Delphoi

Greek Learning Greek
1

Hello everyone,

I’m German so please be patient with my English. I’d like to ask your advice: I’m trying to find out the right Ancient Greek spelling of the famous Delphic inscription “Know Thyself”. It is usually written “gamma, nu, omega, theta, iota - sigma, alpha, upsilon, tau, omicron, nu”. I’ve come across a different version where the last word is written with an “epsilon” behind the “sigma”.
I’m also trying to figure out the alphabet that was used in the Delphic area around 6 B.C.
You would really help me a lot if you would share your knowledge. Thanks for listening.

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Hallo, Alexander, und herzlich willkommen bei “Textkit”-Forum.

The three inscriptions on Delhpoi’s Thesaurus (?) have not been preserved by time, so nobody’s actually certain about how they were spelt (there is also enormous controversy about the other one, “E” or “EI”? and its meaning).

I believe that it’s spellt as [size=150]γνῶθι σαυτόν

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[quote author=greagach link=board=2;threadid=466;start=0#3825 date=1060790656]
I only suppose it must be the so-called “pre-Eucleidean” form, that is before the Attic reform of spelling.
[/quote]

The [size=150]σεαυτόν

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[quote author=William Annis link=board=2;threadid=466;start=0#3905 date=1060865017]
Greagach, I’m not sure what you mean by a contraction of [size=150]εἰς αὐτόν

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I obviously mistyped; I meant:

[size=150]σέ

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The [size=150]σε‐

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Thanks so much for all your input. :slight_smile:
I have to admit that my knowledge of Greek is quite limited which can be quite a problem when you’re a student of philosophy with an emphasis on Platonic, Neoplatonic and Gnostic thought.

The two words are most definitely an important root of ancient philosophy. The attempt to reconstruct the original inscription and researching its history is difficult but also very interesting.
The transmission of “know thyself” is usually attributed to Plutarch who mentions it in “On the E at Delphi”. I’m not familiar with the writings of Xenophon but thanks for the hint.
The question of the alphabet will probably be answered when I get a copy of Cook’s “Greek Inscriptions”.
Summa summarum, it doesn’t really matter if you spell the last word “SAUTON” or “SEAUTON” (if I’ve understood you correctly)? What do you think is closer to the original?

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Both Xenophon and Plato give [size=150]γνῶθι σαυτόν