Zenobius 5.40

Nothing to do with Dionysus

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English

Proverb

Nothing to do with Dionysus

Explanation

proverb of those saying things unsuited to their subject. Since the choruses originally were wont to sing the dithyramb to Dionysus, but the poets later, departing from this custom, set themselves to writing of Ajax and the Centaurs. Whence the spectators in mockery would say, "Nothing to do with Dionysus." For this reason, then, they later resolved to bring on the Satyrs at the start, that they might not seem to forget the god.

Greek

Proverb

Οὐδὲν πρὸς τὸν Διόνυσον

Explanation

ἐπὶ τῶν τὰ μὴ προςήκοντα τοῖς ὑποκειμένοις λεγόντων ἡ παροιμία εἴρηται. Ἐπειδὴ τῶν χορῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς εἰθισμένων διθύραμβον ᾄδειν εἰς τὸν Διόνυσον, οἱ ποιηταὶ ὕστερον ἐκβάντες τὴν συνήθειαν ταύτην, Αἴαντας καὶ Κενταύρους γράφειν ἐπεχείρουν. Ὅθεν οἱ θεώμενοι σκώπτοντες ἔλεγον, Οὐδὲν πρὸς τὸν Διόνυσον. Διὰ γοῦν τοῦτο τοὺς Σατύρους ὕστερον ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς προειςάγειν, ἵνα μὴ δοκῶσιν ἐπιλανθάνεσθαι τοῦ θεοῦ.

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:5.40