2 παῖδες Ηφαίστου: Schol. :

Die Athener, welche von Dichtern Ερεχθεῖδαι genannt werden ( Soph. Ai. 202 , Eur. Med. 824 ), können Hephästoskinder heifsen, weil Erichthonios, mit dem Erechtheus identifiziert wurde, als Sohn des Hephästos galt (daher auch θεῶν παῖδες Eur. Med. 825 ). Vgl. Hesych. Ἡφαιστιάδαι: Ἀθήναῖοι. Hier aber sind offenbar Leute mit Äxten d. i. Zimmerleute zu verstehen.

mvp-comment-12-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 253

mvp-comment-12-2 τιμαλφεῖ: über den Gebrauch dieses Wortes bei Äsch. bemerkt der Schol. zu 629 :

Vgl. noch 810, Ag. 913

τιμαλφής

frg. 53. Abgesehen von Späteren kommt das Wort auch bei Pindar vor.

mvp-comment-13-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 253

mvp-comment-13-2 Δελφός: Επαφρόδιτος ἐν ὑπομνήματι Καλλιμάχου αἰτίων β' φησί Μελανθοῦς τῆς Δευκαλίωνος καὶ Κηφισοῦ τοῦ ποταμοῦ γίνεται Μέλαινα τοὔνομα, Μελαίνης δὲ καὶ Ποσειδῶνος Δελφός, ἀφ᾽ οὗ οἱ Δελφοί. Schol.

mvp-comment-14-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 253

mvp-comment-14-2 νιν gehört sowohl zu κτίσας (mit φρένα, vgl. 88) als zu ΐζει. ἔνθεος τέχνης nach Analogie von ἔμπειρος.

mvp-comment-15-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 253

mvp-comment-15-2 Διὸς προφήτης: vgl. 621, frg 82 ταῦτα γὰρ πατὴρ Ζεὺς ἐγκαθίει Λοξία θεσπίσματα, Hymn. Hom. 1 132 χρήσω (Apollon spricht) δ' ἀνθρώποισι Διός νημερτέα βουλήν, ΙΙΙ 471 σὲ (Hermes zu Apollon) δέ φασι δαήμεναι ἐκ Διὸς ὀμφῆς μαντείας, Εκάεργε· Διὸς πάρα θέσφατα πάντα, Verg. Aen. III 251 quae Phoebo pater omnipotens, mihi Phoebus Apollo praedixit.

mvp-comment-16-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 253

mvp-comment-16-2 ἐν εὐχαῖς steht in Gegensatz zu dem folgenden ἐν λόγοις: den Gottheiten des Orakels selbst werden zuerst (als προοίμια) fromme Gebete geweiht; dann werden die übrigen Gottheiten des Ortes in Worten der Verehrung begrüfst. Παλλὰς προναία heifst sie nach der Lage ihres Heiligtums. Der Schol. erwähnt den Vers des Kallimachos :

. Vgl. Herod. VIII 37

τὸ ἱρὸν τῆς Προνηίης 'Ἀθηναίης,

Diod. ΧΙ 14 μέχρι τοῦ ναοῦ τῆς προναίας Ἀθηνάς, wie sich in delphischen Inschriften τῷ ᾿Αθάνα τα προναία findet (E. Curtius Anecd. Delph. p. 77 sq.). Über den Tempel Paus. X 8, 6 .

mvp-comment-17-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 253

mvp-comment-17-2 νύμφας ἔνθα (die Nymphen welche wohnen wo): eine ähnliche Brachylogie 689 σκηνάς, ὅτ᾽ ἦλθον, Soph. Trach. 240

: die Korykische Grotte am Parnafs oberhalb Delphi ( Herod. VIII 36 ) war den Nymphen und dem Pan geweiht, Soph. Ant. 1126

σὲ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ διλόφου πέτρας στέροψ ὄπωπε λιγνύς, ἔνθα Κωρύκιαι νύμφαι στείχουσι Βακχίδες

, Paus. X 32, 7 ἱερὸν δὲ αὐτὸ (nämlich τὸ Κωρύκιον ἄντρον) οἱ περὶ τὸν Παρνασὸν Κωρυκίων τε εἶναι νυμφῶν καὶ Πανὸς μάλιστα ἥγηνται. φίλορνις bezieht sich auf den Wald, welcher die Grotte umgiebt.

mvp-comment-18-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 254

mvp-comment-18-2 Βρόμιος: man glaubte öfter nächtlicher Weile Fackelglanz auf dem Parnafs wahrzunehmen, der von der Nachtfeier des Dionysos herrühren sollte. Soph. Ant. 1125 , Eur. Ion 716, 1125 , Phoen. 226, Aristoph. Frö. 1211 .

mvp-comment-19-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 254

mvp-comment-19-2 D. i. nachdem Dionysos an der Spitze der Bakchen den Pentheus im Kithäron überwunden, drang er bis zum Parnasse vor. Man braucht nicht mit dem Schol. anzunehmen, dafs der Untergang des Pentheus hier auf den Parnafs verlegt sei. Die Pentheussage hat Aschylos im Πενθεύς (und in den Ξάντριαι) wie Euripides in den Βάκχαι behandelt. Pentheus wird von Agane, Ino, Autonoe, welche ihn für ein wildes Tier halten, zerrissen; daher λαγὼ δίκην. ἐξ ούτε auch Pers. 764 . Sonst ὥστε Eum. 1025 , Sept. 488 , Pers. 300 u. öfter in lyrischen und anapästischen Partieen. Der V. 26 entbehrt der gewöhnlichen Cäsur. Vgl. Suppl. 920 , Pers. 254 , 355, 468, 504, 506, 512, 522, Prom. 667 .

mvp-comment-20-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 254

mvp-comment-20-2 Der Pleistos, jetzt Xeropotamos, war ein Flüfschen, das in der Nähe der Korykischen Grotte entsprang. Daher sind die Korykischen Nymphen die Töchter des Pleistos (Apoll. Rh. II 711). πηγάς ist wie κράτος und Δία von καλοῦσα abhängig. Poseidon hatte einen Altar im Tempel des Apollon, weil in der ältesten Zeit Poseidon Mitbesitzer des Orakels war, bis er dasselbe gegen Kalauria vertauschte (Schol., der einen Vers des Kallimachos anführt: μέσφα Καλαυρείης ἦλθεν ἐς ἀντίδοσιν, Paus. X 5, 6 u. 24, 4). καλοῦσα ἔπειτα wie Soph. Ai. 468

; wo auch das Zeitverhältnis durch εἶτα angegeben wird. — τέλειον wie Ag. 964 . Im Tempel zu Delphi stand ein Altar des Ζεὺς Μοιραγέτης (Paus. a. O.). Hier wird er als Ursprung aller Weissagung angerufen.

mvp-comment-20-3 ⁴

mvp-comment-21-1 ⁵

mvp-comment-21-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 254

mvp-comment-21-3 ἐς θρόνους d. i. auf den Dreifufs.

mvp-comment-21-4 ⁶

mvp-comment-22-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 254

mvp-comment-22-2 ,,Und mehr als jemals mögen sie meinen Eingang segnen." Über die Wendung τῶν πρὶν εἰσόδων ἄριστα (wie τὸ κάλλιστον τῶν προτέρων Soph. Ant. 102

Thuk. VII 66 , solus omnium ante se principum Tac. hist. I 50 ) Krüger I § 47, 28, 10 . τυχεῖν ἄριστα: zu Cho. 707 . μακρῷ ἄριστα wie Aristoph. 673

εὐνούστατος μακρῷ

.

mvp-comment-23-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 254

mvp-comment-23-2 ἴτων: ἴτωσαν. Ἀττικώτερον.Schol. Der Plural nach dem kollektiven τὶς wegen der Vorstellung: die Hellenen haben den Vortritt, unter sich aber sollen sie die Reihenfolge durch das Los bestimmen. Vgl. Eur. Ion 91

. Aber Delphi war auch, wie Liv. 38, 48 sagt, commune humani generis oraculum. Das Orakel wurde ursprünglich jährlich, später monatlich einmal befragt ( Plut. Mor. p. 292 ). Die Reihenfolge der Befragenden stellten vornehme Delpher durch das Los fest; das Losen wurde mit der Frage ὦ Τύχη καὶ Λοξία τῷδε (1. τῶνδε τίνι θεμι στεύεις; eingeleitet (Simplic. Phys. II p. 75). Daher μαντεύομαι θεός. Die Priesterin tritt ab und es folgt eine kleine Pause. Dann kommt sie voll Entsetzen wieder aus dem Tempel heraus, mit beiden Händen sich an ihrem Stabe aufrecht haltend.

mvp-comment-23-3 ⁷

mvp-comment-24-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 255

mvp-comment-24-2 δεινὰ . . δεινὰ δέ wie δεινὰ μὲν . . δεινὰ δέ.

mvp-comment-25-1 ⁸

mvp-comment-25-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 255

mvp-comment-25-3 ὡς, ὥστε. σωκεῖ· ἰσχύει Hesych. Also οὐ σωκεῖν „ohnmächtig sein". ἀκταίνειν: Schol. κουφίζειν, Hesych. μετεωρίζειν. In Bekk. Anecd. p. 23, 12 wird οὐκέτ᾽ ἀκταίνω als Ausdruck des Aschylos mit οὐκέτι δύναμαι ὀρθοῦν ἐμαυτήν und Etym. M. p. 54 ein Fragm. des Aschylos ἀκταῖνον μένος mit ἀνάγον καὶ δυνάμενον ἀνορθοῦν erklärt. Darnach bedeutet οὐκ ἀκταίνειν βάσιν nicht aufrecht gehen können".

mvp-comment-26-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 255

mvp-comment-26-2 Gegen die Ansicht des Schol. :

τεταραγμένη τετραποδηδὸν ἐκ τοῦ νεώ bemerkt mit Recht Hermann (nach Stanley): nihil aliud sacerdos indicat quam manuum adiumento sibi ad incedendum opus esse. Vgl. Eur. Hek. 1058 . Mit ποδωκεία σκελῶν vgl. 916 ἀστύνικον πόλιν, Sept. 207

αστυδρομουμέναν πόλιν

, 716 κτεάνων χρηματοδαίτας.

mvp-comment-27-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 255

mvp-comment-27-2 γραῦς: nach Diod. XVI 26 waren im Anfang die Priesterinnen Jungfrauen; nach der Entführung einer Priesterin aber beschlossen die Delpher, nur Frauen über 50 Jahren das Priesteramt anzuvertrauen. Diesen Gebrauch der späteren Zeit verlegt Aschylos in das Altertum. οὐδέν: Suppl. 757

, Eur. Iph. T. 115 δειλοὶ δ᾽ εἰσὶν οὐδὲν οὐδαμοῦ. ἀντίπαις wie ἀντίκεντρα 136, ἀντίδουλος Cho. 135 . μὲν οὖν (immo vero) wie Ag. 1075 , 1395.

mvp-comment-28-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 255

mvp-comment-28-2 Die Orakelstätte war, wie in Theben der Vogelschauersitz des Tiresias ( Eur. Bakch. 350 ), mit στέμ ματα (wollenen Binden) gekennzeichnet. Vgl. Einl. S. 17 N. 2. Eur. Ion 222

, 1309 ΚΡ. ἤν γ᾽ ἐντὸς ἀδύτων τῶνδέ με σφάξαι θέλῃς. ΙΩΝ. τίς ἡδονή σοι θεοῦ θανεῖν ἐν στέμμασι; Aristoph. Plut. 39

τί δῆτα Φοῖβος ἔλακεν ἐκ τῶν στεμ μάτων; μυχόν

und ὀμφαλῷ wie Cho. 953 . Die Auflösung im fünften Furse ist wie Prom.52 gebildet.

mvp-comment-29-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 255

mvp-comment-29-2 ἕδραν προστρόπαιον: dafs Orestes als Schutzflehender dort kniet, verrät besonders der Zweig, von dem weifse wollene Bänder herabhängen. Vgl. Cho. 1033 , Soph. Oed. T. 2 τίνας ποθ᾽ ἕδρας τάσδε μοι θοάζετε ἱκτηρίοις κλάδοισιν ἐξεστεμμένοι; αἵματι στάζοντα χεῖρας wie Soph. Ai. 10

, wofür Burges νεοσταγές vermutet, verbindet zwei Vorstellungen:,,gezückt und von frischem Blut gerötet".

mvp-comment-30-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 256

mvp-comment-30-2 Vgl. zu Cho. 1033 .

mvp-comment-31-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 256

mvp-comment-31-2 λῆνος wird als minder gewöhnliches, vielleicht sakrales Wort im folg. V. erklärt. Vgl. Sept. 476

. Zwischen μεγίστῳ und σωφρόνως besteht scheinbar ein Widerspruch, in Wirklichkeit nicht, weil hier die Gröfse (die Länge der wollenen Binden) ein Kennzeichen der Unterwürfigkeit ist.

mvp-comment-32-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 256

mvp-comment-32-2 Γοργόνας: sie gleichen den Gorgonen durch die Schlangenhaare und die dunklen Gewänder. Vgl. zu Cho. 1046 u. 1048. Äschylos giebt hier welchen Gestalten er die Elemente seines Furienbildes entnommen hat. Hom. E 741 Γοργείη κεφαλὴ δεινοῖο πελώρου δεινή τε σμερδνή τε, Διός τέρας αιγιόχοιο.

mvp-comment-32-3 ⁹

mvp-comment-33-1 ¹⁰

mvp-comment-33-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 256

mvp-comment-33-3 D. i. und doch weicht ihre Gestalt auch wieder von der der Gorgonen ab. Vgl. die ähnliche Darstellung Suppl. 285

mvp-comment-34-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 256

mvp-comment-34-2 γεγραμμένας d. i. gemalte weibliche Wesen. Ähnlich Eur. Ion 209

; Durch Φινέως δεῖπνον φερούσας (άρπαζούσας) sind sie hinreichend als die Harpyien gekennzeichnet. ,,Flügel allerdings haben diese nicht (insofern gleichen sie den Harpyien nicht), schwarz aber, durchaus scheufslich sind sie (insofern gleichen sie ihnen). ἄπτεροι: vgl. 250. Dagegen Eur. Or. 317 δρομά δες ὦ πτεροφόροι ποτνιάδες θεαί .. μελάγχρωτες Εὐμενίδες. Dunkel sind die Erinyen als die Kinder der Nacht (69). Eur. Or. 408 νυκτὶ προσφερεῖς κόρας. Nicht nur die Kleidung (353, Cho. 1047 ), sondern auch die Hautfarbe ( Eur. El. 1345 χρῶτα κελαιναί, Or. 321 μελάγχρωτες) ist schwarz, wiewohl Aristoph. Plut. 422 f. der Erinye in der Tragödie Blässe des Gesichts zugeschrieben wird. Von den Harpyien haben sie vielleicht auch lange Krallen an den Fingern und struppige Haare.

mvp-comment-35-1 ¹¹

mvp-comment-35-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 256

mvp-comment-35-3 ἀπλάτοισι : Prom. 387

und τη φυσιάμασιν Hor. sat. II 8, 95 velut illis Canidia adflasset peior serpentibus Afris.

mvp-comment-36-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 257

mvp-comment-36-2 κόσμος: Strabon III p. 175 τὰς δ᾽ ἄλλας (nämlich τὰς Καττιτερίδας) οἰκοῦσιν ἄνθρωποι μελάγ χλαινοι, ποδήρεις ἐνδεδυκότες χιτῶνας, ἐζωσμένοι περὶ τὰ στέρνα, μετὰ ῥάβδων περιπατοῦντες ὅμοιοι ταῖς τραγικαῖς Ποιναῖς. Der Gürtel, welchen sie um das lange dunkle Gewand tragen, ist nach Diog. L. VI 102 purpurrot ( ζώνη φοινική). κόσμος φέρειν δίκαιος für κόσμον φέρειν δίκαιόν ἐστι wie Hom. X 13

, Soph. Oed. K. 37 ἔχεις γὰρ χῶρον οὐχ ἁγνὸν πατεῖν.

mvp-comment-37-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 257

mvp-comment-37-2 Geschlecht und Art dieser Gesellschaft habe ich noch nicht gesehen. Hom. E 441 οὔποτε φύλον ὁμοῖον ἀθανάτων τε θεῶν χαμαὶ ἐρχομένων τ᾿ ἀνθρώπων.

mvp-comment-38-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 257

mvp-comment-38-2 οὐδὲ, nämlich ὄπωπα ( οἶδα).

mvp-comment-39-1 ¹²

mvp-comment-39-2 Wecklein 1888, p. 257

mvp-comment-39-3 πόνον· τὸν τῆς ἀνατροφῆς Schol.

mvp-comment-40-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 257

mvp-comment-40-2 Λοξία μεγασθενεῖ wie Cho. 268

.

mvp-comment-41-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 257

mvp-comment-41-2 ἰατρόμαντις wie Suppl. 269

Aristoph. Plut. 11

ἰατρὸς ὢν καὶ μάντις

.

mvp-comment-42-1 Wecklein 1888, p. 257

mvp-comment-42-2 τοῖσιν ἄλλοις: er möge also auch für die Reinheit seines Hauses sorgen. Apollon, der Gott des Lichtes, ist vorzugsweise der reinigende und sühnende Gott, wie sich besonders an seine Feste Reinigungen und Sühnungen anknüpften. Nachdem die Priesterin in ihre Äschylos, Qrestie, v. WECKLEIN. Wohnung (zu 1) zurückgegangen ist, wird das Innere des Heiligtums sichtbar: στραφέντα μηχανήματα ἔνδηλα ποιεῖ τὰ κατὰ τὸ μαντείον ὡς ἔχει. καὶ γίνεται ὄψις τραγική τὸ μὲν ξίφος ἡμαγμένον ἔτι κατέχων Ὀρέστης, αἳ δὲ κύκλῳ φρουροῦσαι αὐτόν Schol. Nach diesen Worten zu schliefsen, kam nicht das ἐκκύκλημα zur Anwendung, sondern das στροφεῖον, das die Bestimmung hatte eine Fernsicht zu geben, dessen Beschaffenheit aber aus der Beschreibung bei Poll. IV 132 nicht klar wird. Man erblickt nach der Drehung der Maschinerie sofort Apollon, dem Hermes zur Seite steht, und vor Apollon den Orestes in schutzflehender Stellung. Darum erwidern die ersten Worte des Apollon die Bitte des Orestes. Auch die 282 f. erwähnte Reinigung des Orestes mufs als vorhergegangen (zwischen 34 und 63) gedacht werden. Im Hintergrunde sitzen um den weifsen Stein, welcher den ὀμφαλὸς γῆς vorstellt (40), auf welchem der mit Wolle umwickelte Ölzweig des Orestes (43) liegt, auf Stühlen die schlafenden Erinyen

mvp-sidgwick-4-1-1 The dramatic particle δή probably here merely anticipates ὡς λόγος τις.

μητρός , mother of Themis; not the general meaning Mother Earth. It is a striking evidence of the fluctuating character of these genealogies that the poet elsewhere ( Prom. 209 ) speaks of Earth and Themis as the same; one form of many names.

ἕζετο with acc. Cf. Ag. 183 σέλμα σεμνὸν ἡμένων, 664 ναῦν ἐφέζετο.

λάχει , lot; vivid poetic for in the third place, third in order.

θελούσης , οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός, with her good will, neither in despite of any. Aeschylus uses this stately emphasis because he is following (or inventing) a different story from what was apparently the received version: for Pindar says (quoted by Schol.) that Apollo by force occupied Pytho: and Eurip. (Iph. Τ. 1259) says,

But this savage and doubtless older story was not suitable to the poet's purpose: the sanctity and dignity of the oracle (ideas which are required for the plot) are averse from such violence.

mvp-sidgwick-6-1-1 The Titans were according to the oldest story six sons and six daughters of Ouranos and Gaia: the author of the Theogony gives the list (Hes. Theog. 134), mentioning both Themis and Phoibe. According to same ancient source (Theog. 403) Phoibe (by Koios the Titan) was mother of Leto, hence grandmother of Phoibos; and so by custom gave the infant Phoibos both a birthday gift (7), and his name (8).

ἥ , she. Epic demonstrative use of ὅς, surviving in ἢ δ᾽ ὅς, ὃς δ᾽

ἔφη ( said he).

δίδωσι , gives it, the oracle.

γενέθλιον δόσιν . There were two birth-festivals at Athens-the ἀμφιδρόμια, when the infant was carried round the hearth on the seventh (or fifth day), and the δεκάτη, tenth-day festival, when it was named and formally recognised by the father. On both occasions, especially the latter, presents were given.

παρώνυμον , made like to hers.

λίμνη , the circular or rather oval tarn in the north of the island, often referred to by ancient writers ( Eur. Ion 167 , Iph. Taur. 1104 , Herod. 2. 170, etc.), and apparently connected with the birth of Apollo.

χοιράς , 's back,hog lit., i.e. ridge or rock, of Mount Kynthos.

mvp-sidgwick-10-1-1 The ship-frequented shores of Pallas are Attica, regarded as specially the land of Pallas Athene.

mvp-sidgwick-11-1-1 Delphi is called the shrine of Parnassus as being at the foot of that Mountain. ll. 13, 14

. The Athenians are called, in Aeschylus' grand style, 'the sons of Hephaistos, hewers of the road, making tame the wild land.' There was a sacred way from Athens to Delphi, and Athenian tradition evidently affirmed that it had been made of old by Athenians for Apollo. The Schol. mentions an interesting ceremonial, plainly a survival, bearing on this tradition, that when Athens sent a mission to Delphi, the sacred ambassadors were preceded by men with axes. (The Boeotian Pindar, on the other hand, makes Apollo start from Tanagra in Boeotia, according to the Schol.).

παῖδες Ἡφαίστου , because Hephaistos was father of Erichthonios, mythical king of Athens. The title is peculiarly appropriate to the hewers of the way, as Hephaistos was the god who invented many of the tools and the arts of civilised life.

mvp-sidgwick-12-1-1 Making tame, i, e. evidently clearing and settling; not only (as Schol.) from robbers.'

Δελφός , the king and eponymous' hero of Delphians.

κτίζω , properly to build, a favourite word of Aeschylus, often used as a stately synonym for to make: e.g. Pers. 289

Cho. 1060

ἐλεύθερόν σε κτίσει,

Eum. 714 μηδ᾽ ἀκαρπώτους κτίσαι.

προφήτης , the spokesman, the interpreter of Zeus. So he says in a fragment (79) Ζεὺς ἐγκαθίει Λοξίᾳ θεσπίσματα. So Verg. A. 3. 251 Quae Phoebo pater omnipotens, mihi Phoebus Apollo Praedixit.

Παλλὰς προναία , Pallas of the precincts; the name of a temple of Athena near the great sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. It is mentioned by Herodotus in this form (

l. 92 , and there exist two Delphic inscriptions containing it (ΠΡΟΝΑΙA): but it seems to have been afterwards corrupted into πρόνοια, the shape in which the name of Athena at Delphi appears in Demosthenes (780), Aeschines (Ctes. 69), and Pausanias (10.8.7). Some people suppose two Delphic Athenas, προναία and πρόνοια: but this, though possible, is hardly likely. The learned Alexandrine poet Callimachus (250 B.C.) has the old form (προναίην, quoted by Schol.).

Κωρυκίς . The Korykian cavern was a remarkable cave high up in Parnassus, seven miles from Delphi: the cavern contains two large chambers 100 and 200 feet long respectively: it was the refuge of the Delphians in the Persian invasion (Herod. 8. 36), and more than once when their country was invaded. It was sacred to Pan and the nymphs.

φίλορνις , loved of birds, using the shelter for roosting and building.

φἀναστροφή , abode, haunt. The verb ἀναστρέφεσθαι is common for to be engaged in, to live ; ἐν φανερῷ, ἐν ᾿Αργει, ἐν μέσῳ, ἐν ξυμμαχίᾳ, etc. (versari Latin).

Βρόμιος , a common title of Bacchus. Aeschylus in glorifying Delphi fixes there the scene of the great vengeance of Bacchus on Pentheus. [Pentheus, king of Thebes, forbade and tried to prevent the worship of Bacchus; but the god drove mad with Bacchic frenzy the women, including Agaue Pentheus' mother, and they tore the king in pieces.] Euripides in the Bacchae makes Kithairon (between Attica and Boeotia) the scene, and Schol. says that Aeschylus himself also follows this tradition in the lost play Ξαντρίαι.

οὗτε , Epic form of rel. common in Aeschylus. (

Pers. 297 , αἵτε Eum. 1024,

ἐξ οὗτε

Pers. 762 ,

ἅτε

Cho. 615 , etc.)

λαγὼ δίκην , like a hare, i. e. they tore him as dogs a hare. [Scholiast's int. crouching like a hare is frigid and absurd.] Notice absence of caesura; Ag. 943 , Cho. 493 .

Πλειστός , a small river south of Delphi: Apollonius (2.711) speaks of Korykian nymphs daughters of Pleistos.

Ποσειδώνος : there was an altar of Poseidon at Delphi. [There were various old traditions about Poseidon having once possessed Delphi and exchanged it for other places, which may be connected with his worship there.]

τέλειον , the fulfiller: so Ag. 973

Abridged , but quite intelligible, expression for 'May I find this time better response than I found in my former entrances to the shrine.'

τυχεῖν με , acc. inf. of prayer, common constr. with or without δός or

(Cho. 307 , O. C. 868 , etc.). For acc. ἄριστα with τυχεῖν, cf. Ag. 1228 .

πάρ' , are here, for πάρεισιν, is commonly read here. But it is more natural to take παρά as a preposition; and it is quite easy to understand are come.

ἴτων , rare form for ἰόντων ος ἴτωσαν.

μαντεύεσθαι . is used both of prophesying and consulting the god, or getting a prophecy. Here both would suit, but the former is the sense in which Aeschylus uses the word elsewhere.

ὡς ἄν , according as, indef. relat. use. [She passes into the temple, and there is a pause : then she comes out horror-stricken and half fainting.]

δεινά . is nom. λέξαι and δρακεῖν epex. inf. after the adj. Things terrible to tell of, terrible to behold have sent me back, etc.

ὥς , Epic for ὥστε, common in Trag., esp. in Aeschylus (e.g. Ag. 358, 546, 575, 665, 1381 ).

σωκεῖν , to be strong.

ἀκταίνω , a unique word of which the meaning is disputed. The Schol. and old lexicons give (1) to uplift, or be uplifted. (2) to exult, prance (γαυριᾶν), leap violently (ἀτάκτως πηδᾶν). The sense however requires, not, 'I can't move violently, but rather I can hardly move at all: it is best therefore to take ἀκταίνω, to lift. βάσιν, my step: this is a correction in the best MS., all the texts reading στάσιν, (which is perhaps possible, and then to uplift my standing would mean to stand upright;) but βάσιν is easier and far more likely.

χερσίν , by aid of hands: holding on, to support her failing limbs. [Schol. actually says she comes out on all fours, τετραποδηδόν!!]

ἀντίπαιs , rather a strange compound, the preposition ἀντί governing (so to speak) the waῖς, and not some word outside as usual. Aeschylus is fond of these compounds : ἀντίκεντρον 136, 466,

Ag. 406 ,

ἀντήνωρ

ib. 443 ,

ἀντίδουλος

Cho. 135 .

μὲν οὖν , corrective, as usual. Nay, she is as a child.

mvp-sidgwick-32-1-1 The inner sanctuary of Delphi (μυχός) contained the statue of Apollo: the ὀμφαλός, see next note: the altar with the eternal fire, fed only with fir-wood; and the roof all hung with garlands (πολυστεφή). In the centre was the chasm with the tripod where the priestess sate, and inhaled the intoxicating fumes of the smoke which came up from below.

ὀμφαλός , navel, was the name given to Delphi, as the centre of the earth, and particularly (as here) to a white stone in the μυχός of the temple¹. Strabo (9. 3.) tells us that

was shown in the temple; and Pausanias (10. 16. 3) reports that

the Delphians said their ὀμφαλός, which was made of white stone, was the centre of the earth, and quoted from Pindar a passage which agreed with their account.

¹ The ὀμφαλός as a round or oval object is often found on coins or vases or sculptures relating to Delphi.

μέν answers δέ l. 46

.

προστρόπαιον , lit. turning toward, hence suppliant. The supplication might be for vengeance (as Ag. 1587 , Cho. 286 ), or more commonly for purification, as here. Hence the word contracts another meaning, guilty; see below ll. 234, 237

.

mvp-sidgwick-34-2-1 Some take it here agreeing with ἄνδρα; but rhythm and order indicate that it goes with ἕδραν, a suppliant seat; so Soph. O. C. 1309 , π. λιταί.

mvp-sidgwick-35-1-1 The olive-branch, with tufts of wool attached, was the regular sign of the suppliant :

Suppl. 23 ,

κλάδοις κατάσκιον ὅμιλον

ib. 354 ,

ἱκτηρίοις κλάδοισιν ἐξεστεμμένοι

Ο. Τ. 3 .

σωφρόνως seems to mean duly, piously.

mvp-sidgwick-36-1-1 For so will I plainly tell, i. e. about the suppliant there was nothing strange : the horrible and mysterious part of the sight she goes on to describe.

λόχος , troop: for the number of the Eumenides see Introduction.

Γοργόνας . : Aeschylus, Prometheus 899,

and the Furies are compared to them, Cho. 1047,

In dusky robes and twined with many snakes, like Gorgons.

mvp-sidgwick-39-1-1 If this line is right the substantive is understood: [Monsters] have I seen ere now in a picture, snatching the feast of Phineus, i.e. the Harpies.

mvp-sidgwick-39-2-1 The Harpyiae are in Homer simply the spirits of the storm who are said to have carried off those who disappear suddenly (e. g. Od. 1. 241). The story is told by later writers as follows: Phineus, king of Thrace, being falsely told that his sons were conspiring to corrupt their stepmother, put out their eyes. The gods in wrath blinded him, and sent loathsome monsters, the Harpies, to snatch away his banquet. The best known account is Vergil's, Aen. 3. 212.

mvp-sidgwick-39-3-1 [Herm. and others thinking the omission of the subst. too harsh, suppose a line lost; but it would be difficult to write one which would not separate δεῖπνον too much from Φινέως. Schol. plainly had our text.]

γε μήν , yet, adversative as usual: γε μέντοι, γε μὲν δή (and in Homer γε μέν), also used in the same way. So

Ρ. V. 871 ,

σὺν χρόνῳ γε μήν

Ag. 1378 .

οὐ πλατοῖσι , unapproachable: for the breath was deadly with blood and fire, and withered up what it touched (138). MSS. read πλαστοῖσι, feigned: but the other is far more forcible.

κόσμος , their garb.

mvp-sidgwick-43-1-1 i. e. I know not the race nor land whence this company are sprung.

μὴ μεταστένειν πόνον , without repenting of its toil, is an elaborate repetition and explanation of ἀνατί, unharmed. [The inf. is literally the object of ἐπεύχεται : boasts that having reared... it does not repent, i. e. boasts to rear without repenting].

mvp-sidgwick-45-1-1 The horror and pollution of these monsters is too fearful: she will leave it to Apollo himself, who as seer (τερασκόπος) will understand, as prophet-healer (ἰατρόμαντις) will cure, as καθάρσιος will purify.

mvp-sidgwick-46-1-1 [The priestess retires: the scene shifts and shews the interior of the shrine: Orestes with a bloody sword seated on the ὀμφαλός, Apollo and Hermes standing by: the chorus of Furies asleep all about on stone seats or the floor.]