Exchanging Aphrodite for Athena...and vice versa

These two mock-dedicatory epigrams are near-neighbours in Book 6 of the Anthology, and purport to record two women's changes in career and life circumstance. Effectively the women trade places. In 6.283 a formerly haughty courtesan has no choice but to exchange Aphrodite, goddess of sexual attraction, for Athena, patron goddess of weavers. In 6.285, a woman raised to the loom chucks it in and becomes a courtesan instead. I guess it is written as a satire on the type of poem represented by 6.283.

In the first poem, I take the liberty of paraphrasing the implacable divinity named in the Greek as Nemesis as 'the goddess of What Comes Around'. My excuse is that it unpacks her meaning and role in the poem more clearly for a modern audience, but really it just popped into my head and I loved how it sounded.

6.283 (on YouTube)

ANONYMOUS

She used to boast of how she ruled them all,

Those wealthy lovers; never bent a knee

Before the goddess of What Comes Around.

And now for pay she plucks the spindled wool

In meagre measures. Though she took her time,

Athena has despoiled the Cyprian.

I like to think there is a hint of condescension in the lemma of the second epigram — 'Nicarchus, apparently (dokei)', because it's the sort of thing you'd expect of a smutty satirist like him? Like Lucillius, Nicarchus was a poet known to and imitated by Martial.

6.285 (on YouTube)

NICARCHUS, APPARENTLY

Till recently, Nicarete would toil

In service to Athena at the loom,

Plying the shuttle on the web of yarn.

But then she took her basket and her spools

Out to the street along with all her gear —

Burned them in offering to the Cyprian.

‘Be off with you’, she said, ‘Starvation-wage

Of women who lack courage. All you know

Is how to kill the bloom of being young.’

And she has chosen garlands and the lyre,

That girl, and goes to parties, and enjoys

An enviable life amid good cheer.

‘A tenth of what I earn I’ll bring to you’,

She told the Cyprian; ‘Keep me in trade

And I shall render to you what is due.’

Arms for Apollo; dolls for Artemis

These two epigrams are newly translated for the blog and I enjoy the contrast that comes from pairing them. Mnasalcas was a poet of the early third century BC, so quite early in epigram's literary development; the authorship of 6.280 is unknown.

6.264 (on YouTube)

MNASALCAS

The shield of Alexander, Phylleus’ son,

I hang here as a holy offering

To lord Apollo of the golden hair.

Worn is my rim and tired by constant war,

Worn too my boss, but courage makes me shine,

Courage I earned in arming that brave man

Who set me here. From when I first was made,

I never have been worsted or outdone.

The second epigram sets its scene at the sanctuary of Artemis Limnatis on Mount Taygetus, on the border between Laconia and Messenia. The two states disputed control of the site for centuries. As at Artemis' sanctuary at Brauron in Attica, the cult activities at Limnae centred on rites of passage for girls. Both populations were Dorian, and the epigram gives Doric word-forms to this young Spartan or Messenian girl leaving girlhood behind for marriage.

6.280 (on YouTube)

ANONYMOUS

Timareta is soon to wed, and leaves

Her drums, and lovely ball; the braided net

That bunched her hair; her dolls as well, for you,

Limnaean Artemis. She is a girl,

And you a maiden also, as is right.

She also leaves the clothing of those dolls.

So, Leto, hold your hand above this girl.

The daughter of Timaretus is chaste;

Chastely preserve her on her sinless way.