Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), 22.8.33

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Chapter

← Previous Next →

[33] At no great distance from these are the Tauri, divided into various kingdoms, among whom the Arichi, the Sinchi, and the Napaei are terrible for their ruthless cruelty, and since long continued license has increased their savageness, they have given the sea the name of Inhospitable; but in irony¹ it is called by the contrary name of Pontus εὔξεινος,² just as we Greeks call a fool εὐήθης, and night εὐφρόνη, and the Furies εὐμενίδες.³

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 22.8.33 focus

[33] A quibus per varia regna diducti itineribus modicis Tauri dissociantur, inter quos immani diritate terribiles Arichi¹ et Sinchi et Napaei, intendente saevitiam licentia diuturna, indidere mari nomen inhospitali, et a contrario per cavillationem Pontus Εὔξεινος appellatur, ut εὐήθη Graeci dicimus stultum et noctem εὐφρόνην, et furias εὐμενίδας.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. The principle is probably irony in some cases, but in the case of the Furies it appears to be euphemism. Sometimes we have neither; cf. Plutarch, De Curios. 12, who says that some of the Greeks call night εὐφρόνη ( kindly), because it brings good and salutary resolves; others, because it invites gaiety or refreshes the body.

2. Hospitable. Cf. Ovid, Tristia, iv. 4, 55 f.,

frigida me cohibent Euxini litora Ponti, dictus ab antiquis Axenus

(inhospitable)

ille fuit.

3. εὐήθης, Good-natured, εὐφρόνη, the well-wisher, and εὐμενίδες, kindly goddesses. There seem to be varying motives here; see note 1.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 22.8.33

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers