Greek Proverbs July 7

Here are today's Greek proverbs with LOLCats! These are repeats of previous proverbs, but now with illustrations... and with a quiz too! See how you do on the questions up top, and then try them again down below after you've read through the proverbs (the quiz results display only at the blog, not in the email):

Ἀφροδίτῃ ______ τέθυκεν.

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Ἀφροδίτῃ ὗν τέθυκεν.

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Ἀεὶ τὰ ______ βελτίω.

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Ἀεὶ τὰ πέρυσι βελτίω.

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Ἀπὸ ______ ἐφ᾽ ἵππους.

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Ἀπὸ ὄνων ἐφ᾽ ἵππους.

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Εἶς ἀνὴρ ______ ἀνήρ.

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Εἶς ἀνὴρ οὐδεὶς ἀνήρ.

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Ἀντὶ πέρκης ______.

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Ἀντὶ πέρκης σκορπίον.

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Ἀεὶ τὰ πέρυσι βελτίω.

The things of yesteryear (are) always better.

The word βελτίω is neuter plural, although you can also find the expected form βελτίονα; the dictionary form (masculine singular) is βελτίων, and it is used as the comparative form of ἀγαθός: better.

Ἀπὸ ὄνων ἐφ᾽ ἵππους.

From donkeys to horses.

This refers to someone whose life changes for the better: donkeys pulled the carts of poor people, while the rich relied on horses instead. There are many English words which feature the Greek ἀπό, such as apostate and apostle.

Εἶς ἀνὴρ οὐδεὶς ἀνήρ.

One man (is) no man.

The idea is that you cannot do anything alone, so one man is really no better than nobody at all. This saying is a good way to remember how the words εἶς, "one" and οὐδεὶς "not-one" — οὐ-εὶς — are related. In this proverb, οὐδείς is being used adjectivally, modifying ἀνήρ; see today's final proverb for the same word being used substantively as a noun, meaning "nobody." The Greek saying is the motto of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Ἀντὶ πέρκης σκορπίον.

(To give) a scorpion instead of a perch.

The word σκορπίον is in the accusative, which lets you know there is an implied verb. The saying applies to any situation where, instead of a welcome or useful gift (like a perch, something nice to eat), you receive something that is unexpected and dangerous, not what you hoped for at all. Compare this similar idea in the Gospel of Luke: καὶ αἰτήσει ᾠόν, ἐπιδώσει αὐτῶ σκορπίον; "and if he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion?" (and see also the Gospel of Matthew).

Ἀφροδίτῃ ὗν τέθυκεν.

He's offered a pig to Aphrodite.

Offering a pig to Aphrodite would be a very foolish thing to do because Aphrodite has no fondness for pigs or any members of the pig family, especially after her lover Adonis was slain by a wild boar. Metaphorically, then, this saying refers to someone acting inappropriately.

Ἀφροδίτῃ ______ τέθυκεν.

reveal/hide answer

Ἀφροδίτῃ ὗν τέθυκεν.

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Ἀεὶ τὰ ______ βελτίω.

reveal/hide answer

Ἀεὶ τὰ πέρυσι βελτίω.

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Ἀπὸ ______ ἐφ᾽ ἵππους.

reveal/hide answer

Ἀπὸ ὄνων ἐφ᾽ ἵππους.

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Εἶς ἀνὴρ ______ ἀνήρ.

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Εἶς ἀνὴρ οὐδεὶς ἀνήρ.

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Ἀντὶ πέρκης ______.

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Ἀντὶ πέρκης σκορπίον.

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And to finish up, here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

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