English Translation — Hugh G. Evelyn-White
THE CATALOGUES OF WOMEN AND EOIAE
Fragment #1—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iii. 1086: That
Deucalion was the son of Prometheus and Pronoea, Hesiod states in the
first Catalogue, as also that Hellen was the son of Deucalion and
Pyrrha.
Fragment #2—Ioannes Lydus 1702, de Mens. i. 13: They came to call those
who followed local manners Latins, but those who followed Hellenic
customs Greeks, after the brothers Latinus and Graecus; as Hesiod says:
‘And in the palace Pandora the daughter of noble Deucalion was joined
in love with father Zeus, leader of all the gods, and bare Graecus,
staunch in battle.’
Fragment #3—Constantinus Porphyrogenitus 1703, de Them. 2 p. 48B: The
district Macedonia took its name from Macedon the son of Zeus and
Thyia, Deucalion’s daughter, as Hesiod says: ‘And she conceived and
bare to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt two sons, Magnes and
Macedon, rejoicing in horses, who dwell round about Pieria and
Olympus.... ((LACUNA)) ....And Magnes again (begot) Dictys and godlike
Polydectes.’
Fragment #4—Plutarch, Mor. p. 747; Schol. on Pindar Pyth. iv. 263: ‘And
from Hellen the war-loving king sprang Dorus and Xuthus and Aeolus
delighting in horses. And the sons of Aeolus, kings dealing justice,
were Cretheus, and Athamas, and clever Sisyphus, and wicked Salmoneus
and overbold Perieres.’
Fragment #5—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 266: Those who
were descended from Deucalion used to rule over Thessaly as Hecataeus
and Hesiod say.
Fragment #6—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 482: Aloiadae.
Hesiod said that they were sons of Aloeus,—called so after him,—and of
Iphimedea, but in reality sons of Poseidon and Iphimedea, and that Alus
a city of Aetolia was founded by their father.
Fragment #7—Berlin Papyri, No. 7497; Oxyrhynchus Papyri, 421 1704: (ll.
1-24) ‘....Eurynome the daughter of Nisus, Pandion’s son, to whom
Pallas Athene taught all her art, both wit and wisdom too; for she was
as wise as the gods. A marvellous scent rose from her silvern raiment
as she moved, and beauty was wafted from her eyes. Her, then, Glaucus
sought to win by Athena’s advising, and he drove oxen 1705 for her. But
he knew not at all the intent of Zeus who holds the aegis. So Glaucus
came seeking her to wife with gifts; but cloud-driving Zeus, king of
the deathless gods, bent his head in oath that the.... son of Sisyphus
should never have children born of one father 1706. So she lay in the
arms of Poseidon and bare in the house of Glaucus blameless
Bellerophon, surpassing all men in.... over the boundless sea. And when
he began to roam, his father gave him Pegasus who would bear him most
swiftly on his wings, and flew unwearying everywhere over the earth,
for like the gales he would course along. With him Bellerophon caught
and slew the fire-breathing Chimera. And he wedded the dear child of
the great-hearted Iobates, the worshipful king.... lord (of).... and
she bare....’
Fragment #8—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodes, Arg. iv. 57: Hesiod says
that Endymion was the son of Aethlius the son of Zeus and Calyee, and
received the gift from Zeus: ‘(To be) keeper of death for his own self
when he was ready to die.’
Fragment #9—Scholiast Ven. on Homer, Il. xi. 750: The two sons of Actor
and Molione... Hesiod has given their descent by calling them after
Actor and Molione; but their father was Poseidon.
Porphyrius 1707, Quaest. Hom. ad Iliad. pert., 265: But Aristarchus is
informed that they were twins, not.... such as were the Dioscuri, but,
on Hesiod’s testimony, double in form and with two bodies and joined to
one another.
Fragment #10—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 156: But Hesiod
says that he changed himself in one of his wonted shapes and perched on
the yoke-boss of Heracles’ horses, meaning to fight with the hero; but
that Heracles, secretly instructed by Athena, wounded him mortally with
an arrow. And he says as follows: ‘...and lordly Periclymenus. Happy
he! For earth-shaking Poseidon gave him all manner of gifts. At one
time he would appear among birds, an eagle; and again at another he
would be an ant, a marvel to see; and then a shining swarm of bees; and
again at another time a dread relentless snake. And he possessed all
manner of gifts which cannot be told, and these then ensnared him
through the devising of Athene.’
Fragment #11—Stephanus of Byzantium 1708, s.v.: ‘(Heracles) slew the
noble sons of steadfast Neleus, eleven of them; but the twelfth, the
horsemen Gerenian Nestor chanced to be staying with the horse-taming
Gerenians. ((LACUNA)) Nestor alone escaped in flowery Gerenon.’
Fragment #12—Eustathius 1709, Hom. 1796.39: ‘So well-girded Polycaste,
the youngest daughter of Nestor, Neleus’ son, was joined in love with
Telemachus through golden Aphrodite and bare Persepolis.’
Fragment #13—Scholiast on Homer, Od. xii. 69: Tyro the daughter of
Salmoneus, having two sons by Poseidon, Neleus and Pelias, married
Cretheus, and had by him three sons, Aeson, Pheres and Amythaon. And of
Aeson and Polymede, according to Hesiod, Iason was born: ‘Aeson, who
begot a son Iason, shepherd of the people, whom Chiron brought up in
woody Pelion.’
Fragment #14—Petrie Papyri (ed. Mahaffy), Pl. III. 3: ‘....of the
glorious lord ....fair Atalanta, swift of foot, the daughter of
Schoeneus, who had the beaming eyes of the Graces, though she was ripe
for wedlock rejected the company of her equals and sought to avoid
marriage with men who eat bread.’
Scholiast on Homer, Iliad xxiii. 683: Hesiod is therefore later in date
than Homer since he represents Hippomenes as stripped when contending
with Atalanta 1710.
Papiri greci e latini, ii. No. 130 (2nd-3rd century) 1711: (ll. 1-7)
‘Then straightway there rose up against him the trim-ankled maiden
(Atalanta), peerless in beauty: a great throng stood round about her as
she gazed fiercely, and wonder held all men as they looked upon her. As
she moved, the breath of the west wind stirred the shining garment
about her tender bosom; but Hippomenes stood where he was: and much
people was gathered together. All these kept silence; but Schoeneus
cried and said:
(ll. 8-20) ‘“Hear me all, both young and old, while I speak as my
spirit within my breast bids me. Hippomenes seeks my coy-eyed daughter
to wife; but let him now hear my wholesome speech. He shall not win her
without contest; yet, if he be victorious and escape death, and if the
deathless gods who dwell on Olympus grant him to win renown, verily he
shall return to his dear native land, and I will give him my dear child
and strong, swift-footed horses besides which he shall lead home to be
cherished possessions; and may he rejoice in heart possessing these,
and ever remember with gladness the painful contest. May the father of
men and of gods (grant that splendid children may be born to him)’
((LACUNA))
(ll. 21-27) ‘on the right.... and he, rushing upon her,.... drawing
back slightly towards the left. And on them was laid an unenviable
struggle: for she, even fair, swift-footed Atalanta, ran scorning the
gifts of golden Aphrodite; but with him the race was for his life,
either to find his doom, or to escape it. Therefore with thoughts of
guile he said to her:
(ll. 28-29) ‘“O daughter of Schoeneus, pitiless in heart, receive these
glorious gifts of the goddess, golden Aphrodite...’
((LACUNA))
(ll. 30-36) ‘But he, following lightly on his feet, cast the first
apple 1713: and, swiftly as a Harpy, she turned back and snatched it.
Then he cast the second to the ground with his hand. And now fair,
swift-footed Atalanta had two apples and was near the goal; but
Hippomenes cast the third apple to the ground, and therewith escaped
death and black fate. And he stood panting and...’
Fragment #15—Strabo 1714, i. p. 42: ‘And the daughter of Arabus, whom
worthy Hermaon begat with Thronia, daughter of the lord Belus.’
Fragment #16—Eustathius, Hom. 461. 2: ‘Argos which was waterless Danaus
made well-watered.’
Fragment #17—Hecataeus 1715 in Scholiast on Euripides, Orestes, 872:
Aegyptus himself did not go to Argos, but sent his sons, fifty in
number, as Hesiod represented.
Fragment #18—1716 Strabo, viii. p. 370: And Apollodorus says that
Hesiod already knew that the whole people were called both Hellenes and
Panhellenes, as when he says of the daughters of Proetus that the
Panhellenes sought them in marriage.
Apollodorus, ii. 2.1.4: Acrisius was king of Argos and Proetus of
Tiryns. And Acrisius had by Eurydice the daughter of Lacedemon, Danae;
and Proetus by Stheneboea ‘Lysippe and Iphinoe and Iphianassa’. And
these fell mad, as Hesiod states, because they would not receive the
rites of Dionysus.
Probus 1717 on Vergil, Eclogue vi. 48: These (the daughters of
Proetus), because they had scorned the divinity of Juno, were overcome
with madness, such that they believed they had been turned into cows,
and left Argos their own country. Afterwards they were cured by
Melampus, the son of Amythaon.
Suidas, s.v.: 1718 ‘Because of their hideous wantonness they lost their
tender beauty....’
Eustathius, Hom. 1746.7: ‘....For he shed upon their heads a fearful
itch: and leprosy covered all their flesh, and their hair dropped from
their heads, and their fair scalps were made bare.’
Fragment #19A—1719 Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1358 fr. 1 (3rd cent. A.D.):
(ll. 1-32) ‘....So she (Europa) crossed the briny water from afar to
Crete, beguiled by the wiles of Zeus. Secretly did the Father snatch
her away and gave her a gift, the golden necklace, the toy which
Hephaestus the famed craftsman once made by his cunning skill and
brought and gave it to his father for a possession. And Zeus received
the gift, and gave it in turn to the daughter of proud Phoenix. But
when the Father of men and of gods had mated so far off with
trim-ankled Europa, then he departed back again from the rich-haired
girl. So she bare sons to the almighty Son of Cronos, glorious leaders
of wealthy men—Minos the ruler, and just Rhadamanthys and noble
Sarpedon the blameless and strong. To these did wise Zeus give each a
share of his honour. Verily Sarpedon reigned mightily over wide Lycia
and ruled very many cities filled with people, wielding the sceptre of
Zeus: and great honour followed him, which his father gave him, the
great-hearted shepherd of the people. For wise Zeus ordained that he
should live for three generations of mortal men and not waste away with
old age. He sent him to Troy; and Sarpedon gathered a great host, men
chosen out of Lycia to be allies to the Trojans. These men did Sarpedon
lead, skilled in bitter war. And Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting,
sent him forth from heaven a star, showing tokens for the return of his
dear son........for well he (Sarpedon) knew in his heart that the sign
was indeed from Zeus. Very greatly did he excel in war together with
man-slaying Hector and brake down the wall, bringing woes upon the
Danaans. But so soon as Patroclus had inspired the Argives with hard
courage....’
Fragment #19—Scholiast on Homer, Il. xii. 292: Zeus saw Europa the
daughter of Phoenix gathering flowers in a meadow with some nymphs and
fell in love with her. So he came down and changed himself into a bull
and breathed from his mouth a crocus 1721. In this way he deceived
Europa, carried her off and crossed the sea to Crete where he had
intercourse with her. Then in this condition he made her live with
Asterion the king of the Cretans. There she conceived and bore three
sons, Minos, Sarpedon and Rhadamanthys. The tale is in Hesiod and
Bacchylides.
Fragment #20—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 178: But
according to Hesiod (Phineus) was the son of Phoenix, Agenor’s son and
Cassiopea.
Fragment #21—Apollodorus 1722, iii. 14.4.1: But Hesiod says that he
(Adonis) was the son of Phoenix and Alphesiboea.
Fragment #22—Porphyrius, Quaest. Hom. ad Iliad. pert. p. 189: As it is
said in Hesiod in the Catalogue of Women concerning Demodoce the
daughter of Agenor: ‘Demodoce whom very many of men on earth, mighty
princes, wooed, promising splendid gifts, because of her exceeding
beauty.’
Fragment #23—Apollodorus, iii. 5.6.2: Hesiod says that (the children of
Amphion and Niobe) were ten sons and ten daughters.
Aelian 1723, Var. Hist. xii. 36: But Hesiod says they were nine boys
and ten girls;—unless after all the verses are not Hesiod but are
falsely ascribed to him as are many others.
Fragment #24—Scholiast on Homer, Il. xxiii. 679: And Hesiod says that
when Oedipus had died at Thebes, Argea the daughter of Adrastus came
with others to the funeral of Oedipus.
Fragment #25—Herodian 1724 in Etymologicum Magnum, p. 60, 40: Tityos
the son of Elara.
Fragment #26—1725 Argument: Pindar, Ol. xiv: Cephisus is a river in
Orchomenus where also the Graces are worshipped. Eteoclus the son of
the river Cephisus first sacrificed to them, as Hesiod says.
Scholiast on Homer, Il. ii. 522: ‘which from Lilaea spouts forth its
sweet flowing water....’
Strabo, ix. 424: ‘....And which flows on by Panopeus and through fenced
Glechon and through Orchomenus, winding like a snake.’
Fragment #27—Scholiast on Homer, Il. vii. 9: For the father of
Menesthius, Areithous was a Boeotian living at Arnae; and this is in
Boeotia, as also Hesiod says.
Fragment #28—Stephanus of Byzantium: Onchestus: a grove 1726. It is
situate in the country of Haliartus and was founded by Onchestus the
Boeotian, as Hesiod says.
Fragment #29—Stephanus of Byzantium: There is also a plain of Aega
bordering on Cirrha, according to Hesiod.
Fragment #30—Apollodorus, ii. 1.1.5: But Hesiod says that Pelasgus was
autochthonous.
Fragment #31—Strabo, v. p. 221: That this tribe (the Pelasgi) were from
Arcadia, Ephorus states on the authority of Hesiod; for he says: ‘Sons
were born to god-like Lycaon whom Pelasgus once begot.’
Fragment #32—Stephanus of Byzantium: Pallantium. A city of Arcadia, so
named after Pallas, one of Lycaon’s sons, according to Hesiod.
Fragment #33—(Unknown): ‘Famous Meliboea bare Phellus the good
spear-man.’
Fragment #34—Herodian, On Peculiar Diction, p. 18: In Hesiod in the
second Catalogue: ‘Who once hid the torch 1727 within.’
Fragment #35—Herodian, On Peculiar Diction, p. 42: Hesiod in the third
Catalogue writes: ‘And a resounding thud of feet rose up.’
Fragment #36—Apollonius Dyscolus 1728, On the Pronoun, p. 125: ‘And a
great trouble to themselves.’
Fragment #37—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 45: Neither Homer
nor Hesiod speak of Iphiclus as amongst the Argonauts.
Fragment #38—‘Eratosthenes’ 1729, Catast. xix. p. 124: The Ram.]—This
it was that transported Phrixus and Helle. It was immortal and was
given them by their mother Nephele, and had a golden fleece, as Hesiod
and Pherecydes say.
Fragment #39—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 181: Hesiod in
the Great Eoiae says that Phineus was blinded because he revealed to
Phrixus the road; but in the third Catalogue, because he preferred
long life to sight.
Hesiod says he had two sons, Thynus and Mariandynus.
Ephorus 1730 in Strabo, vii. 302: Hesiod, in the so-called Journey
round the Earth, says that Phineus was brought by the Harpies ‘to the
land of milk-feeders 1731 who have waggons for houses.’
Fragment #40A—(Cp. Fr. 43 and 44) Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1358 fr. 2 (3rd
cent. A.D.): 1732 ((LACUNA—Slight remains of 7 lines))
(ll. 8-35) ‘(The Sons of Boreas pursued the Harpies) to the lands of
the Massagetae and of the proud Half-Dog men, of the Underground-folk
and of the feeble Pygmies; and to the tribes of the boundless
Black-skins and the Libyans. Huge Earth bare these to
Epaphus—soothsaying people, knowing seercraft by the will of Zeus the
lord of oracles, but deceivers, to the end that men whose thought
passes their utterance 1733 might be subject to the gods and suffer
harm—Aethiopians and Libyans and mare-milking Scythians. For verily
Epaphus was the child of the almighty Son of Cronos, and from him
sprang the dark Libyans, and high-souled Aethiopians, and the
Underground-folk and feeble Pygmies. All these are the offspring of the
lord, the Loud-thunderer. Round about all these (the Sons of Boreas)
sped in darting flight.... ....of the well-horsed Hyperboreans—whom
Earth the all-nourishing bare far off by the tumbling streams of
deep-flowing Eridanus........of amber, feeding her wide-scattered
offspring—and about the steep Fawn mountain and rugged Etna to the isle
Ortygia and the people sprung from Laestrygon who was the son of
wide-reigning Poseidon. Twice ranged the Sons of Boreas along this
coast and wheeled round and about yearning to catch the Harpies, while
they strove to escape and avoid them. And they sped to the tribe of the
haughty Cephallenians, the people of patient-souled Odysseus whom in
aftertime Calypso the queenly nymph detained for Poseidon. Then they
came to the land of the lord the son of Ares........they heard. Yet
still (the Sons of Boreas) ever pursued them with instant feet. So they
(the Harpies) sped over the sea and through the fruitless air...’
Fragment #40—Strabo, vii. p. 300: ‘The Aethiopians and Ligurians and
mare-milking Scythians.’
Fragment #41—Apollodorus, i. 9.21.6: As they were being pursued, one of
the Harpies fell into the river Tigris, in Peloponnesus which is now
called Harpys after her. Some call this one Nicothoe, and others
Aellopus. The other who was called Ocypete, or as some say Ocythoe
(though Hesiod calls her Ocypus), fled down the Propontis and reached
as far as to the Echinades islands which are now called because of her,
Strophades (Turning Islands).
Fragment #42—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 297: Hesiod also
says that those with Zetes 1734 turned and prayed to Zeus: ‘There they
prayed to the lord of Aenos who reigns on high.’
Apollonius indeed says it was Iris who made Zetes and his following
turn away, but Hesiod says Hermes.
Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 296: Others say (the islands)
were called Strophades, because they turned there and prayed Zeus to
seize the Harpies. But according to Hesiod... they were not killed.
Fragment #43—Philodemus 1735, On Piety, 10: Nor let anyone mock at
Hesiod who mentions.... or even the Troglodytes and the Pygmies.
Fragment #44—Strabo, i. p. 43: No one would accuse Hesiod of ignorance
though he speaks of the Half-dog people and the Great-Headed people and
the Pygmies.
Fragment #45—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 284: But Hesiod
says they (the Argonauts) had sailed in through the Phasis.
Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 259: But Hesiod (says)....
they came through the Ocean to Libya, and so, carrying the Argo,
reached our sea.
Fragment #46—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iii. 311:
Apollonius, following Hesiod, says that Circe came to the island over
against Tyrrhenia on the chariot of the Sun. And he called it
Hesperian, because it lies toward the west.
Fragment #47—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 892: He
(Apollonius) followed Hesiod who thus names the island of the Sirens:
‘To the island Anthemoessa (Flowery) which the son of Cronos gave
them.’
And their names are Thelxiope or Thelxinoe, Molpe and Aglaophonus 1736.
Scholiast on Homer, Od. xii. 168: Hence Hesiod said that they charmed
even the winds.
Fragment #48—Scholiast on Homer, Od. i. 85: Hesiod says that Ogygia is
within towards the west, but Ogygia lies over against Crete: ‘...the
Ogygian sea and......the island Ogygia.’
Fragment #49—Scholiast on Homer, Od. vii. 54: Hesiod regarded Arete as
the sister of Alcinous.
Fragment #50—Scholiast on Pindar, Ol. x. 46: Her Hippostratus (did
wed), a scion of Ares, the splendid son of Phyetes, of the line of
Amarynces, leader of the Epeians.
Fragment #51—Apollodorus, i. 8.4.1: When Althea was dead, Oeneus
married Periboea, the daughter of Hipponous. Hesiod says that she was
seduced by Hippostratus the son of Amarynces and that her father
Hipponous sent her from Olenus in Achaea to Oeneus because he was far
away from Hellas, bidding him kill her.
‘She used to dwell on the cliff of Olenus by the banks of wide Peirus.’
Fragment #52—Diodorus 1737 v. 81: Macareus was a son of Crinacus the
son of Zeus as Hesiod says... and dwelt in Olenus in the country then
called Ionian, but now Achaean.
Fragment #53—Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. ii. 21: Concerning the Myrmidons
Hesiod speaks thus: ‘And she conceived and bare Aeacus, delighting in
horses. Now when he came to the full measure of desired youth, he
chafed at being alone. And the father of men and gods made all the ants
that were in the lovely isle into men and wide-girdled women. These
were the first who fitted with thwarts ships with curved sides, and the
first who used sails, the wings of a sea-going ship.’
Fragment #54—Polybius, v. 2: ‘The sons of Aeacus who rejoiced in battle
as though a feast.’
Fragment #55—Porphyrius, Quaest. Hom. ad Iliad. pertin. p. 93: He has
indicated the shameful deed briefly by the phrase ‘to lie with her
against her will’, and not like Hesiod who recounts at length the story
of Peleus and the wife of Acastus.
Fragment #56—Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. iv. 95: ‘And this seemed to him
(Acastus) in his mind the best plan; to keep back himself, but to hide
beyond guessing the beautiful knife which the very famous Lame One had
made for him, that in seeking it alone over steep Pelion, he (Peleus)
might be slain forthwith by the mountain-bred Centaurs.’
Fragment #57—Voll. Herculan. (Papyri from Herculaneum), 2nd Collection,
viii. 105: The author of the Cypria 1738 says that Thetis avoided
wedlock with Zeus to please Hera; but that Zeus was angry and swore
that she should mate with a mortal. Hesiod also has the like account.
Fragment #58—Strassburg Greek Papyri 55 (2nd century A.D.): (ll. 1-13)
‘Peleus the son of Aeacus, dear to the deathless gods, came to Phthia
the mother of flocks, bringing great possessions from spacious Iolcus.
And all the people envied him in their hearts seeing how he had sacked
the well-built city, and accomplished his joyous marriage; and they all
spake this word: “Thrice, yea, four times blessed son of Aeacus, happy
Peleus! For far-seeing Olympian Zeus has given you a wife with many
gifts and the blessed gods have brought your marriage fully to pass,
and in these halls you go up to the holy bed of a daughter of Nereus.
Truly the father, the son of Cronos, made you very pre-eminent among
heroes and honoured above other men who eat bread and consume the fruit
of the ground.”’
Fragment #59—1739 Origen, Against Celsus, iv. 79: ‘For in common then
were the banquets, and in common the seats of deathless gods and mortal
men.’
Fragment #60—Scholiast on Homer, Il. xvi. 175: ...whereas Hesiod and
the rest call her (Peleus’ daughter) Polydora.
Fragment #61—Eustathius, Hom. 112. 44 sq: It should be observed that
the ancient narrative hands down the account that Patroclus was even a
kinsman of Achilles; for Hesiod says that Menoethius the father of
Patroclus, was a brother of Peleus, so that in that case they were
first cousins.
Fragment #62—Scholiast on Pindar, Ol. x. 83: Some write ‘Serus the son
of Halirrhothius’, whom Hesiod mentions: ‘He (begot) Serus and
Alazygus, goodly sons.’ And Serus was the son of Halirrhothius
Perieres’ son, and of Alcyone.
Fragment #63—Pausanias 1740, ii. 26. 7: This oracle most clearly proves
that Asclepius was not the son of Arsinoe, but that Hesiod or one of
Hesiod’s interpolators composed the verses to please the Messenians.
Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. iii. 14: Some say (Asclepius) was the son of
Arsinoe, others of Coronis. But Asclepiades says that Arsinoe was the
daughter of Leucippus, Perieres’ son, and that to her and Apollo
Asclepius and a daughter, Eriopis, were born:
‘And she bare in the palace Asclepius, leader of men, and Eriopis with
the lovely hair, being subject in love to Phoebus.’
And of Arsinoe likewise:
‘And Arsinoe was joined with the son of Zeus and Leto and bare a son
Asclepius, blameless and strong.’
Fragment #64—For how does he say that the same persons (the Cyclopes)
were like the gods, and yet represent them as being destroyed by Apollo
in the Catalogue of the Daughters of Leucippus?
Fragment #65—“Echemus made Timandra his buxom wife.”
Fragment #66—Hesiod in giving their descent makes them (Castor and
Polydeuces) both sons of Zeus.
Hesiod, however, makes Helen the child neither of Leda nor Nemesis, but
daughter of Ocean and Zeus.
Fragment #67—Scholiast on Euripides, Orestes 249: Steischorus says that
while sacrificing to the gods Tyndareus forgot Aphrodite and that the
goddess was angry and made his daughters twice and thrice wed and
deserters of their husbands.... And Hesiod also says:
(ll. 1-7) ‘And laughter-loving Aphrodite felt jealous when she looked
on them and cast them into evil report. Then Timandra deserted Echemus
and went and came to Phyleus, dear to the deathless gods; and even so
Clytaemnestra deserted god-like Agamemnon and lay with Aegisthus and
chose a worse mate; and even so Helen dishonoured the couch of
golden-haired Menelaus.’
Fragment #68—1742 Berlin Papyri, No. 9739: (ll. 1-10) ‘....Philoctetes
sought her, a leader of spearmen, .... most famous of all men at
shooting from afar and with the sharp spear. And he came to Tyndareus’
bright city for the sake of the Argive maid who had the beauty of
golden Aphrodite, and the sparkling eyes of the Graces; and the
dark-faced daughter of Ocean, very lovely of form, bare her when she
had shared the embraces of Zeus and the king Tyndareus in the bright
palace.... (And.... sought her to wife offering as gifts)
((LACUNA))
(ll. 11-15)....and as many women skilled in blameless arts, each
holding a golden bowl in her hands. And truly Castor and strong
Polydeuces would have made him 1743 their brother perforce, but
Agamemnon, being son-in-law to Tyndareus, wooed her for his brother
Menelaus.
(ll. 16-19) And the two sons of Amphiaraus the lord, Oecleus’ son,
sought her to wife from Argos very near at hand; yet.... fear of the
blessed gods and the indignation of men caused them also to fail.
((LACUNA))
(l. 20)...but there was no deceitful dealing in the sons of Tyndareus.
(ll. 21-27) And from Ithaca the sacred might of Odysseus, Laertes son,
who knew many-fashioned wiles, sought her to wife. He never sent gifts
for the sake of the neat-ankled maid, for he knew in his heart that
golden-haired Menelaus would win, since he was greatest of the Achaeans
in possessions and was ever sending messages 1744 to horse-taming
Castor and prize-winning Polydeuces.
(ll. 28-30) And....on’s son sought her to wife (and brought)
....bridal-gifts.... ....cauldrons....
((LACUNA))
(ll. 31-33)...to horse-taming Castor and prize-winning Polydeuces,
desiring to be the husband of rich-haired Helen, though he had never
seen her beauty, but because he heard the report of others.
(ll. 34-41) And from Phylace two men of exceeding worth sought her to
wife, Podarces son of Iphiclus, Phylacus’ son, and Actor’s noble son,
overbearing Protesilaus. Both of them kept sending messages to
Lacedaemon, to the house of wise Tyndareus, Oebalus’ son, and they
offered many bridal-gifts, for great was the girl’s renown, brazen....
....golden....
((LACUNA))
(l. 42)...(desiring) to be the husband of rich-haired Helen.
(ll. 43-49) From Athens the son of Peteous, Menestheus, sought her to
wife, and offered many bridal-gifts; for he possessed very many stored
treasures, gold and cauldrons and tripods, fine things which lay hid in
the house of the lord Peteous, and with them his heart urged him to win
his bride by giving more gifts than any other; for he thought that no
one of all the heroes would surpass him in possessions and gifts.
(ll. 50-51) There came also by ship from Crete to the house of the son
of Oebalus strong Lycomedes for rich-haired Helen’s sake.
Berlin Papyri, No. 10560: (ll. 52-54)...sought her to wife. And after
golden-haired Menelaus he offered the greatest gifts of all the
suitors, and very much he desired in his heart to be the husband of
Argive Helen with the rich hair.
(ll. 55-62) And from Salamis Aias, blameless warrior, sought her to
wife, and offered fitting gifts, even wonderful deeds; for he said that
he would drive together and give the shambling oxen and strong sheep of
all those who lived in Troezen and Epidaurus near the sea, and in the
island of Aegina and in Mases, sons of the Achaeans, and shadowy Megara
and frowning Corinthus, and Hermione and Asine which lie along the sea;
for he was famous with the long spear.
(ll. 63-66) But from Euboea Elephenor, leader of men, the son of
Chalcodon, prince of the bold Abantes, sought her to wife. And he
offered very many gifts, and greatly he desired in his heart to be the
husband of rich-haired Helen.
(ll. 67-74) And from Crete the mighty Idomeneus sought her to wife,
Deucalion’s son, offspring of renowned Minos. He sent no one to woo her
in his place, but came himself in his black ship of many thwarts over
the Ogygian sea across the dark wave to the home of wise Tyndareus, to
see Argive Helen and that no one else should bring back for him the
girl whose renown spread all over the holy earth.
(l. 75) And at the prompting of Zeus the all-wise came.
((LACUNA—Thirteen lines lost.))
(ll. 89-100) But of all who came for the maid’s sake, the lord
Tyndareus sent none away, nor yet received the gift of any, but asked
of all the suitors sure oaths, and bade them swear and vow with unmixed
libations that no one else henceforth should do aught apart from him as
touching the marriage of the maid with shapely arms; but if any man
should cast off fear and reverence and take her by force, he bade all
the others together follow after and make him pay the penalty. And
they, each of them hoping to accomplish his marriage, obeyed him
without wavering. But warlike Menelaus, the son of Atreus, prevailed
against them all together, because he gave the greatest gifts.
(ll. 100-106) But Chiron was tending the son of Peleus, swift-footed
Achilles, pre-eminent among men, on woody Pelion; for he was still a
boy. For neither warlike Menelaus nor any other of men on earth would
have prevailed in suit for Helen, if fleet Achilles had found her
unwed. But, as it was, warlike Menelaus won her before.
II.
(ll. 1-2) And she (Helen) bare neat-ankled Hermione in the palace, a
child unlooked for.
(ll. 2-13) Now all the gods were divided through strife; for at that
very time Zeus who thunders on high was meditating marvellous deeds,
even to mingle storm and tempest over the boundless earth, and already
he was hastening to make an utter end of the race of mortal men,
declaring that he would destroy the lives of the demi-gods, that the
children of the gods should not mate with wretched mortals, seeing
their fate with their own eyes; but that the blessed gods henceforth
even as aforetime should have their living and their habitations apart
from men. But on those who were born of immortals and of mankind verily
Zeus laid toil and sorrow upon sorrow.
((LACUNA—Two lines missing.))
(ll. 16-30)....nor any one of men.... ....should go upon black
ships.... ....to be strongest in the might of his hands.... ....of
mortal men declaring to all those things that were, and those that are,
and those that shall be, he brings to pass and glorifies the counsels
of his father Zeus who drives the clouds. For no one, either of the
blessed gods or of mortal men, knew surely that he would contrive
through the sword to send to Hades full many a one of heroes fallen in
strife. But at that time he knew not as yet the intent of his father’s
mind, and how men delight in protecting their children from doom. And
he delighted in the desire of his mighty father’s heart who rules
powerfully over men.
(ll. 31-43) From stately trees the fair leaves fell in abundance
fluttering down to the ground, and the fruit fell to the ground because
Boreas blew very fiercely at the behest of Zeus; the deep seethed and
all things trembled at his blast: the strength of mankind consumed away
and the fruit failed in the season of spring, at that time when the
Hairless One 1746 in a secret place in the mountains gets three young
every three years. In spring he dwells upon the mountain among tangled
thickets and brushwood, keeping afar from and hating the path of men,
in the glens and wooded glades. But when winter comes on, he lies in a
close cave beneath the earth and covers himself with piles of luxuriant
leaves, a dread serpent whose back is speckled with awful spots.
(ll. 44-50) But when he becomes violent and fierce unspeakably, the
arrows of Zeus lay him low.... Only his soul is left on the holy earth,
and that fits gibbering about a small unformed den. And it comes
enfeebled to sacrifices beneath the broad-pathed earth.... and it
lies....’
((LACUNA—Traces of 37 following lines.))
Fragment #69—Tzetzes 1747, Exeg. Iliad. 68. 19H: Agamemnon and Menelaus
likewise according to Hesiod and Aeschylus are regarded as the sons of
Pleisthenes, Atreus’ son. And according to Hesiod, Pleisthenes was a
son of Atreus and Aerope, and Agamemnon, Menelaus and Anaxibia were the
children of Pleisthenes and Cleolla the daughter of Dias.
Fragment #70—Laurentian Scholiast on Sophocles’ Electra, 539: ‘And she
(Helen) bare to Menelaus, famous with the spear, Hermione and her
youngest-born, Nicostratus, a scion of Ares.’
Fragment #71—Pausanias, i. 43. 1: I know that Hesiod in the Catalogue
of Women represented that Iphigeneia was not killed but, by the will
of Artemis, became Hecate 1748.
Fragment #72—Eustathius, Hom. 13. 44. sq: Butes, it is said, was a son
of Poseidon: so Hesiod in the Catalogue.
Fragment #73—Pausanias, ii. 6. 5: Hesiod represented Sicyon as the son
of Erechtheus.
Fragment #74—Plato, Minos, p. 320. D: ‘(Minos) who was most kingly of
mortal kings and reigned over very many people dwelling round about,
holding the sceptre of Zeus wherewith he ruled many.’
Fragment #75—Hesychius 1749: The athletic contest in memory of Eurygyes
Melesagorus says that Androgeos the son of Minos was called Eurygyes,
and that a contest in his honour is held near his tomb at Athens in the
Ceramicus. And Hesiod writes: ‘And Eurygyes 1750, while yet a lad in
holy Athens...’
Fragment #76—Plutarch, Theseus 20: There are many tales.... about
Ariadne...., how that she was deserted by Theseua for love of another
woman: ‘For strong love for Aegle the daughter of Panopeus overpowered
him.’ For Hereas of Megara says that Peisistratus removed this verse
from the works of Hesiod.
Athenaeus 1751, xiii. 557 A: But Hesiod says that Theseus wedded both
Hippe and Aegle lawfully.
Fragment #77—Strabo, ix. p. 393: The snake of Cychreus: Hesiod says
that it was brought up by Cychreus, and was driven out by Eurylochus as
defiling the island, but that Demeter received it into Eleusis, and
that it became her attendant.
Fragment #78—Argument I. to the Shield of Heracles: But Apollonius of
Rhodes says that it (the Shield of Heracles) is Hesiod’s both from
the general character of the work and from the fact that in the
Catalogue we again find Iolaus as charioteer of Heracles.
Fragment #79—Scholiast on Soph. Trach., 266: (ll. 1-6) ‘And
fair-girdled Stratonica conceived and bare in the palace Eurytus her
well-loved son. Of him sprang sons, Didaeon and Clytius and god-like
Toxeus and Iphitus, a scion of Ares. And after these Antiope the queen,
daughter of the aged son of Nauboius, bare her youngest child,
golden-haired Iolea.’
Fragment #80—Herodian in Etymologicum Magnum: ‘Who bare Autolycus and
Philammon, famous in speech.... All things that he (Autolyeus) took in
his hands, he made to disappear.’
Fragment #81—Apollonius, Hom. Lexicon: ‘Aepytus again, begot Tlesenor
and Peirithous.’
Fragment #82—Strabo, vii. p. 322: ‘For Locrus truly was leader of the
Lelegian people, whom Zeus the Son of Cronos, whose wisdom is
unfailing, gave to Deucalion, stones gathered out of the earth. So out
of stones mortal men were made, and they were called people.’
Fragment #83—Tzetzes, Schol. in Exeg. Iliad. 126: ‘...Ileus whom the
lord Apollo, son of Zeus, loved. And he named him by his name, because
he found a nymph complaisant 1753 and was joined with her in sweet
love, on that day when Poseidon and Apollo raised high the wall of the
well-built city.’
Fragment #84—Scholiast on Homer, Od. xi. 326: Clymene the daughter of
Minyas the son of Poseidon and of Euryanassa, Hyperphas’ daughter, was
wedded to Phylacus the son of Deion, and bare Iphiclus, a boy fleet of
foot. It is said of him that through his power of running he could race
the winds and could move along upon the ears of corn 1754.... The tale
is in Hesiod: ‘He would run over the fruit of the asphodel and not
break it; nay, he would run with his feet upon wheaten ears and not
hurt the fruit.’
Fragment #85—Choeroboscus 1755, i. 123, 22H: ‘And she bare a son
Thoas.’
Fragment #86—Eustathius, Hom. 1623. 44: Maro 1756, whose father, it is
said, Hesiod relates to have been Euanthes the son of Oenopion, the son
of Dionysus.
Fragment #87—Athenaeus, x. 428 B, C: ‘Such gifts as Dionysus gave to
men, a joy and a sorrow both. Who ever drinks to fullness, in him wine
becomes violent and binds together his hands and feet, his tongue also
and his wits with fetters unspeakable: and soft sleep embraces him.’
Fragment #88—Strabo, ix. p. 442: ‘Or like her (Coronis) who lived by
the holy Twin Hills in the plain of Dotium over against Amyrus rich in
grapes, and washed her feet in the Boebian lake, a maid unwed.’
Fragment #89—Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. iii. 48: ‘To him, then, there
came a messenger from the sacred feast to goodly Pytho, a crow 1757,
and he told unshorn Phoebus of secret deeds, that Ischys son of Elatus
had wedded Coronis the daughter of Phlegyas of birth divine.
Fragment #90—Athenagoras 1758, Petition for the Christians, 29:
Concerning Asclepius Hesiod says: ‘And the father of men and gods was
wrath, and from Olympus he smote the son of Leto with a lurid
thunderbolt and killed him, arousing the anger of Phoebus.’
Fragment #91—Philodemus, On Piety, 34: But Hesiod (says that Apollo)
would have been cast by Zeus into Tartarus 1759; but Leto interceded
for him, and he became bondman to a mortal.
Fragment #92—Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. ix. 6: ‘Or like her, beautiful
Cyrene, who dwelt in Phthia by the water of Peneus and had the beauty
of the Graces.’
Fragment #93—Servius on Vergil, Georg. i. 14: He invoked Aristaeus,
that is, the son of Apollo and Cyrene, whom Hesiod calls ‘the shepherd
Apollo.’
Fragment #94—Scholiast on Vergil, Georg. iv. 361: ‘But the water stood
all round him, bowed into the semblance of a mountain.’ This verse he
has taken over from Hesiod’s Catalogue of Women.
Fragment #95—Scholiast on Homer, Iliad ii. 469: ‘Or like her (Antiope)
whom Boeotian Hyria nurtured as a maid.’
Fragment #96—Palaephatus 1761, c. 42: Of Zethus and Amphion. Hesiod and
some others relate that they built the walls of Thebes by playing on
the lyre.
Fragment #97—Scholiast on Soph. Trach., 1167: (ll. 1-11) ‘There is a
land Ellopia with much glebe and rich meadows, and rich in flocks and
shambling kine. There dwell men who have many sheep and many oxen, and
they are in number past telling, tribes of mortal men. And there upon
its border is built a city, Dodona 1762; and Zeus loved it and
(appointed) it to be his oracle, reverenced by men........And they (the
doves) lived in the hollow of an oak. From them men of earth carry away
all kinds of prophecy,—whosoever fares to that spot and questions the
deathless god, and comes bringing gifts with good omens.’
Fragment #98—Berlin Papyri, No. 9777: 1763 (ll. 1-22) ‘....strife....
Of mortals who would have dared to fight him with the spear and charge
against him, save only Heracles, the great-hearted offspring of
Alcaeus? Such an one was (?) strong Meleager loved of Ares, the
golden-haired, dear son of Oeneus and Althaea. From his fierce eyes
there shone forth portentous fire: and once in high Calydon he slew the
destroying beast, the fierce wild boar with gleaming tusks. In war and
in dread strife no man of the heroes dared to face him and to approach
and fight with him when he appeared in the forefront. But he was slain
by the hands and arrows of Apollo 1764, while he was fighting with the
Curetes for pleasant Calydon. And these others (Althaea) bare to
Oeneus, Porthaon’s son; horse-taming Pheres, and Agelaus surpassing all
others, Toxeus and Clymenus and godlike Periphas, and rich-haired Gorga
and wise Deianeira, who was subject in love to mighty Heracles and bare
him Hyllus and Glenus and Ctesippus and Odites. These she bare and in
ignorance she did a fearful thing: when (she had received).... the
poisoned robe that held black doom....’
Fragment #99A—Scholiast on Homer, Iliad. xxiii. 679: And yet Hesiod
says that after he had died in Thebes, Argeia the daughter of Adrastus
together with others (cp. frag. 99) came to the lamentation over
Oedipus.
Fragment #99—1765 Papyri greci e latine, No. 131 (2nd-3rd century):
1766 (ll. 1-10) ‘And (Eriphyle) bare in the palace Alcmaon 1767,
shepherd of the people, to Amphiaraus. Him (Amphiaraus) did the Cadmean
(Theban) women with trailing robes admire when they saw face to face
his eyes and well-grown frame, as he was busied about the burying of
Oedipus, the man of many woes. ....Once the Danai, servants of Ares,
followed him to Thebes, to win renown........for Polynices. But, though
well he knew from Zeus all things ordained, the earth yawned and
swallowed him up with his horses and jointed chariot, far from
deep-eddying Alpheus.
(ll. 11-20) But Electyron married the all-beauteous daughter of Pelops
and, going up into one bed with her, the son of Perses begat........and
Phylonomus and Celaeneus and Amphimachus and........and Eurybius and
famous.... All these the Taphians, famous shipmen, slew in fight for
oxen with shambling hoofs,.... ....in ships across the sea’s wide back.
So Alcmena alone was left to delight her parents........and the
daughter of Electryon....
((LACUNA))
(l. 21)....who was subject in love to the dark-clouded son of Cronos
and bare (famous Heracles).’
Fragment #100—Argument to the Shield of Heracles, i: The beginning of
the Shield as far as the 56th verse is current in the fourth
Catalogue
Fragment #101 (UNCERTAIN POSITION)—Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1359 fr. 1 (early
3rd cent. A.D.): ((LACUNA—Slight remains of 3 lines))
(ll. 4-17) ‘...if indeed he (Teuthras) delayed, and if he feared to
obey the word of the immortals who then appeared plainly to them. But
her (Auge) he received and brought up well, and cherished in the
palace, honouring her even as his own daughters.
And Auge bare Telephus of the stock of Areas, king of the Mysians,
being joined in love with the mighty Heracles when he was journeying in
quest of the horses of proud Laomedon—horses the fleetest of foot that
the Asian land nourished,—and destroyed in battle the tribe of the
dauntless Amazons and drove them forth from all that land. But Telephus
routed the spearmen of the bronze-clad Achaeans and made them embark
upon their black ships. Yet when he had brought down many to the ground
which nourishes men, his own might and deadliness were brought low....’
Fragment #102 (UNCERTAIN POSITION)—Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1359 fr. 2 (early
3rd cent. A.D.): ((LACUNA—Remains of 4 lines))
(ll. 5-16) ‘....Electra.... was subject to the dark-clouded Son of
Cronos and bare Dardanus.... and Eetion.... who once greatly loved
rich-haired Demeter. And cloud-gathering Zeus was wroth and smote him,
Eetion, and laid him low with a flaming thunderbolt, because he sought
to lay hands upon rich-haired Demeter. But Dardanus came to the coast
of the mainland—from him Erichthonius and thereafter Tros were sprung,
and Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymede,—when he had left holy
Samothrace in his many-benched ship.
((LACUNA))
Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1359 fr. 3 (early 3rd cent. A.D.): (ll. 17-24)
1768....Cleopatra ....the daughter of.... ....But an eagle caught up
Ganymede for Zeus because he vied with the immortals in
beauty........rich-tressed Diomede; and she bare Hyacinthus, the
blameless one and strong........whom, on a time Phoebus himself slew
unwittingly with a ruthless disk....
THE MARRIAGE OF CEYX
Fragment #1—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 128: Hesiod in the
“Marriage of Ceyx” says that he (Heracles) landed (from the Argo) to
look for water and was left behind in Magnesia near the place called
Aphetae because of his desertion there.
Fragment #2—Zenobius 1901, ii. 19: Hesiod used the proverb in the
following way: Heracles is represented as having constantly visited the
house of Ceyx of Trachis and spoken thus: ‘Of their own selves the good
make for the feasts of good.’
Fragment #3—Scholiast on Homer, Il. xiv. 119: ‘And horse-driving Ceyx
beholding...’
Fragment #4—Athenaeus, ii. p. 49b: Hesiod in the “Marriage of Ceyx”—for
though grammar-school boys alienate it from the poet, yet I consider
the poem ancient—calls the tables tripods.
Fragment #5—Gregory of Corinth, On Forms of Speech (Rhett. Gr. vii.
776): ‘But when they had done with desire for the equal-shared feast,
even then they brought from the forest the mother of a mother (sc.
wood), dry and parched, to be slain by her own children’ (sc. to be
burnt in the flames).
THE GREAT EOIAE
Fragment #1—Pausanius, ii. 26. 3: Epidaurus. According to the opinion
of the Argives and the epic poem, the Great Eoiae, Argos the son of
Zeus was father of Epidaurus.
Fragment #2—Anonymous Comment. on Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, iii.
7: And, they say, Hesiod is sufficient to prove that the word PONEROS
(bad) has the same sense as ‘laborious’ or ‘ill-fated’; for in the
Great Eoiae he represents Alcmene as saying to Heracles: ‘My son,
truly Zeus your father begot you to be the most toilful as the most
excellent...’; and again: ‘The Fates (made) you the most toilful and
the most excellent...’
Fragment #3—Scholiast on Pindar, Isthm. v. 53: The story has been taken
from the Great Eoiae; for there we find Heracles entertained by
Telamon, standing dressed in his lion-skin and praying, and there also
we find the eagle sent by Zeus, from which Aias took his name 2001.
Fragment #4—Pausanias, iv. 2. 1: But I know that the so-called Great
Eoiae say that Polycaon the son of Butes married Euaechme, daughter of
Hyllus, Heracles’ son.
Fragment #5—Pausanias, ix. 40. 6: ‘And Phylas wedded Leipephile the
daughter of famous Iolaus: and she was like the Olympians in beauty.
She bare him a son Hippotades in the palace, and comely Thero who was
like the beams of the moon. And Thero lay in the embrace of Apollo and
bare horse-taming Chaeron of hardy strength.’
Fragment #6—Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. iv. 35: ‘Or like her in Hyria,
careful-minded Mecionice, who was joined in the love of golden
Aphrodite with the Earth-holder and Earth-Shaker, and bare Euphemus.’
Fragment #7—Pausanias, ix. 36. 7: ‘And Hyettus killed Molurus the dear
son of Aristas in his house because he lay with his wife. Then he left
his home and fled from horse-rearing Argos and came to Minyan
Orchomenus. And the hero received him and gave him a portion of his
goods, as was fitting.’
Fragment #8—Pausanias, ii. 2. 3: But in the Great Eoiae Peirene is
represented to be the daughter of Oebalius.
Fragment #9—Pausanias, ii. 16. 4: The epic poem, which the Greek call
the Great Eoiae, says that she (Mycene) was the daughter of Inachus
and wife of Arestor: from her, then, it is said, the city received its
name.
Fragment #10—Pausanias, vi. 21. 10: According to the poem the Great
Eoiae, these were killed by Oenomaus 2002: Alcathous the son of
Porthaon next after Marmax, and after Alcathous, Euryalus, Eurymachus
and Crotalus. The man killed next after them, Aerias, we should judge
to have been a Lacedemonian and founder of Aeria. And after Acrias,
they say, Capetus was done to death by Oenomaus, and Lycurgus, Lasius,
Chalcodon and Tricolonus.... And after Tricolonus fate overtook
Aristomachus and Prias on the course, as also Pelagon and Aeolius and
Cronius.
Fragment #11—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 57: In the
Great Eoiae it is said that Endymion was transported by Zeus into
heaven, but when he fell in love with Hera, was befooled with a shape
of cloud, and was cast out and went down into Hades.
Fragment #12—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 118: In the
Great Eoiae it is related that Melampus, who was very dear to Apollo,
went abroad and stayed with Polyphantes. But when the king had
sacrificed an ox, a serpent crept up to the sacrifice and destroyed his
servants. At this the king was angry and killed the serpent, but
Melampus took and buried it. And its offspring, brought up by him, used
to lick his ears and inspire him with prophecy. And so, when he was
caught while trying to steal the cows of Iphiclus and taken bound to
the city of Aegina, and when the house, in which Iphiclus was, was
about to fall, he told an old woman, one of the servants of Iphiclus,
and in return was released.
Fragment #13—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 828: In the
Great Eoiae Scylla is the daughter of Phoebus and Hecate.
Fragment #14—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 181: Hesiod in
the Great Eoiae says that Phineus was blinded because he told Phrixus
the way 2003.
Fragment #15—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 1122: Argus.
This is one of the children of Phrixus. These.... ....Hesiod in the
Great Eoiae says were born of Iophossa the daughter of Aeetes. And he
says there were four of them, Argus, Phrontis, Melas, and Cytisorus.
Fragment #16—Antoninus Liberalis, xxiii: Battus. Hesiod tells the story
in the Great Eoiae.... ....Magnes was the son of Argus, the son of
Phrixus and Perimele, Admetus’ daughter, and lived in the region of
Thessaly, in the land which men called after him Magnesia. He had a son
of remarkable beauty, Hymenaeus. And when Apollo saw the boy, he was
seized with love for him, and would not leave the house of Magnes. Then
Hermes made designs on Apollo’s herd of cattle which were grazing in
the same place as the cattle of Admetus. First he cast upon the dogs
which were guarding them a stupor and strangles, so that the dogs
forgot the cows and lost the power of barking. Then he drove away
twelve heifers and a hundred cows never yoked, and the bull who mounted
the cows, fastening to the tail of each one brushwood to wipe out the
footmarks of the cows.
He drove them through the country of the Pelasgi, and Achaea in the
land of Phthia, and through Locris, and Boeotia and Megaris, and thence
into Peloponnesus by way of Corinth and Larissa, until he brought them
to Tegea. From there he went on by the Lycaean mountains, and past
Maenalus and what are called the watch-posts of Battus. Now this Battus
used to live on the top of the rock and when he heard the voice of the
heifers as they were being driven past, he came out from his own place,
and knew that the cattle were stolen. So he asked for a reward to tell
no one about them. Hermes promised to give it him on these terms, and
Battus swore to say nothing to anyone about the cattle. But when Hermes
had hidden them in the cliff by Coryphasium, and had driven them into a
cave facing towards Italy and Sicily, he changed himself and came again
to Battus and tried whether he would be true to him as he had vowed.
So, offering him a robe as a reward, he asked of him whether he had
noticed stolen cattle being driven past. And Battus took the robe and
told him about the cattle. But Hermes was angry because he was
double-tongued, and struck him with his staff and changed him into a
rock. And either frost or heat never leaves him 2004.
THE MELAMPODIA
Fragment #1—Strabo, xiv. p. 642: It is said that Calchis the seer
returned from Troy with Amphilochus the son of Amphiaraus and came on
foot to this place 2101. But happening to find near Clarus a seer
greater than himself, Mopsus, the son of Manto, Teiresias’ daughter, he
died of vexation. Hesiod, indeed, works up the story in some form as
this: Calchas set Mopsus the following problem:
‘I am filled with wonder at the quantity of figs this wild fig-tree
bears though it is so small. Can you tell their number?’
And Mopsus answered: ‘Ten thousand is their number, and their measure
is a bushel: one fig is left over, which you would not be able to put
into the measure.’
So said he; and they found the reckoning of the measure true. Then did
the end of death shroud Calchas.
Fragment #2—Tzetzes on Lycophron, 682: But now he is speaking of
Teiresias, since it is said that he lived seven generations—though
others say nine. He lived from the times of Cadmus down to those of
Eteocles and Polyneices, as the author of “Melampodia” also says: for
he introduces Teiresias speaking thus:
‘Father Zeus, would that you had given me a shorter span of life to be
mine and wisdom of heart like that of mortal men! But now you have
honoured me not even a little, though you ordained me to have a long
span of life, and to live through seven generations of mortal kind.’
Fragment #3—Scholiast on Homer, Odyssey, x. 494: They say that
Teiresias saw two snakes mating on Cithaeron and that, when he killed
the female, he was changed into a woman, and again, when he killed the
male, took again his own nature. This same Teiresias was chosen by Zeus
and Hera to decide the question whether the male or the female has most
pleasure in intercourse. And he said:
‘Of ten parts a man enjoys only one; but a woman’s sense enjoys all ten
in full.’
For this Hera was angry and blinded him, but Zeus gave him the seer’s
power.
Fragment #4—2102 Athenaeus, ii. p. 40: ‘For pleasant it is at a feast
and rich banquet to tell delightful tales, when men have had enough of
feasting;...’
Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis vi. 2 26: ‘...and pleasant also it is
to know a clear token of ill or good amid all the signs that the
deathless ones have given to mortal men.’
Fragment #5—Athenaeus, xi. 498. A: ‘And Mares, swift messenger, came to
him through the house and brought a silver goblet which he had filled,
and gave it to the lord.’
Fragment #6—Athenaeus, xi. 498. B: ‘And then Mantes took in his hands
the ox’s halter and Iphiclus lashed him upon the back. And behind him,
with a cup in one hand and a raised sceptre in the other, walked
Phylacus and spake amongst the bondmen.’
Fragment #7—Athenaeus, xiii. p. 609 e: Hesiod in the third book of the
“Melampodia” called Chalcis in Euboea ‘the land of fair women’.
Fragment #8—Strabo, xiv. p. 676: But Hesiod says that Amphilochus was
killed by Apollo at Soli.
Fragment #9—Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis, v. p. 259: ‘And now
there is no seer among mortal men such as would know the mind of Zeus
who holds the aegis.’
AEGIMIUS
Fragment #1—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iii. 587: But the
author of the “Aegimius” says that he (Phrixus) was received without
intermediary because of the fleece 2201. He says that after the
sacrifice he purified the fleece and so: ‘Holding the fleece he walked
into the halls of Aeetes.’
Fragment #2—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 816: The author
of the “Aegimius” says in the second book that Thetis used to throw the
children she had by Peleus into a cauldron of water, because she wished
to learn where they were mortal.... ....And that after many had
perished Peleus was annoyed, and prevented her from throwing Achilles
into the cauldron.
Fragment #3—Apollodorus, ii. 1.3.1: Hesiod and Acusilaus say that she
(Io) was the daughter of Peiren. While she was holding the office of
priestess of Hera, Zeus seduced her, and being discovered by Hera,
touched the girl and changed her into a white cow, while he swore that
he had no intercourse with her. And so Hesiod says that oaths touching
the matter of love do not draw down anger from the gods: ‘And
thereafter he ordained that an oath concerning the secret deeds of the
Cyprian should be without penalty for men.’
Fragment #4—Herodian in Stephanus of Byzantium: ‘(Zeus changed Io) in
the fair island Abantis, which the gods, who are eternally, used to
call Abantis aforetime, but Zeus then called it Euboea after the cow.’
Fragment #5—Scholiast on Euripides, Phoen. 1116: ‘And (Hera) set a
watcher upon her (Io), great and strong Argus, who with four eyes looks
every way. And the goddess stirred in him unwearying strength: sleep
never fell upon his eyes; but he kept sure watch always.’
Fragment #6—Scholiast on Homer, Il. xxiv. 24: ‘Slayer of Argus’.
According to Hesiod’s tale he (Hermes) slew (Argus) the herdsman of Io.
Fragment #7—Athenaeus, xi. p. 503: And the author of the “Aegimius”,
whether he is Hesiod or Cercops of Miletus (says): ‘There, some day,
shall be my place of refreshment, O leader of the people.’
Fragment #8—Etym. Gen.: Hesiod (says there were so called) because they
settled in three groups: ‘And they all were called the Three-fold
people, because they divided in three the land far from their country.’
For (he says) that three Hellenic tribes settled in Crete, the Pelasgi,
Achaeans and Dorians. And these have been called Three-fold People.
FRAGMENTS OF UNKNOWN POSITION
Fragment #1—Diogenes Laertius, viii. 1. 26: 2301 ‘So Urania bare Linus,
a very lovely son: and him all men who are singers and harpers do
bewail at feasts and dances, and as they begin and as they end they
call on Linus....’
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. i. p. 121: ‘....who was skilled in all
manner of wisdom.’
Fragment #2—Scholiast on Homer, Odyssey, iv. 232: ‘Unless Phoebus
Apollo should save him from death, or Paean himself who knows the
remedies for all things.’
Fragment #3—Clement of Alexandria, Protrept, c. vii. p. 21: ‘For he
alone is king and lord of all the undying gods, and no other vies with
him in power.’
Fragment #4—Anecd. Oxon (Cramer), i. p. 148: ‘(To cause?) the gifts of
the blessed gods to come near to earth.’
Fragment #5—Clement of Alexandria, Strom. i. p. 123: ‘Of the Muses who
make a man very wise, marvellous in utterance.’
Fragment #6—Strabo, x. p. 471: ‘But of them (sc. the daughters of
Hecaterus) were born the divine mountain Nymphs and the tribe of
worthless, helpless Satyrs, and the divine Curetes, sportive dancers.’
Fragment #7—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 824: ‘Beseeching
the offspring of glorious Cleodaeus.’
Fragment #8—Suidas, s.v.: ‘For the Olympian gave might to the sons of
Aeacus, and wisdom to the sons of Amythaon, and wealth to the sons of
Atreus.’
Fragment #9—Scholiast on Homer, Iliad, xiii. 155: ‘For through his lack
of wood the timber of the ships rotted.’
Fragment #10—Etymologicum Magnum: ‘No longer do they walk with delicate
feet.’
Fragment #11—Scholiast on Homer, Iliad, xxiv. 624: ‘First of all they
roasted (pieces of meat), and drew them carefully off the spits.’
Fragment #12—Chrysippus, Fragg. ii. 254. 11: ‘For his spirit increased
in his dear breast.’
Fragment #13—Chrysippus, Fragg. ii. 254. 15: ‘With such heart grieving
anger in her breast.’
Fragment #14—Strabo, vii. p. 327: ‘He went to Dodona and the oak-grove,
the dwelling place of the Pelasgi.’
Fragment #15—Anecd. Oxon (Cramer), iii. p. 318. not.: ‘With the
pitiless smoke of black pitch and of cedar.’
Fragment #16—Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 757: ‘But he
himself in the swelling tide of the rain-swollen river.’
Fragment #17—Stephanus of Byzantium: (The river) Parthenius, ‘Flowing
as softly as a dainty maiden goes.’
Fragment #18—Scholiast on Theocritus, xi. 75: ‘Foolish the man who
leaves what he has, and follows after what he has not.’
Fragment #19—Harpocration: ‘The deeds of the young, the counsels of the
middle-aged, and the prayers of the aged.’
Fragment #20—Porphyr, On Abstinence, ii. 18. p. 134: ‘Howsoever the
city does sacrifice, the ancient custom is best.’
Fragment #21—Scholiast on Nicander, Theriaca, 452: ‘But you should be
gentle towards your father.’
Fragment #22—Plato, Epist. xi. 358: ‘And if I said this, it would seem
a poor thing and hard to understand.’
Fragment #23—Bacchylides, v. 191-3: Thus spake the Boeotian, even
Hesiod 2302, servant of the sweet Muses: ‘whomsoever the immortals
honour, the good report of mortals also followeth him.’
DOUBTFUL FRAGMENTS
Fragment #1—Galen, de plac. Hipp. et Plat. i. 266: ‘And then it was
Zeus took away sense from the heart of Athamas.’
Fragment #2—Scholiast on Homer, Od. vii. 104: ‘They grind the yellow
grain at the mill.’
Fragment #3—Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. ii. 1: ‘Then first in Delos did I
and Homer, singers both, raise our strain—stitching song in new
hymns—Phoebus Apollo with the golden sword, whom Leto bare.’
Fragment #4—Julian, Misopogon, p. 369: ‘But starvation on a handful is
a cruel thing.’
Fragment #5—Servius on Vergil, Aen. iv. 484: Hesiod says that these
Hesperides........daughters of Night, guarded the golden apples beyond
Ocean: ‘Aegle and Erythea and ox-eyed Hesperethusa.’
Fragment #6—Plato, Republic, iii. 390 E: ‘Gifts move the gods, gifts
move worshipful princes.’
Fragment #7—2402 Clement of Alexandria, Strom. v. p. 256: ‘On the
seventh day again the bright light of the sun....’
Fragment #8—Apollonius, Lex. Hom.: ‘He brought pure water and mixed it
with Ocean’s streams.’
Fragment #9—Stephanus of Byzantium: ‘Aspledon and Clymenus and god-like
Amphidocus.’ (sons of Orchomenus).
Fragment #10—Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. iii. 64: ‘Telemon never sated
with battle first brought light to our comrades by slaying blameless
Melanippe, destroyer of men, own sister of the golden-girdled queen.’