N² – Fragments of Euripides, cited according to A. Nauck

N² – Fragments of Euripides, cited according to A. Nauck, Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta, 2nd ed., Leipzig 1889.

New Translations

Myrmidones fr 132 N² – p. 43

And take me, foreigner, whether you prefer as servant or bedmate or slave . . .  (Transl. Silvio Curtis)   EGM p. 307 lower

Bellerophontes fr 286 N2  – p. 445

People ask: Do gods really exist in heaven?  No, they do not exist, they really don’t; if any of mankind wishes to avoid being the sort of fool who follows the ancient story.  Consider it for yourselves, don’t take my word for it.  I say that tyranny destroys multitudes and confiscates their possessions; oath-breakers sack cities; and yet, those who do such things are far more prosperous than those who, day by day, live devoutly and in peace.  I know of small cities where the gods are honored:  yet these same cities are forced to comply with the demands of impious men in larger cities, overpowered by the sheer magnitude of their armament. (transl. by Mary Emerson)  Greek Text   EGM p. 315

Bellerophontes fr 309 N2pp. 451-2

Plutarch, On Excessive Shame c. 3 p. 529 E:

… One should not take delight in the bewitchment of approval … nor, as did the Pegasus of Euripides “who cowered and yielded more than he really wished” to his master Bellerophon, should one surrender oneself to people’s demands.

Plutarch, [Precepts for Statecraft] Praec. Gerendae rei publ. c. 13, 11 p. 807 E:

Agesilaos himself became very weak and submissive with regard to the affairs of his friends, and like the Pegasus of Euripides “cowered and yielded more than he wished to”; and by lending a hand with their misfortunes more eagerly than was necessary, he seemed to be involving himself with their wrong-doings. (Transl. Mary Emerson)  Greek Text   EGM p. 315

Bellerophontes fr 312 N2  p. 452

Harnessed to the chariot of Zeus, he bears the lightening-bolt.

Ar. Pac. 722:

HERMES.  He’s not here, chum. (sc. The dung beetle)

TRYG.  So where’s he gone?

HERMES. “Harnessed to the chariot of Zeus, he bears the lightening-bolt.”

(Scholia Ven.:  The line is from the Bellerophon of Euripides. (Transl. Mary Emerson)  Greek Text  EGM p. 315

Stheneboia – pp. 567-68 N²

Ar. Ran. 1043 makes Aischylos say:  But, by Zeus, I did not create whores like Phaidra and Stheneboia.

Also v. 1051:  … you persuaded the noble wives of noble husbands to drink hemlock when they felt shame because of your Bellerophonteis [plural of Bellerophontes] …

Scholion Greg. Cor. From the Codex Mediceo partim in Rhet. Vol. 7 p. 1321, further amended by Welcker, Tragedies, p.777:

Euripides says this in his play Sthenoboia when he presents Bellerophontes giving a monologue.  This is the backstory:  Proitos was son of Akamas [or Abas], [brother] of Akrisios, and king of Tiryns. Having married Stheneboia he bred children* from her.  But, when Bellerophontes came as a fugitive from Korinth because of a murder, Proitos cleansed him of the defilement, while his wife fell in love with him [Bellerophontes].  When she was not able to achieve what she desired, she falsely accused the Korinthian as her rapist.  Proitos believed the accusation and sent him away to Karia, to meet his death; and he ordered him to take to Iobates a writing-tablet (on which he had written a message).  Iobates, acting in accordance with the message, ordered him to take his chance with the Chimaira.  So he fought with the beast, destroyed it, [and after that] turning back to Tiryns, first confronted Proitos, and then threatened that he would strangle (carry off cod.)  Stheneboia.  Learning that she, the wife of Proitos, again desired him, he returned and mounted Stheneboia onto Pegasos.  And coming to the sea, he held her tightly up aloft.  When he was approaching the island of Melos, he hurled her into the sea; some sea-folk who found her corpse conveyed it to Tiryns.  Bellerophontes, having returned to Proitos, confessed that he had done these things.

*) Cf. Apollodoros 2,2,1: He (Proitos) came to Lykia to Iobates, but according to certain people, Amphianax, and marries his daughter; she was named Anteia according to Homer, but according to tragedians was Stheneboia.  [see p. 311 lower] (Transl. Mary Emerson)  Greek Text   EGM p. 315

fr 861 N² – p. 639

Demonstrating the opposite path of the stars I saved the people and made myself ruler.  (Transl. Timothy N. Gantz)  Greek Text  EGM p. 547

fr 930 N² – p. 661

Alas! My half is becoming a dragon. Embrace what’s left of your father, child! (Transl. Aaron J. Ivey)  Greek Text   EGM p. 236

fr 1001 N² –  p. 681

Having seized it, carries around a ball of yarn  (Transl. E. Bianchelli)  Greek Text  EGM  p. 264

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