Posidippus Epigrams, Pap. Mil. Vogl. VIII 309
Lithika
AB 1 (I 2-5)
The Indus Hydaspes
…
…
[ …….. ] slender Zen[ – – – ]
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 2 (I 6-9) [ ……… ] lies a horn …
[ …… ] by Cronius going (?) …
[ ….. ] for wine to be poured …
[……. ] from the depths (of river?) Indus …
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 3 (I 10-13) [ …… ] radiating this in which a phiale (?)
[ …… ] the liquid light of the gaze grasps
… thrice twined in form; you …
in a feast, lady [- – – ]
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 4 (I 14-19) … the gray …
… of Darius’s finger …
… like the moon …
… by the lamp at night.*
The Persian stone, a gift, mounted in gold
Mandene suspended from her lovely arm.
*I 17: Perhaps “night light” as we cannot tell the form of the adjective (B. Acosta-Hughes).
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 5 (I 20-23) Timanthes carved this starry lapis lazuli,
a soft Persian stone with golden flecks
for Demylus, and in return for a gentle kiss,
gave it as a gift to dark-haired Nikaia of Kos.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org )
AB 5 (I 20-23) Timanthes carved this starry lapis lazuli,
a gold-speckled Persian half-stone,
for Demylus; in exchange for a soft kiss,
dark-haired Nicaea of Cos accepted the erotic gift.
Translated by D. Schur
AB 5 (I 20-23) Timanthes carved the starry sapeiron,
This gold-dusted Persian semi-stone,
For Demylos. In return for a gentle kiss, the dark-haired
Coan Nikaie received it as a lovely gift.
Translated by M. Smith
AB 6 (I 24-29) Of this stone, admired by all, boasts Herus;
this sparkling beryl bears an Iris, whom Cronius
incised; well-mounted to a golden necklace
for Niconoe the cube has come as gift
to rest – a new delight – on the girl’s chest
under her breast, a sweet gleam.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 7 (I 30-35) Rolling golden stones down from Arabia to the sea,
the river with its wintry torrents swifly carried (?)
the stone with a color like honey; this the hand of Cronius
carved. Set in soft gold the stone
sets on fire Niconoe’s necklace with its piercings, for the light
of honey shines against the white skin of her breast.
Translated by M. Lefkowitz
(From Diotima: Women & Gender in the Ancient World, www.stoa.org, see link above.)
AB 7 (I 30-35) Rolling the yellow debris from the Arabian mountains,
the storm-swollen river carries swiftly to the sea
this honey-colored stone, which the hand of Kronios
carved. Bound fast with gold for sweet
Nikonoe it blazes as a necklace chain, so that on her breast
its honeyed radiance gleams together with her fair skin.
Translated by P. Bing
(From “From Posidippus on Stones: The First Section of the New Posidippus Papyrus.”
PDF of this paper at www.apaclassics.org)
AB 7 (I 30-35) Out of the Arabian mountains rolling the fallen yellow stones,
the storm-rushing river brought swiftly to the sea
the stone, honey-like, which the hand of Kronios
carved. This stone, bound with gold for delicate Nikonoe,
flames as an inlaid necklace, as on her breast
its honey-sweet light shines along with her white skin.
Translated by M. Smith
AB 8 (I 36-41-II 1-2) No woman’s neck has ever worn this sardion,
nor woman’s finger, yet it was destined for a gold chain
the handsome stone that bears Darius, -and a chariot under him
carved stretches a span long- light coming
from within. It holds its own against Indian rubies
when put to test, with rays of even luster.
Its perimeter is three spans round; this, too, is a wonder
that a watery cloud does not run through the wide mass!
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 9 (II 3-6) You chose for seal, Polycrates, a bard
singing to the lyre at your feet
… and your hand
… possession.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 10 (II 7-16) … cylinder
…
… mountain stream
…
… of a craftsman
…
… through them
…
… Nabataean
… king of Arabian horsemen.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 11 (II 17-22) Not a stone shining all in silver, but a Persian
shell that was washed up to the sea-shore.
Its name is mother of pearl. It has in hollow incision
engraved figures of Agla[ … ]
[ …. ] mass [ ….. ] of wax
preserving the hollow engraving.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 12 (II 23-28) Its origin the sea, a shell, … but when bound
by art it is considered a semi-precious gem
… of an emerald
[ – – – ] bound … a vessel
… in gold … so long that it would bear
… plain engraving …
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 13 (II 29-32) This is a cunning stone. When oiled,
a lustre, a miracle of mirage, follows its entire mass.
Yet when it is drying, presently a Persian engraved [lion]
shows brilliant stretching against the lovely sun.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 13 (II 29-32) This is a crafty stone. First, when it is rubbed with oil,
a light runs around the entire mass, marvel of illusion.
Then, when the mass is dry, a carved Persian lion
flashes sharply, stretching to the beautiful sun.
Translated by M. Smith
AB 14 (II 33-39) The horse Pegasos has been well-carved
on sky-blue chalcedony by a craftsman using both hand and mind.
For Bellerophon fell into the Aleian plain of the Cilicians,
but the steed flew up into the dark air.
For this reason he molded the creature riderless,
still trembling under the reins, on this airy stone.
Translated by K. Gutzwiller
(From Gutzwiller, K.J. 1995. “Cleopatra’s ring.” GRBS 36: 383-398.)
AB 14 (II 33-39) With skill and design the craftsman carved well
this horse Pegasus on sky-blue chalcedony.
Bellerophon fell into the Alerian plain of the Cilicians,
but this horse climbed up into the dark blue sky.
To show this he depicted the horse without a rider
still trembling from the bit, on the skyline stone.
Translated by K. Gutzwiller
(From Gutzwiller, K.J. 1998. Poetic Garlands. Hellenistic Epigram in Context. Berkeley, 29-30.)
AB 15 (II 39-III 1-7) Not a river sounding at its banks, but
a heavy-bearded head of a dragon once
bore this stone thickly foaming; and the incised chariot on it
was carved by the vision of a Lynceus,
like a finger-nail’s spot. For a chariot can be seen modeled
upon it, but on the surface you cannot see projections.
It is indeed a wonder of his toil, how the cutter
did not ruin his eyes with straining.
Translated by B. Acosta-Hughes and E. Kosmetatou
AB 15 (II 39-III 1-7) No river rolled this stone onto its banks, but at one time
the well-bearded head of a snake held it,
streaked with white. The chariot engraved upon it,
resembling a white mark on a nail, was carved
by the eyes of Lynceus. For after an imprint is taken
the chariot is seen, but on the surface you do not see any projections.
In which fact resides a great marvel of labor,
how the craftsman while straining did not damage his eyes.
Translated by M. Smith
AB 16 (III 8-13)
An ever breaking Arabian torrent broke from the mountains
this grizzled crystal and rolled it to the surging sea-shore,
a massive piece; for this we, foolish men,
do not subject it to the test of gold.
Were it of rarer origin its gleam
would be treasured like the lovely sun. Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 17 (III 14-19) Reflect how this stone that the Mysian Olympus
unearthed is marvellous in two ways:
one side deftly attracts the opposing iron
just like a magnet, the other side repels it,
which is both counteractive and a wonder: how one
and the same stone emulates the course of two.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou and B. Acosta-Hughes
AB 18 (III 20-27)
Come and recline by me, the nine of you, …
… for I three …
together with the slave wine-pourer … give (?)
… easily a six-spouted … amphora;
look there: the one is five feet long thick; the other …
the next one stretches three spans … fatter
… square … in length …
and to the one of the six …, to the other …
Translated by E. Kosmetatou
AB 19 (III 28-41) Do not calculate how many waves
carried this rock far from the raging sea.
Poseidon shook it fiercely and [having broken it off]
with one powerful [wave] cast out this rock
[?] plethra in size, shoving it towards …,
this rock more wild than the door-stone of Polyphemus.
Polyphemus could not have lifted it, the love-sick goatherd
who often dived with Galatea;
nor does this round boulder (?) belong to Antaios (??), but this marvel
of the sea of Caphareus is the work of the trident.
Poseidon, stay your great hand and do not bring a mighty wave
from the sea against the defenceless coast;
having raised a rock of twenty-four cubits from the deep
easily would you lay waste in the sea a whole island.
Translated by R. Hunter
AB 20 (IV 1-6) As long ago you struck Helike with a wave
and brought down the whole city with its crags to the sand,
and as you would have risen up against Eleusis
as a violent (?) hurricane,
had not Demeter kissed your hand, so now, Geraistian lord,
keep the land of Ptolemy and the coasts, together with the islands,
unshaken.
Translated by R. Hunter
AB 20 (IV 1-6) Once in the past, raising a single wave, you hurled Helike
crags and all into the dunes.
As a hurricane, a hundred times strong, you would have likewise struck Eleusis
had not Demeter kissed your hand.
But now, Geraistian Lord, preserve the land of Ptolemy,
its coasts and islands unshaken.
Translated by E. Kosmetatou