70: or, late, beside, certainly not, likewise

Here are today's vocabulary words! Click on the word to learn more at Logeion, and there's also a study tips post. I'm also creating worksheets now, reviewing the most recent 3 groups of proverbs; here's the sheet for Groups #68-69-70 with the worksheet key.

1. ἤ (conj.): or; either...or...
2. ὕστερον (adverb): later, too late
3. παρά (prep.+acc.): beside, near, by
4. οὔκουν (adverb): certainly not
5. ὁμοίως (adverb): likewise, the same

And here are today's proverbs and sayings:

Ἢ μύρμηξ ἢ κάμηλος.

Πυθίων ὕστερον ἧκες.

Παρὰ ποταμὸν φρέαρ ὀρύττει.

Οὔκουν ἂν ἐκφύγοι γε τὴν πεπρωμένην. 

Καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως.

Listen at SoundCloud.

Laura Gibbs · Greek Proverbs: 070

Plus some commentary:

Ἤ μύρμηξ ἢ κάμηλος.

Either an ant or a camel.

This proverbial expression was used to refer to two things that are different in every way (size, shape, habits, etc.). The saying appears in Lucian's Saturnalia, where Lucian indicates it is a proverb: μύρμηξ ἢ κάμηλος, ὡς ἡ παροιμία φησί, "as the proverb says." Compare the English saying "apples and oranges," although apples and oranges certainly seem more similar than ants and camels! You can find out more at Wikipedia: Apples and Oranges which features similar sayings from many cultures.

Πυθίων ὕστερον ἧκες.

You came late for the Pythian Games.

This is a proverbial saying for being late to an event. The Pythian Games were held every four years, as were the other Panhellenic Games, including the Olympics. So, if you showed up late for the Pythian Games, you would have four years to wait! You can read more at Wikipedia: Pythian Games. Erasmus provides some other similar expressions: Κατόπιν τῆς ἑορτῆς, "late to the party," and Παναθηναίων κατόπιν, "late for the Panathenaea festival."

Παρὰ ποταμὸν φρέαρ ὀρύττει.

(Someone) is digging a well next to a river.

This is a proverbially foolish thing to do: if you are next to a river, you have access to water already; you don't need to dig a well. Erasmus compares this Greek proverb to a Latin proverb: In silvam ligna ferre, "to carry wood into the forest." You can see the Greek παρα- in many English para- compound words.

Οὔκουν ἂν ἐκφύγοι γε τὴν πεπρωμένην. 

He certainly cannot escape destiny.

The words come from Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound, referring to Zeus: Prometheus tells the Chorus that Zeus has less power than the Fates, Μοῖραι, and the Furies, Ἐρινύες, because even Zeus cannot escape destiny. The meter is iambic trimeter:

Οὔκουν - ἂν ἐκ—φύγοι - γε τὴν — πεπρω-μένην. 

The word οὔκουν is a compound: οὐκ-οὖν.

Καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως.

As you want for people to do to you, do to them the same.

The words are from the Gospel of Luke, and the same idea is found in the Gospel of Matthew. This is sometimes called the "Golden Rule," specifically, the "positive form" of that rule; you can find out more at Wikipedia: Golden Rule. The adverb ὁμοίως is formed from the adjective that you saw earlier this week in this saying: Ὅμοιος ὁμοίῳ.

Here is a photo of the stadium at Delphi, where the Pythian Games were held:

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