Posidippus, Epigrams, Pap. Mil. Vogl. VIII 309
Epitymbia
AB 42 (VII 10-13)
Hekate …
lies …
still safe … from …
noble blood of both, of good birth.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 43 (VII 14-19) Nicostrate came to the dwellings of the blessed, to the sacred rites
of the initiates and the pure fire before the house of Triptolemus.
Again the … of Rhadamanthys
… Aeacus … her to the house and gates of Hades,
she who had seen the [crowd] of her children; in this way
the harbour of sad old age is always softer for mankind.
Translated by B. Dignas
AB 43 (VII 14-19) Nicostrate came to the holy rites of the sacred initiates
and to the pure fire of the hearth of Triptolemus,
and the kindness of Rhadamanthys
and Aeacus [welcomed] her into the home and gates of Hades
…. she … who had seen [the crowd] of her children.
This for mankind is always the gentlest harbor for sad old age.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org )
AB 44 (VII 20-23) Pella and the Bacchants were lamenting the youngest (?)
of twelve children, a … young girl,
“Alas”, three times, since Fate led the servant of Dionysus,
Niko, down from the Bassauric mountains.
Translated by B. Dignas
AB 44 (VII 20-23) For the youngest of twelve children, a … maiden, [the city of] Pella
and the Bacchants have wept, alas, three times,
since Fate has led Nico, the servant of Dionysus,
down from the Bassaric mountains.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 45 (VII 24-29) C… of Marathos [in Phoenicia] took her hands …
from the loom only in her old age.
She was eighty years old, but able to weave
a delicate weft with the shrill shuttle.
May the pious woman be happy after her labors, she
who in her pure life saw the harvest of five daughters!
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 45 (VII 24-29) Only in old age did C…..a of Marathos remove
her own hands from the loom.
Though eighty years old she could still weave
a fine thread with the shrill shuttle.
May now the pious woman rest from her toils, having in
a life that knew no rest seen the fifth harvest of daughters.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 46 (VII 30-35) An old woman, I, Batis, spent my old age with infants,
as a servant hired by Athenodice of Phocaea.
I taught them to prepare wool, and varied yarns
for their headbands, and the weaving of hair-nets;
and then they were already going to the threshold of their bridal chambers,
when they buried me, the old woman who instructed them in these
mysteries.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 46 (VII 30-35) An aged serving-woman, I, Batis, have grown old a servant of infants,
hired by the Phokaian Athenodike.
I taught them how to spin the wool and twine
intricate threads for headbands and plaited hair-nets.
When about to enter their bridal-chambers, these selfsame girls
buried me, the staff-bearing old woman.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 47 (VII 36-39, VIII 1-2) This tomb holds Onasagoratis, who saw children
and generations of children in succession,
four times twenty in number. These eighty children
cared for her when she was old, by their hands and their hearts (?).
This woman, one hundred years old, the blessed daughter of Onasa,
was placed by the citizens of Paphos in these ashes consumed by fire.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 47 (VII 36-39, VIII 1-2) This grave holds Onasagoratis, who took care of children
and of a string of children’s generations,
four times twenty in number. One of these children
she raised with hands and heart when truly aged.
The Paphians laid fire-devoured dust upon this
100 year-old happy daughter of Onasa.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 48 (VIII 3-6) Goddess Themis, this tomb is a sufficient resting-place
for wise Bithynis,a slave of worthy masters,
for I did not strive for freedom, but I was well rewarded,
and I have this memorial that is more enduring than liberty.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 48 (VIII 3-6) This is sufficient grave for wise Bithynis, a slave,
O Themis, of good masters.
For I did not struggle for freedom but was well rewarded:
I have this stele which is far superior to liberty.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 49 (VIII 7-12) Philaenium thus with her pipes …
placed unfortunate Hegedice in this tomb,
eighteen years old, with great sorrow …
the shrill shuttles [have fallen] from the loom …
the golden voice of the girl …
remains in this dark chamber.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 49 (VIII 7-12) So did Philainion with her flute …
place, poor Hegedike …
an eighteen year-old girl, much lamented. The shrill
shuttles … straightway from the loom.
… For the girl’s golden mouth
remains in this gloomy chamber.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 50 (VIII 13-18) A dark cloud came upon this city, when Eetion
placed his daughter below this marker and mourned her,
calling upon his child Hedeia; Hymenaeus knocked at the door
not of her marriage chamber, but of this tomb.
This is a sorrow shared in the city. But let the tears
and lamentations of those citizens suffice.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 50 (VIII 13-18) A dark cloud came through the city, when Aetion
placed his daughter under this stele and groaned aloud,
calling upon Hedeia, his child, on whose tomb’s entrance,
Hymenaios knocked, not that of her bed-chamber.
The … city shares his pain, but let
the tears and sighings of those citizens suffice.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 51 (VIII 19-24) “Weep and follow, stretch out your hands to the gods.”
This is what the women of Karyai said of Telephia,
at her tomb … and in the spring … bearing …
of the purple pasture, sing of the girl
swift as the wind, and bound to your tears,
let the songs of Sappho be sung, divine verses.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 51 (VIII 19-24) “Follow in tears, your arms stretch to the gods!”
And this spontaneously you’ll say, Carian women,
to the young girl, Telephia before whose grave you lie (?);
But in the spring assembled bearing branches
from purple glen, sing of the swift-footed girl and to your tears
join [Sappho’s] songs, divine verses.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 52 (VIII 25-30) Timon who set up this sundial to measure
the hours, now he lies there at its foot;
Aste, the daughter that he left behind, takes care of it, o traveller,
for as long as there is hope that she can read the hours.
But, maiden, come to old age; beside this tomb
for years and years measure the lovely sun.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 53 (VIII 31-34) Calliope, you lie here, thus; your friends weep for you,
maiden, and for the sad night festival,
in which you – to your mother the fairest image
sent by heavenly Aphrodite – fell from a high roof.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 53 (VIII 31-34) Calliope, so here you lie; maiden, your girlfriends
weep for you and for that earlier sad night festival
when you, your mother’s fairest joy
from Heavenly Aphrodite, fell from a roof.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 54 (VIII 35-38) Earth, you are drenched with tears. For her brothers have buried
with fire Myrtis, ten years old and unfortunate,
of Cyrenean descent. But [her father?] Nicanor, alive and ignorant
of her death has gone to other boundaries of the earth …
(2 verses missing).
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 54 (VIII 35-38) Earth, you are wetted with tears; for her brothers
with fire buried the poor ten-year old Myrtis,
of Cyrenean blood. But Nikanor, then alive and ignorant
of her death, was going to other boundaries of the earth …
(2 verses missing)
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 55 (X 1-6) Everything that was Nicomache’s, her playthings
and the Sapphic talking upon talking at dawn,
Fate has come and taken away prematurely.
The city of the Argives has lamented the poor girl’s death,
a shoot raised by the arm of Hera. Alas, the beds of the bridegrooms
who hoped to marry her have remained cold.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 55 (IX 1-6) All Nikomache’s possessions, her playthings and Sappho’s songs
that lasted until dawn, all these has Fate, untimely, come
to take away. The unfortunate virgin
the city of Argos mourned from every corner,
a young shoot raised under Hera’s protection. Alas then, the beds
of hopeful bridegrooms have remained cold.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 56 (IX 7-14) Five times during childbirth Eleutho raised her bow
beside your bed, but in the sixth childbirth
you died, and your infant child perished
on the seventh day while pursuing
your swelling breast. A tear was shed for you
both by the two caretakers of your tomb.
Lady of Asia, the gods will care for your five children,
and you also are caring for one child on your lap.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 56 (IX 7-14) Five times had Eleutho raised her bow during childbirth,
standing next to your bed, o noble lady;
after the sixth childbirth you perished, and your child
expired after seven days, while seeking
your still swollen breast. A tear was shed for you,
by the caretakers of your grave; but, Asian lady,
the gods will now care for your five children,
while you, too, hold a sixth upon your knees.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 57 (IX 15-22) When Philonis was giving birth to a child a savage snake
coiled over her head, a dark
scaly thing; blazing fire …
it stretched itself toward her neck,
and she reached out her hand to hide her child in her robes …
and her limbs gave way in fear.
You suffered grievously from the portent, lady, but your son
survived and has in time turned gray.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 57 (IX 15-22) When Philonis was giving birth to a child, a frightful snake,
all scaled in black, coiled thus
over her head; and blazing fire from its eyes
it stretched now towards the base of her neck;
and she stretched out her hands to enfold her child at her breast,
her limbs were weak with fear …
You suffered the final fate, lady, from the portent, but your son
survived and with time has a gray head.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 58 (IX 23-28) When Protis came to her bridal bed …
but she came no longer … to the maidens’ banquets,
after playing the Boeotian nome … but she lived
with her husband for … decades,
and having seen her children happy with husbands,
with a favorable wind she went off to the home of the pious.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 58 (IX 23-28) When Protis came to her bridal bed, [a cithara player]
from her mother, no longer did she attend
the maidens’ banquets playing the Boiotian nome,
but she lived with her husband [five] decades filled with love,
… and having seen her daughters thrive, with husbands [of equal age]
with favorable wind she left for the land of the pious.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 59 (IX 29-34) Fortunate Menestrate, as you grew happily old,
you saw the whole eighth [decade of years] …
and two generations of children set up a fitting tomb
for you. You have the holy blessings of the gods.
Dear lady, share the great [benefit] of a shining old age
with those who pass by your holy grave.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 59 (IX 29-34) Happy Menestrate, having grown old …
you saw an entire eighth [decade] of years
and two generations of your children set up
a well-deserved grave for you. You have the holy favor
of the gods. Dear old lady, share of your rich old age
with those who pass by your holy grave.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 60 (IX 35-40) Mnesistratos, uttering this prayer, has just now gone the road
from pyre down to Hades;
“Do not shed tears for me, my children, but following ancestral rites
lay welcome dust upon your cold dead father;
for from mortal clime at sixty, not truly aged
but still a nimble man, I come to the land of the pious.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 61 (X 1-6) By my tomb stop your feet, and address the well-aged
Aristippus – for here he lies dead-
look upon the unwept stone; set as light weight
upon him who is under the earth.
For him his children buried, a possession most dear
to an old man who saw one more generation born to his daughters.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes