Herodianus General Prosody 3.1.13.9-10 (ed. Lentz)

Greek Learning Greek
1

Hello Friends,

I’m trying my hand at what looks like an easy one, no computer help.

AELIUS HERODIANUS, 2nd century AD

Ἀχ 167. Relation of Acarnan to the people of the Acheloios region

General Prosody 3.1.13.9-10 (ed. Lentz)

Ἀκαρνάν ὁ ἥρως καὶ ἔθνος πρὸς τῷ Ἀχελῴῳ.

Molinari:

The hero of the group of people near the Acheloios is Akarnan.

Themata: Akarnan(ia); Location: Aetolia/Akarnania

How did I do? Presumably ἔθνος could be translated better, but “race” doesn’t seem right. Inhabitants?

2

Ἀκαρνάν ὁ ἥρως καὶ ἔθνος πρὸς τῷ Ἀχελῴῳ.

Akarnan: The name for the hero and also for a people that live upon the banks of the Acheloios.

Race or group of people all bring out something of the word, and you could even go with:

“The name for the hero and also for a nation, a race of people upon the banks of the Acheloios.”

But what’s important is that ἔθνος is nominative and its own thing, separate from the hero. Hero of the nation would be something like ὁ ἥρως τοῦ ἔθνους τοῦ πρὸς τῷ Ἀχελῴῳ.

3

Thank you! Is Ἀκαρνάν in the accusative singular here?

4

Also, where are you getting “live upon the banks”? Is it just implied here?

5

Is Ἀκαρνάν in the accusative singular here?

It’s a 3rd declension, and goes like this:

Ἀκαρνάν
Ἀκαρνᾶνα
Ἀκαρνᾶνι
Ἀκαρνᾶνος

Ἀκαρνᾶνες
Ἀκαρνᾶνας
Ἀκαρνᾶσι(ν)
Ἀκαρνάνων

Also, where are you getting “live upon the banks”? Is it just implied here?

πρὸς τῷ Ἀχελῴῳ in reference to a human being would mean that he’s right by the river. In reference to something like an ἔθνος, it’s talking about their place of habitation. To me, πρός + dat. implies a closer connection than just “in the general area of”. They’re right up against it. So “living upon the banks” or similar.

6

Ah, got it, thank you kindly.