Zenobius 4.54

More numerous than the Callicyrians

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English

Proverb

More numerous than the Callicyrians

Explanation

so were called at Syracuse those who attacked the landholders — Callicyrians. Hence proverbially they used to say, whenever they wished to indicate a multitude, that they were "more numerous than the Callicyrians." These were slaves who drove out their masters. The reason for the name was that men of every kind came together for the same purpose — to set themselves upon the masters.

Greek

Proverb

Καλλικυρίων πλείους

Explanation

οὕτως ἐν Συρακούσαις ἐκλήθησαν οἱ ἐπειςελθόντες γεωμόροις Καλλικύριοι. Ἔνθεν παροιμιωδῶς ἔλεγον, εἴ ποτε πλῆθος ἤθελον ἐμφῆναι, ὅτι πλείους ἦσαν τῶν Καλλικυρίων. Δοῦλοι δὲ ἦσαν οὗτοι, καὶ τοὺς κυρίους ἐξέβαλον. Ἡ δὲ αἰτία τῆς κλήσεως αὐτῶν, διὰ τὸ παντοδαποὺς εἰς ταὐτὸ συνελθεῖν, ὥστε τοῖς κυρίοις ἐγκεῖσθαι,

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:4.54