Thucydides 1.91.7

Greek Learning Greek
1

Themistocles explains to the Spartans why Athens has built a wall, despite Sparta’s wishes.


οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τ᾽ εἶναι μὴ ἀπὸ ἀντιπάλου παρασκευῆς ὁμοῖόν τι ἢ ἴσον ἐς τὸ κοινὸν βουλεύεσθαι.

Approximate translation: Unless powers have nearly matched military strength, they cannot have equal or nearly equal voices in the deliberations of the alliance.

Some questions:
ὁμοῖόν τι ἢ ἴσον What is τι doing here?
τὸ κοινὸν βουλεύεσθαι Should this be understood as an articular infinitive with an adjective modifier?

2

τὸ κοινὸν βουλεύεσθαι Should this be understood as an articular infinitive with an adjective modifier?

I would say no. τὸ κοινόν is a neuter substantive created from the adjective κοινός, -ή, -όν.

τὸ κοινόν = public authority, state, common interest, something like that.

3

Yes, and ὁμοῖόν τι ἢ ἴσον internal accusative with βουλεύεσθαι, “to take any (τι) equal or equitable counsel” (ες το κοινον “for the common good” v.sim., as katalogon).

4

Thanks to katalogon and mwh. Let me try again. This time I match up the Greek phrases with English phrases. I’m doing this because I had a lot of trouble with this sentence.

οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τ᾽ εἶναι μὴ ἀπὸ ἀντιπάλου παρασκευῆς ὁμοῖόν τι ἢ ἴσον ἐς τὸ κοινὸν βουλεύεσθαι.

οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τ᾽ εἶναι For it is not possible

μὴ ἀπὸ ἀντιπάλου παρασκευῆς without matching military power

ὁμοῖόν τι ἢ ἴσον . . . βουλεύεσθαι “to take any (τι) equal or equitable counsel (mwh)”

ἐς τὸ κοινὸν regarding the common interest.
Is that a fair match for somebody like me?