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)’ 1712
((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.): 1720
(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.’ 1741
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.