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Theophrastus · Fragments §147.1

Anecdote on Sexual Impotence and Fear of Effeminacy

Passage 152 of 196 · Greek

Summary

This fragment records an anecdote, via Theophrastus, that people were concerned that a certain man might become effeminate because he was not in a good condition regarding sexual matters.

§147.1Fr. 147 Εὐλαβοῦντο γὰρ μὴ γύνις εἴη, ἐπεὶ οὐκ εὖ διέκειτο πρὸς τὰ ἀφροδίσια, ὡς ἱστορεῖ
Fr. 147 For they were on their guard lest he should be a womanish man, since, as [Theophrastus] records, he was not well disposed towards sexual matters.

Notes

  1. §147.1μὴ γύνις εἴη — A μή clause of fearing or caution introduced by the verb εὐλαβοῦντο. Because the main verb is in a past tense (imperfect), the subordinate verb is in the optative (εἴη). The noun γύνις (an effeminate man, or an impotent man) is logically connected with the subsequent reason concerning his poor state in 'sexual matters' (τὰ ἀφροδίσια).
  2. §147.1ὡς ἱστορεῖ — An intercalary comparative clause introduced by the conjunction ὡς ('as'). The third-person singular subject of ἱστορεῖ is not explicitly stated but contextually refers to Theophrastus, the source already mentioned in the preceding fragment (Fr. 146).

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §147.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:147.1

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