Humanitext Reader

Theophrastus · Fragments §76.1

Barber Shops as Wineless Symposia

Passage 78 of 196 · Greek

Summary

It introduces an anecdote where Theophrastus jokingly called barber shops "wine-less symposia" due to the endless chatter of the people who gathered there.

§76.1Fr. 76 Διὸ καὶ Θ. ἄοινα συμπόσια παίζων ἐκάλει τὰ κουρεῖα διὰ τὴν λαλιὰν τῶν προσκαθιζόντων.
Fr. 76 Therefore, Theophrastus also jokingly called barber shops "wine-less symposia" because of the chatter of those who sat there.

Notes

  1. §76.1ἄοινα συμπόσια — Double accusative (objective complement) of the verb ἐκάλει, expressing that he called the object τὰ κουρεῖα (barber shops) "wine-less symposia".
  2. §76.1παίζων — Adverbial use of the present participle, modifying the main verb ἐκάλει to express the manner or attitude of the subject ("in jest", "jokingly").
  3. §76.1τῶν προσκαθιζόντων — Substantive use of the present participle with the article, referring to "those who sit there / frequent the place" (i.e., in the barber shops).

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, Fragments §76.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x09.humanitext-grc1:76.1

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