Flatterers and Courtesans at the Ptolemaic Court — Polybius, The Histories Book 14 (14.11.1–14.11.5), Greek & English

§14.11.1

Πολύβιος ἐν τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ φησὶν Ἀγαθοκλέους¹ τοῦ Οἰνάνθης υἱοῦ, ἑταίρου δὲ τοῦ Φιλοπάτορος βασιλέως, κόλακα γενέσθαι Φίλωνα. —

Polybius in his fourteenth book says that Philon became a flatterer of Agathocles, the son of Oenanthe, and companion of king Philopator. —

§14.11.2

Πολύβιος δὲ ἐν τῇ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃ τῶν ἱστοριῶν Κλεινοῦς φησι τῆς οἰνοχοούσης αὑτῷ Πτολεμαίῳ τῷ Φιλαδέλφῳ εἰκόνας πολλὰς ἀνακεῖσθαι κατὰ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν μονοχίτωνας καὶ ῥυτὸν ἐχούσας² ἐν ταῖς χερσίν.

And Polybius in the fourteenth book of his Histories says that many statues of Cleino, who poured wine for Ptolemy Philadelphus himself, are dedicated throughout Alexandria, wearing only a chiton and holding a rhyton in their hands.

§14.11.3

αἱ δὲ κάλλισται τῶν οἰκιῶν, φησίν, οὐ Μυρτίου καὶ Μνησίδος καὶ Ποθεινῆς προσαγορεύονται;

”And are not the most beautiful of houses,” he says, “named after Myrtion, Mnesis, and Potheine?”

§14.11.4

καίτοι Μνησὶς μὲν ἦν αὐλητρὶς καὶ Ποθεινή. Μύρτιον δὲ μία τῶν ἀποδεδειγμένων καὶ κοινῶν δεικτηριάδων.

And yet, Mnesis was a flute-player, and so was Potheine; while Myrtion was one of those publicly registered, common prostitutes.

§14.11.5

τοῦ δὲ Φιλοπάτορος βασιλέως Πτολεμαίου³ οὐκ Ἀγαθόκλεια ἡ ἑταίρα ἐκράτει ἡ καὶ πᾶσαν ἀνατρέψασα τὴν βασιλείαν; —

And did not the courtesan Agathocleia rule over king Ptolemy Philopator, she who also overturned the entire kingdom? —

Syntax notes3 items

14.11.1Ἀγαθοκλέους
The genitive Ἀγαθοκλέους depends on the accusative predicate noun κόλακα ('flatterer'). Meanwhile, Φίλωνα functions as the subject accusative of the infinitive γενέσθαι.
14.11.2μονοχίτωνας καὶ ῥυτὸν ἐχούσας
These accusative feminine plurals agree with the accusative subject εἰκόνας ('statues'), not with the name Κλεινοῦς (genitive singular), indicating that the statues themselves depict her wearing a chiton and holding a rhyton.
14.11.5τοῦ δὲ Φιλοπάτορος βασιλέως Πτολεμαίου
This genitive phrase functions as the object of the verb ἐκράτει ('ruled over'), as the verb κρατέω regularly governs the genitive case.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-10-09)

2026-10-09 Collated with the printed edition — source 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:14.11.1-14.11.5