The Greek Anthology Book V (Amatory Epigrams) • My soul was on my lips as I was kissing Agathon. Poor soul! she came hoping to cross over to him. :: :::. ::
Agathon, an Athenian tragic poet, appeared in Plato's
Symposium.
John Madison Cooper remarks that it is "odd to find Plato... speaking in erotic terms of Agathon and Phaedrus as desirable youths" as they were was two decades older than Plato.
Greek Anthology, v, 80.
Book VI (Dedicatory Epigrams) • I, Laïs, whose haughty beauty made mock of Greece, I who once had a swarm of young lovers at my doors, dedicate my mirror to Aphrodite, since I wish not to look on myself as I am, and cannot look on myself as I once was. :: :::, ::: :::. ::A reference to either of the courtesans
Lais of Corinth or
Lais of Hyccara, the two being historically confused in ancient literature, and therefore inextricably linked.
Greek Anthology, vi, 1. • Some traveller, who stilled here his tormenting thirst in the heat, moulded in bronze and dedicated ex voto this servant of the Nymphs, the damp songster who loves the rain, the frog who takes joy in light fountains; for it guided him to the water, as he wandered, singing opportunely with its amphibious mouth from the damp hollow. Then, not deserting the guiding voice, he found the drink he longed for. ::, ::: :::, :::: ::: :::. ::: :::. ::
Greek Anthology, vi, 43.
Book VII (Sepulchral Epigrams) • Congenial to strangers and dear to his countrymen was this man, Pindar, the servant of the sweet-voiced Muses. ::, :::. ::To
Pindar, a lyric poet, whose association with the
Muses is a compliment to his skill. Attributed in the
Greek Anthology to Leonidas. Attributed to Plato by
J. M. Edmonds.
Greek Anthology, vii, 35. • The Fates decreed tears for
Hecuba and the Trojan women even at the hour of their birth; and after thou, Dio, hadst triumphed in the accomplishment of noble deeds, the gods spilt all thy far-reaching hopes. But thou liest in thy spacious city, honoured by thy countrymen, Dio, who didst madden my soul with love. :: :::: ::: :::: :::, :::. ::To
Dion of Syracuse, the political figure of
Syracuse whose campaign is discussed at length in the Platonic
Epistles, or Letters. The Trojan loss of the
Trojan war, as described in the
Iliad, explains the decree of tears for Hecuba, Queen of Troy, and the women of Troy at the hands of the
Fates, who represent the harsher inevitabilities of the human condition, such as death and destiny. Diogenes Laërtius reports this epigram was inscribed on the tomb of Dion at Syracuse. writing "the poems quoted are so good that they cannot be the work of a forger."
Denys Page argued Aster was not a real person, and that the epigrams were probably not authentic.
Greek Anthology, xvi, 13. • Paphian
Cytherea came through the waves to Cnidus, wishing to see her own image, and having viewed it from all sides in its open shrine, she cried, "Where did Praxiteles see me naked?" Praxiteles did not look on forbidden things, but the steel carved the Paphian as Ares would have her. :: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::The goddess Cytherea (
Aphrodite) views the sculpture
Aphrodite of Knidos (
Cnidus), sculpted by
Praxiteles, and acknowledges it as a perfect likeness. The sculpture is now lost but was often copied. "Paphian" is a reference to the Aphrodite, who, according to legend,
rose from the sea at
Paphos, southwestern
Cyprus. The
W. R. Paton edition of the
Greek Anthology states the last couplet is a later edition: "We know from Pliny that the shrine in which the statue stood was open on all sides."
Greek Anthology, xvi, 160. From Book IV of the Planudean Anthology, Epigrams on monuments, statues, etc. • Neither did Praxiteles nor the chisel work thee, but so thou standest as of old when thou camest to judgment. :: ::: :: Also attributed to Plato the Younger. and also by
Thomas Magister in his
Life of Aristophanes. • A
blind man carried a lame man on his back, lending him his feet and borrowing from him his eyes. ::Greek Anthology, ix, 13. • On Dionysus carved on an Amethyst: The stone is amethyst, but I am the toper Dionysus. Either let it teach me to be sober, or learn itself to get drunk. ::Amethyst means "Against drunkenness". Greek Anthology, ix, 748. • The stone is
Hyacinthus, and on it are Apollo and Daphne. Of which was Apollo rather the lover? ::The stone is made of
jacinth. Greek Anthology, ix, 751. •
On a Satyr chased on a Cup: Droporus did not engrave this Satyr, but sent him to sleep. Prod him and you will wake him up: the silver is asleep. ::Also attributed to Antipater. Greek Anthology, xvi, 248.
Posidippus or Plato the Comic Poet • What path of life should one pursue? In the market-place are broils and business difficulties, and at home are anxieties; in the country there is too much labour, and at sea there is fear. In a foreign land there is apprehension if you possess anything, and if you are ill off, life is a burden. You are married? You won't be without cares. You are unmarried? You live a still more lonely life. Children are a trouble, and a childless life is a crippled one. Youth is foolish, and old age again is feeble. There is then, it seems, a choice between two things, either not to be born or to die at once on being born. ::Attributed to
Posidippus or
Plato the Comic Poet. Greek Anthology, ix, 359. ==Notes==