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Search results for beta,486 in Adler number:
Headword:
*bwmoloxeu/esqai
Adler number: beta,486
Translated headword: altar-ambusher
Vetting Status: high
Translation: Properly speaking "altar-ambushers" was the name for those who sat under the altars during the sacrifices and pleaded disarmingly [for a share of the offering], but beyond that [sc. the term is applied to] the pipers and seers who were associated with the sacrifices.[1] As a metaphor from these, "altar-ambushers" used to be the name, too, for certain opportunistic low-lifes, ready for anything by way of japes and jokes if there was a profit in it.[2] Consequently the word has three meanings.
Greek Original:*bwmoloxeu/esqai: bwmolo/xoi kuri/ws e)le/gonto oi( e)pi\ tw=n qusiw=n u(po\ tou\s bwmou\s kaqi/zontes kai\ meta\ kolakei/as prosaitou=ntes, e)/ti de\ kai\ oi( paralambano/menoi tai=s qusi/ais au)lhtai\ kai\ ma/nteis. e)k metafora=s de\ tou/twn e)le/gonto bwmolo/xoi kai/ tines eu)/koloi kai\ tapeinoi\ a)/nqrwpoi kai\ pa=n o(tiou=n u(pome/nontes e)pi\ ke/rdei dia\ tou= pai/zein te kai\ skw/ptein. w(/ste tou)/noma tri/a shmai/nei.
Notes:
Abridged and adapted from Harpokration s.v., which quotes
Pherecrates fr. 141 Kock (158 K-A) and cites
Aristophanes fr. 166 Kock (171 K-A).
For other entries on this word-family see
beta 487,
beta 488,
beta 489,
beta 490,
chi 296; cf.
beta 484,
beta 485.
[1] This gloss evokes two related uses. At
Clouds 968ff.
Aristophanes ridicules those who sing the innovative scales of Phrynis (
phi 761) and the 'new dithyramb' (
kappa 2647,
delta 1029) as 'altar-ambushers' (see
beta 488); and indeed the dithyramb was sung to accompany dances in ceremonies at the altars of various gods, primarily of Dionysus. There is, secondly, a suggestion at
chi 296 that such singers may have also sung for money as crowd-pleasers at the altars, after the fashion of beggars there.
[2] See
beta 490,
beta 489.
Translated by: David Whitehead on 12 October 2000@08:06:01.
Vetted by:Robert Dyer (Added notes, keywords. Cosmetics. Raised status.) on 21 February 2002@15:28:22.
David Whitehead (added keyword; cosmetics) on 22 February 2002@02:52:46.
David Whitehead (another keyword) on 18 October 2005@06:03:27.
David Whitehead (expanded primary note; more keywords; tweaks and cosmetics) on 1 July 2011@10:29:39.
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