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A proper name.
The so-called misanthrope.[1] He was 'pure'.[2] "There was a certain Timon, a fellow of no fixed abode, [his face] enclosed by impenetrable thorns an off-shoot of the Erinyes."[3] [Neanthes] says that he became lame after falling from a pear tree.[4] As he did not allow a doctor to come to him, [his leg] putrefied and he died. After his death his tomb became inaccessible, being separated off by the sea on the road [running from Peiraeus to Sounion].[5] 'Impenetrable' [a)/baton] as if hedged round by thorns. Also obscured by harsh [things] or by stakes and pales. Meaning a sullen man and a misanthrope.

*ti/mwn: o)/noma ku/rion. o( misa/nqrwpos kalou/menos. h)=n de\ kaqaro/s. *ti/mwn tis h)=n, a)ni/drutos, a)ba/tois e)ni\ skw/loisi perieirgme/nos, *)erinnu/wn a)pporrw/c. o(/n fhsin a)po\ a)xra/dos peso/nta xwlo\n gene/sqai: mh\ prosie/menon de\ i)atro\n a)poqanei=n sape/nta: kai\ meta\ th\n teleuth\n au)tou= a)/baton gene/sqai u(po\ qala/sshs perirrage/nta e)n o(dw=|. a)/baton de\ oi(=on a)ka/nqais teqrigkwme/non, kai\ sklhroi=s h)\ sko/loyi kai\ patta/lois h)fanisme/non. a)nti\ tou= skuqrwpo\s kai\ misa/nqrwpos.

[1] cf. tau 630, and see generally Victor Ehrenberg in OCD(4) 1484, s.v. Timon(1).
[2] The expression 'pure Timon' occurs at Aristophanes, Birds 1549 (web address 1) in reference to Prometheus, who declares that he hates all the gods. In context there the term 'pure' has nothing to do with purity but means -- very unusually - absolute or veritable. See Aristophanes, Birds, edited with introduction and commentary by Nan Dunbar (Oxford 1995) 708-9.
[3] Aristophanes, Lysistrata 808-811 (web address 2). The Suda omits the words ta\ pro/swpa 'his face'. The scholiast on 810 makes the point that a prickly face is suggestive of a prickly personality.
[4] Neanthes FGrH 84 F35, as we learn from alpha 3508.
[5] The complete quotation is given at alpha 3508, q.v. See also sigma 797.

David Whitehead (supplied headword; augmented notes and keywords; cosmetics) on 19 February 2003@04:05:47.
David Whitehead (more keywords; tweaking; raised status) on 13 January 2014@07:45:34.
David Whitehead (updated a ref) on 5 August 2014@08:09:43.
Catharine Roth (upgraded links) on 4 January 2015@01:29:33.
Catharine Roth (tweaked translation) on 27 August 2022@16:24:21.

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