Humanitext Reader

Theophrastus · Fragments §139.1

The Ostracism of Hyperbolus and Rival Candidates

Passage 144 of 196 · Greek

Summary

The author notes that while Theophrastus claims Phaeax, not Nicias, was Alcibiades' rival when Hyperbolus was ostracized, the majority of writers have written otherwise, supporting the common view.

§139.1Fr. 139 Οὐκ ἀγνοῶ ὅτι Θ. ἐξοστρακισθῆναί φησι τὸν Ἡπέρβολον Φαίακος, οὐ Νικίου, πρὸς Ἀλκιβιάδην ἐρίσαντος, ἀλλʼ οἱ πλείους οὕτω γεγράφασιν.
Fr. 139 I am not unaware that Theophrastus says that Hyperbolus was ostracized when Phaeax, not Nicias, contended against Alcibiades, but the majority have written thus.

Notes

  1. §139.1Θ. — Abbreviation for the proper name Θεόφραστος (Theophrastus), as is clear from the context of the preceding fragment 138.
  2. §139.1Φαίακος, οὐ Νικίου, πρὸς Ἀλκιβιάδην ἐρίσαντος — A genitive absolute construction. The subject is Φαίακος, with οὐ Νικίου inserted contrastively ("not Nicias"). This indicates that Theophrastus held a different view (Phaeax) from the common opinion (Nicias) regarding who politically contended with Alcibiades.
  3. §139.1οὕτω — Adverb meaning "thus" or "in this way." Here, rather than referring to Theophrastus's view (that Phaeax contended), it corresponds to the contrasted phrase "not Nicias" (οὐ Νικίου), indicating that the majority of writers have written "thus"—namely, that Nicias was the one who contended.

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §139.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:139.1

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.