ピンダロス『ピュティア』第4歌 : 樫の木の謎(263-299行)について
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概要
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Pindar's Py. IV. 263-269 is known as a very difficult passage to interpret. The common opinion today maintains that the oak is a metaphor of Damophilos who is mentioned in the last stanza and supposed to have stayed at Thebes in exile. This interpretation however, seems, to have two weak points; for one thing, the impression the oak gives us is not consistent with the description of Damophilos, and for another, the interpretation destroys the structure of the whole poem. 1. aischynoi, phthinokarpos, dystanon, heon eremosaisa choron-these words seem certainly to express something gloomy that may have existed in the condition Damophilos was placed in. On the other hand the main point of this metaphor lies in the strength the oak shows under hard circumstances. Moreover, at least from human view, the high qualities the oak shows as firewood or as a pillar (or a beam)are its aretes. As for Damophilos, his almost ideal qualities are elaborately praised, but his present situation is not suitable for them. 2. This poem can be divided into four parts. The first part consists largely of the long description of the myth, whose main motif is the praise of Arkesilas and his family. Then comes the second part-the oak passage. But the following epode is a demand to Archesilas, that he should heal Kyrene that has suffered from a rebellion. And there follows the last stanza, i.e. the Damophilos passage. Therefore, if the oak should be Damophilos, the most serious political crisis would be a mere 'Kontrastfolie' to a personal problem. Therefore, the oak passage, connecting the part of the myth and the part of the reality in the days of Archesilas, may have some historical element. It is probably the colonization of Kyrene which is mainly mentioned in Medea's prophecy(v. 13-56)and, as a historical fact, had such a gloomy aspect as can be seen in the description of the oak. It was carried out under very hard conditions. In the word 'heon eremosaisa choron', we can probably see inquietude and sadness of the colonists led by Battos I. The quality of forbearance of the Battiads was necessary for founding and maintaining Kyrene. If this is a meaning of the oak passage, Py. IV is not only the praise of Archesilas but also a remonstrance to him who seems not necessarily competent for the throne(Hdt. IV. 162-164). Moreover, by describing the high qualities of Damophilos(a friend of the people) at the last stanza, the poet may have wanted to show Archesilas an ideal king.
- 日本西洋古典学会の論文
- 1982-03-30
日本西洋古典学会 | 論文
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- クセルクセスの遠征軍の規模
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