Pindar's anthropos

Here you can discuss all things Ancient Greek. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Greek, and more.
Post Reply
RepublicFan
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:19 pm

Pindar's anthropos

Post by RepublicFan »

A question concerning, "Ti de tis; ti d' ou tis; skias onar anthropos."

I've seen a translation, "What is a man? What is not a man? Man is a shadow in a dream."

What's the meaning, function, etc. of "de"?

Thanks,
Eric

PhilipF
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:16 pm

Post by PhilipF »

Pindar is one of the most difficult Greek poets and the Greek particles are notoriously difficult to find exact English equivalents for their various nuances of meaning .I would suggest you could translate it as 'then' or 'in fact'. L&S give a whole range of descriptive uses of this particle . The closest perhaps being a " conjunction ...in enumerations or transitions .. used with repetition of a word in different relations and in rhetorical outbursts or climax" .also "To resume or begin an account i.e. 'well then '.

Post Reply