Humanitext Reader

Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §2.38.1-2.38.2

Athenian Recreation, Festivals, and Global Commerce

Passage 184 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Pericles describes how Athenian citizens refresh their minds from labors through festivals, games, and elegant private settings, and how the greatness of their city allows them to enjoy the goods of the entire world as naturally as their own.

§2.38.1‘καὶ μὴν καὶ τῶν πόνων πλείστας ἀναπαύλας τῇ γνώμῃ ἐπορισάμεθα, ἀγῶσι μέν γε καὶ θυσίαις διετησίοις νομίζοντες, ἰδίαις δὲ κατασκευαῖς εὐπρεπέσιν, ὧν καθ’ ἡμέραν ἡ τέρψις τὸ λυπηρὸν ἐκπλήσσει. §2.38.2ἐπεσέρχεται δὲ διὰ μέγεθος τῆς πόλεως ἐκ πάσης γῆς τὰ πάντα, καὶ ξυμβαίνει ἡμῖν μηδὲν οἰκειοτέρᾳ τῇ ἀπολαύσει τὰ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὰ γιγνόμενα καρποῦσθαι ἢ καὶ τὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων.
‘Moreover, we have provided for our minds very many recreations from our labors, by celebrating games and sacrifices throughout the year, and by elegant private establishments, the daily delight of which dispels our sadness. And because of the greatness of our city, all things from every land flow in upon us, and it is our fortune to enjoy the goods produced at home with a relish in no way more familiar than those of other men.

Notes

  1. §2.38.1νομίζοντες — The participle νομίζοντες is used with the dative (ἀγῶσι... καὶ θυσίαις) in the sense of 'observing (customs/festivals) or practicing.' It functions as an adverbial participle of means modifying ἐπορισάμεθα.
  2. §2.38.2αὐτοῦ — This is not the genitive of the personal pronoun ('of him'), but the local adverb meaning 'here, on the spot, at home.' Positioned between τὰ and ἀγαθὰ, it modifies γιγνόμενα, meaning 'the goods produced here/at home.'
  3. §2.38.2μηδὲν οἰκειοτέρᾳ τῇ ἀπολαύσει — 'With an enjoyment (τῇ ἀπολαύσει) in no way more familiar/intimate (μηδὲν οἰκειοτέρᾳ).' Combined with the comparative particle ἢ, it expresses that they enjoy imported goods of other nations just as familiarly and naturally as if they were their own domestic products.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §2.38.1-2.38.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.38.1-2.38.2

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