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Theophrastus · Fragments §121.1

Grapevine Sap and Why the Nymphs Nurse Dionysus

Passage 126 of 196 · Greek

Summary

Theophrastus explains that the nymphs are truly the nurses of Dionysus, arguing that grapevines naturally shed a vast amount of moisture and tears when pruned.

§121.1Fr. 121 Θ. δʼ ἐν τῷ περὶ μέθης φησὶν ὅτι τοῦ Διονύσου τροφοὶ αἱ νύμφαι κατʼ ἀλήθειαν· αἱ γὰρ ἄμπελοι πλεῖστον ὑγρὸν χέουσι τεμνόμεναι καὶ κατὰ φύσιν δακρύουσιν.
But Theophrastus in his *On Drunkenness* says that the nymphs are in truth the nurses of Dionysus; for vines, when they are pruned, pour out a great deal of moisture and naturally shed tears.

Notes

  1. §121.1τοῦ Διονύσου τροφοὶ αἱ νύμφαι — "αἱ νύμφαι" with the definite article is the subject, and "τροφοὶ" is the predicate noun. "τοῦ Διονύσου" is an objective genitive dependent on "τροφοὶ". This plays on the mythological concept of the nymphs (representing water) nursing Dionysus (representing wine), referencing the mixing of water and wine.
  2. §121.1τεμνόμεναι — Present passive participle of "τέμνω" (to cut, prune), in the feminine nominative plural, agreeing with the subject "αἱ ἄμπελοι". It functions as an adverbial participle of time ("when they are pruned").

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §121.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:121.1

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