Thursday, April 14, 2022
The Dearest Thing
Euripides, Medea 328-329 (tr. David Kovacs):
Newer› ‹Older
MEDEADonald J. Mastronarde ad loc.:
O fatherland, how I think of you now!
CREON
Yes, after my children it is much the dearest thing to me.
ΜΗΔΕΙΑ
ὦ πατρίς, ὥς σου κάρτα νῦν μνείαν ἔχω.
ΚΡΕΩΝ
πλὴν γὰρ τέκνων ἔμοιγε φίλτατον πολύ.
φίλτατον πολύ: the notion that one's own homeland is dear or beloved is a commonplace: Phoen. 359, 388, 406-7, Hcld. 506-7, fr. 360.53-4; for rating this love before or after that of children (or parents) see also Erechtheus fr. 1 TGFS.
