Friday, October 21, 2022
Epitaph of a Pankratiast
Reinhold Merkelbach and Josef Stauber, edd., Steinepigramme aus dem griechischen Osten, Bd. 3: Der „Ferne Osten“ und das Landesinnere bis zum Tauros (München: K.G. Säur, 2001), p. 323, number 16/34/37 (click once or twice to enlarge):
Werner Peek, Griechische Vers-Inschriften, Vol. I: Grab-Epigramme (Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, 1955), p. 69, number 263:
Simplified transcription of the Greek:
Newer› ‹Older
βουλευτής περ ἐὼν [⏑⏑– τὸν τύμβον] ἔτευξεν.Translation:
εἰδὼς θνητογόνων τέρματα τοῦ βιότου,
εὐπατρίδης γεγαὼς οὗτος, φίλε, καὶ σθενέγαυρος
πολλοὺς ἀθλητὰς ἤνυσε πανκρατίῳ.
ἀλλὰ πόνου τόδε κῦδος· ὁ ζῶν δὲ τρυφῆς ἀπόλαυσον,
πρὶν σὲ λιπῖν τὸ φάος· τὰ γὰρ ὧδε κάτω μ' ἐπερώτα.
Being a councillor [...] he built the tomb,
knowing the limits of the life of those born of mortal parents.
Being of noble family, o friend, and exulting in his strength,
he defeated many combatants in the pankration.
But this is the renown of toil. You who live, enjoy luxury,
before you leave the light; for ask me about the things here below.
