Zenobius 5.23

A portion does not choke

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English

Proverb

Explanation

Dicaearchus says in his On Greece that it was not the ancients' custom at dinners to distribute portions; but for various reasons, when victuals fell short, the custom of portions prevailed, and hence the proverb. For when food was set out in common and not by parts, formerly the stronger used to snatch the food of the weaker, and it happened that they choked, unable to help themselves. For this reason the portioning was devised.

Greek

Proverb

Μερὶς οὐ πνίγει

Explanation

Δικαίαρχός φησιν ἐν τοῖς περὶ τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἐν τοῖς δείπνοις μὴ εἶναι σύνηθες τοῖς ἀρχαίοις διανέμειν μερίδας· διὰ δὲ προφάσεις τινὰς ἐνδεεστέρων γενομένων τῶν ἐδεσμάτων, κρατῆσαι τὸ ἔθος τῶν μερίδων, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τὴν παροιμίαν εἰρῆσθαι. Τῶν γὰρ ἐδεσμάτων κοινῇ καὶ μὴ κατὰ μέρος τιθεμένων, τὸ πρότερον οἱ δυνατώτεροι τὰς τροφὰς τῶν ἀσθενῶν ἥρπαζον, καὶ συνέβαινε τούτους ἀποπνίγεσθαι, μὴ δυναμένους ἑαυτοῖς βοηθεῖν. Διὰ τοῦτο οὖν ὁ μερισμὸς ἐπενοήθη.

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:5.23