THEOCRITUS
Theokritos (Θεοκριτος).
Born about 310 BCE in Syracuse.
Died about 250 BCE.
Wikipedia (English),
Wikipédia (French).
POEMS
Idylls (Ειδυλλια).
English: Idylls (James Banks [Davies], 1853, ed. 1864).
French: Idylles (Leconte de Lisle, 1861, ed. 1869).
Epigrams (Επιγραμματα).
English: Epigrams (James Banks [Davies], 1853, ed. 1864).
French: Épigrammes (Leconte de Lisle, 1861, ed. 1869).
The detailed lists of Idylls and Epigrams below use Christoph Ziegler’s numbering (Theocriti carmina, 1867 and 1879) converted into Arabic numerals. My additional numbers are between square brackets. For questions of authenticity, I have followed Roger James Cholmeley (The Idylls of Theocritus, 1901). The Idylls that can safely be ascribed to Theocritus are Nos. 1–18, 22, 24, 26 and 28–30, to which we can add the fragment from the lost Berenice [32]. Idyll No. 25 and Megara [33] are most likely by the same author, but there is no consensus on this author’s identity. There is also debate about Idyll No. 21. The Epigrams that can be ascribed to Theocritus with the least uncertainty are Nos. 1, 8, 10, 13, 17–19 and 22.
IDYLLS
1. Thyrsis, or the Song (Θυρσις η ωδη).
English: Thyrsis the Shepherd, and the Goatherd (James Banks).
French: Le Pasteur Thyrsis et le chevrier (Leconte de Lisle).
2. The Sorceresses (Φαρμακευτριαι).
English: The Sorceress (James Banks).
French: La Magicienne (Leconte de Lisle).
3. The Serenade (Κωμος).
English: The Goatherd, or Amaryllis, or the Serenader (James Banks).
French: Le Chevrier, ou Amaryllis (Leconte de Lisle).
4. The Herdsmen Battus and Corydon (Νομεις Βαττος και Κορυδων).
English: The Herdsmen, or Battus and Corydon (James Banks).
French: Les Pasteurs (Leconte de Lisle).
5. The Pastoral Poets Comatas and Lacon (Βουκολιασται Κοματας και Λακων).
Other title: The Goatherd and the Shepherd (Αιπολικον και ποιμενικον).
English: The Wayfarers, or Composers of Pastorals (James Banks).
French: Les Boucoliastes — Komatas et Lakôn (Leconte de Lisle).
6. The Pastoral Poets Daphnis and Damoitas (Βουκολιασται Δαφνις και Δαμοιτας).
English: The Singers of Pastorals (James Banks).
French: Les Boucoliastes — Damoitas et Daphnis (Leconte de Lisle).
7. The Thalysia (Θαλυσια).
English: The Thalysia (James Banks).
French: Les Thalysies (Leconte de Lisle).
8. The Pastoral Poets Daphnis and Menalcas [I] (Βουκολιασται Δαφνις και Μεναλκας).
English: The Singers of Pastorals (James Banks).
French: Les Boucoliastes (Leconte de Lisle).
9. The Pastoral Poets Daphnis and Menalcas [II] (Βουκολιασται Δαφνις και Μεναλκας).
English: The Pastor, or the Herdsmen (James Banks).
French: Daphnis et Ménalkas (Leconte de Lisle).
10. The Husbandmen, or the Reapers (Εργατιναι η θερισται).
English: The Workmen, or Reapers (James Banks).
French: Les Moissonneurs — Milôn et Battos (Leconte de Lisle).
11. The Cyclops (Κυκλωψ).
English: Cyclops (James Banks).
French: Le Kyklôps (Leconte de Lisle).
12. The Beloved (Αιτης).
English: Aites (James Banks).
French: L’Ami (Leconte de Lisle).
13. Hylas (Υλας).
English: Hylas (James Banks).
French: Hylas (Leconte de Lisle).
14. The Love of Cyniska, or Thyonichus (Κυνισκας ερως η Θυωνιχος).
English: The Love of Cyniska, or Thyonichus (James Banks).
French: L’Amour de Kyniska (Leconte de Lisle).
15. The Syracusan Women, or the Festival of Adonis (Συρακουσιαι η Αδωνιαζουσαι).
English: The Syracusan Women, or Adoniazusæ (James Banks).
French: Les Syracusaines ou les Fêtes d’Adônis (Leconte de Lisle).
16. The Charites, or Hiero (Χαριτες η Ιερων).
English: The Graces, or Hiero (James Banks).
French: Les Kharites ou Hiérôn (Leconte de Lisle).
17. Panegyric of Ptolemy (Εγκωμιον εις Πτολεμαιον).
English: The Praise of Ptolemy (James Banks).
French: Éloge de Ptolémaios (Leconte de Lisle).
18. Epithalamium of Helen (Ελενης επιθαλαμιος).
English: The Epithalamium of Helen (James Banks).
French: Épithalame de Héléna (Leconte de Lisle).
19. The Stealer of Honeycombs (Κηριοκλεπτης).
Doubtful ascription.
English: The Stealer of Honey-Combs (James Banks).
French: Le Kèrioklèpte (Leconte de Lisle).
20. The Cowherd (Βουκολισκος).
Doubtful ascription.
English: The Herdsman (James Banks).
French: Le Bouvier (Leconte de Lisle).
21. The Fishermen (Αλιεις).
Uncertain ascription.
English: The Fishermen (James Banks).
French: Les Pêcheurs — Asphaliôn et Olpis (Leconte de Lisle).
22. The Dioscuri (Διοσκουροι).
Other title: Hymn to the Dioscuri (Υμνος εις Διοσκουρους).
English: The Dioscuri (James Banks).
French: Les Dioskoures (Leconte de Lisle).
23. The Lover (Εραστης).
Doubtful ascription.
English: The Lover, or Love-Sick (James Banks).
French: L’Amant ou l’Insensible (Leconte de Lisle).
24. The Little Heracles (Ηρακλισκος).
English: The Little Hercules (James Banks).
French: Hèraklès enfant (Leconte de Lisle).
25. Heracles the Lion-Slayer (Ηρακλης λεοντοφονος).
Uncertain ascription. Same author as Megara.
English: Hercules the Lion-Slayer, or the Wealth of Augeas (James Banks).
French: Hèraklès tueur de lions, ou la Richesse d’Augéias (Leconte de Lisle).
26. The Bacchanals, or the Bacchantes (Ληναι η Βακχαι).
Doubtful ascription.
English: The Bacchanals (James Banks).
French: Les Lènaies, ou les Bacchantes (Leconte de Lisle).
27. The Fond Discourse (Οαριστυς).
Doubtful ascription.
English: The Fond Discourse of Daphnis and the Damsel (James Banks).
French: Entretien de Daphnis et d’une jeune fille (Leconte de Lisle).
28. The Distaff (Ηλακατη).
English: The Distaff (James Banks).
French: La Quenouille (Leconte de Lisle).
29. The Beloved (Παιδικα).
Other title: Love Idyll (Ειδυλλιον ερωντος).
English: Loves (James Banks).
French: L’Amitié (Leconte de Lisle).
30. The Aeolian Beloved (Παιδικα αιολικα).
English: The Second Love-Poem (John Maxwell Edmonds, 1916).
[31] On the Death of Adonis (Εις νεκρον Αδωνιν).
Doubtful ascription. Formerly No. 30.
English: The Death of Adonis (James Banks).
French: Sur la mort d’Adônis (Leconte de Lisle).
[32] From the Berenice (Εκ της Βερενικης).
Athenaeus, Deipnosophists, VII, 284.
English: A Fragment from the Berenice (James Banks).
French: Fragment de la Béronika (Leconte de Lisle).
[33] Megara (Μεγαρα).
Uncertain ascription. Formerly ascribed to Moschus.
English: Megara (John Maxwell Edmonds, 1916).
French: Mégara, femme de Hèraklès (Leconte de Lisle).
EPIGRAMS
1. These dewy roses... (Τα ροδα τα δροσοεντα).
Greek Anthology, VI, 336.
English: These dewy roses... (James Banks).
French: Anathème aux Muses et à Apollôn (Leconte de Lisle).
2. The fair-skinned Daphnis... (Δαφνις ο λευκοχρως).
Greek Anthology, VI, 177.
English: Daphnis the fair-complexioned... (James Banks).
French: Anathème à Pan, par Daphnis (Leconte de Lisle).
3. You sleep on a leaf-strewn ground... (Ευδεις φυλλοστρωτι πεδω).
Greek Anthology, IX, 338.
English: Daphnis, you sleep... (James Banks).
French: Sur Daphnis le chevrier (Leconte de Lisle).
4. Towards this path... (Τηναν ταν λαυραν).
Greek Anthology, IX, 437.
English: When you have turned down yon lane... (James Banks).
French: Chevrier, va vers ce lieu... (Leconte de Lisle).
5. Are you willing, before the Nymphs... (Λης ποτι ταν Νυμφαν).
Greek Anthology, IX, 433.
English: Are you willing... (James Banks).
French: Symphonie (Leconte de Lisle).
6. Ah, wretched Thyrsis... (Α δειλαιε τυ Θυρσι).
Greek Anthology, IX, 432.
English: Ah! thou wretched Thyrsis... (James Banks).
French: Sur Thyrsis le chevrier pleurant une chèvre qu’un loup a dévorée (Leconte de Lisle).
7. You left an infant son... (Νηπιον υιον ελειπες).
Greek Anthology, VII, 659. Doubtful ascription. Formerly No. 14.
English: An Epitaph of Eurymedon (James Banks).
French: Épitaphe d’Eurymédôn (Leconte de Lisle).
8. He also came to Miletus... (Ηλθε και ες Μιλητον).
Greek Anthology, VI, 337. Formerly No. 7.
English: Upon a Statue of Æsculapius (James Banks).
French: Sur Nikias le médecin (Leconte de Lisle).
9. O foreigner, the Syracusan... (Ξεινε Συρακοστιος).
Greek Anthology, VII, 660. Doubtful ascription. Formerly No. 8.
English: The Epitaph of Orthon (James Banks).
French: Épitaphe d’Orthôn (Leconte de Lisle).
10. This to you, O goddesses... (Υμιν τουτο θεαι).
Greek Anthology, VI, 338.
English: Upon a Statue of the Muses (James Banks).
French: Sur Xénoklès, qui avait dédié aux Muses un groupe en marbre (Leconte de Lisle).
11. Tomb of Eusthenes... (Ευσθενεος το μνημα).
Greek Anthology, VII, 661. Doubtful ascription.
English: An Epitaph on Eusthenes the Physiognomist (James Banks).
French: Épitaphe d’Eusthénès le physiognômoniste (Leconte de Lisle).
12. Demomeles the chorus leader... (Δημομελης ο χορηγος).
Greek Anthology, VI, 339.
English: Upon a Tripod Dedicated to Bacchus by Demotheles (James Banks).
French: Sur un trépied consacré à Dionysos par Damotélès (Leconte de Lisle).
13. She is not the common Cypris... (Η Κυπρις ου πανδημος).
Greek Anthology, VI, 340.
English: Upon an Image of the Heavenly Aphrodite (James Banks).
French: Sur une statue d’Aphrodita Ouranienne (Leconte de Lisle).
14. To citizens and foreigners... (Αστοις και ξεινοισιν).
Greek Anthology, IX, 435. Formerly No. 23.
English: This bank allows the same... (James Banks).
French: Sur le changeur Kairos (Leconte de Lisle).
15. I will know if you give more to the good ones... (Γνωσομαι ει τι νεμεις αγαθοις πλεον).
Greek Anthology, VII, 658. Doubtful ascription.
English: Upon the Same [Eurymedon] (James Banks).
French: Sur le même [Eurymédôn] (Leconte de Lisle).
16. The girl left untimely... (Η παις ωχετ αωρος).
Greek Anthology, VII, 662. Doubtful ascription.
English: The girl is gone to Hades... (William Paton, 1917, ed. 1919).
French: Épitaphe de Péristéris (Leconte de Lisle).
17. Watch this statue... (Θασαι τον ανδριαντα τουτον).
Greek Anthology, IX, 599. Formerly No. 16.
English: Upon a Statue of Anacreon (James Banks).
French: Sur une statue d’Anakréôn (Leconte de Lisle).
18. These words are Doric... (Α τε φωνα Δωριος).
Greek Anthology, IX, 600. Formerly No. 17.
English: Upon Epicharmus (James Banks).
French: Sur Épikharmos (Leconte de Lisle).
19. Here lies the poet Hipponax... (Ο μουσοποιος ενθαδ Ιππωναξ κειται).
Greek Anthology, XIII, 3. Formerly No. 21.
English: Upon Hipponax, the Poet (James Banks).
French: Sur Hippônax (Leconte de Lisle).
20. The little one made this for the Thracian woman... (Ο μικκος τοδ ετευξε τα Θραισσα).
Greek Anthology, VII, 663. Doubtful ascription. Formerly No. 18.
English: The Epitaph of Cleita, Nurse of Medeius (James Banks).
French: Épitaphe de Kleita, nourrice de Mèdéios (Leconte de Lisle).
21. Stop and watch Archilochus... (Αρχιλοχον και σταθι και εισιδε).
Greek Anthology, VII, 664. Doubtful ascription. Formerly No. 19.
English: Upon Archilochus (James Banks).
French: Sur Arkhilokhos (Leconte de Lisle).
22. Of Zeus's son this man... (Τον του Ζανος οδ υμιν υιον ωνηρ).
Greek Anthology, IX, 598. Formerly No. 20.
English: Upon a Statue of Pisander, Who Composed “The Labours of Hercules” (James Banks).
French: Sur une statue de Peisandros, auteur de la Hèrakléide (Leconte de Lisle).
[23] The inscription will say... (Αυδησει το γραμμα).
Greek Anthology, VII, 262. Doubtful ascription.
English: The inscription will declare... (James Banks).
French: L’inscription vous dira quel est ce monument... (Félix Dehèque, 1863).
[24] These offerings to Apollo are ancient... (Αρχαια τωπολλωνι ταναθηματα).
Greek Anthology, IX, 436. Doubtful ascription.
English: An Inscription from Syracuse (William Paton, 1917).
French: Ces statues consacrées à Apollon... (Félix Dehèque, 1863).
[25] Man, be careful... (Ανθρωπε ζωης περιφειδεο).
Greek Anthology, VII, 534. Doubtful ascription. Formerly No. 9.
English: Good man, be careful of your life... (James Banks).
French: Sur Kléonikos, naufragé à Thasos (Leconte de Lisle).
[26] The one of Chios is another man... (Αλλος ο Χιος).
Greek Anthology, IX, 434. Doubtful ascription. Formerly No. 22.
English: An Epigram of Theocritus Upon His Own Book (James Banks).
French: Il y a un Théokritos de Khios... (Leconte de Lisle).
[27] The Pan Flute (Συριγξ).
Greek Anthology, XV, 21.
English: The Pipe (William Paton, 1918).
French: L’épouse d’Ulysse... (Félix Dehèque, 1863).
Created on 1 October 2020. Updated on 18 October 2020.
