Cleanthes: Hymn to Zeus

William S. Annis
Aoidoi.org*
February 26, 2012
There are a few lines with doubtful words or even entire phrases. In the interest of cohesion, I have selected among the many scholarly attempts at repair,
which are marked with either a crux () or angled brackets.
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1

() noblest, greatest. having many names.

all-powerful.
2
origin; nature, character. originating; leading; as n. founder, originator;
in philosophy first cause, originating power. note accenting it governs .

steer, guide; govern.

3
Epic = dat.pl.m. . law, justice, right; with dat. + inf., it is right that...
- address; speak (of).
4
anything immitated, copy. obtain by lot, win for oneself;
of divine duties be assigned + acc. or gen.
5
Epic = . move slowly; walk. (Epic) earth; and again in l.7.
6
here therefore. - sing of constantly. strength, might, power, esp. political power.
7
see in the next line. spin, turn something around; mid. turn
onself around, rotate.
8
here of place, with subjunctive, wherever. () Epic = . readily, willingly.
Epic = . be strong; rule over; seize, hold fast.



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rendering service, conducive to; agreeing with l.10 . ()

unconquerable, agreeing with . Epic = .
10
two-edged, forked, with . fiery.
() everliving. thunderbolt; the author seems to be pairing Zeus traditional tool
with the Stoic conception of fire () as the fundamental substance of the cosmos.
11
= . Epic dat.pl. blow, strike. fulfil, accomplish.
12
= . - () make, keep straight; guide. universal reason.
see l.13.
13
- in tmesis, permeate + gen. both should be taken with
, but as separate things, the great light being the sun. Epic dat.pl. light.
14
so great, so much. perf.act.part. nom.sg.m. of .
for all (time).
15
earth. adv. in two, apart; prep. apart from, without, often following its noun,
as here. , voc. god, divinity.
16
() high in the air; celestial, heavenly. divine, godlike. pivot,
axis; celestial sphere, vault of the sky. sea.
17
here conj., except. as much, how much. do, make, accomplish.
their (own). lack of understanding, folly.
18
prodigious, remarkable; excessive, extravagant. perfect, complete,
proper. aor.act.inf. of , here make.
19
set in order, prepare; adorn, dress. = ; disorderly.
take this as a single unit.
20
- join together, adapt, unite. noble, good, worthy, fine.
21
in order to + inf. Epic pres.act.part. acc.sg.m. of .
22
permit, allow; leave alone, be done with.
23
ill-fated. here good things, with . acquisition,
possession, holding. long for, yearn for.

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25

26

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Wilamowitz.

24

- see, look at. see l.12. hear, perceive; pay attention to.
(mode of) life. contracted dat.sg. mind, sense; wisely.
26
again; furthermore. set in motion, urge on; rush. here an abstract noun.
each after other things.
27
here, for, on behalf of, in the name of. opinion; reputation. haste, speed,
effort. contentious, full of strife.
28
cunning, craft; gain. turn; pass. turn oneself to. dat. of
25

manner.
29
picking up l.28 . loosening, relaxation; indulgence, license.
30
- () fall in with + dat. - in tmesis, be eager for, rush after; with
sometimes to this, sometimes to that.
31
urge on, press on; promote; here with acc. + inf. wholly, altogether.
opposite, facing; reverse, contradictory.
32
dispenser of all. wrapped in clouds. having
bright lightening.
33
() guard, protect; save. ignorance, inexperience. baneful, mournful, miserable.
34
aor.imp.2sg. scatter, disperse. = aor.imp. , here allow,
grant. hit the mark, reach, obtain.
35
thought, judgement, intelligence. trusting in, relying on.
36
Epic conj. so that. aor.pass.part. nom.pl.m. honor. Epic mid.1pl.
change with someone; answer in words or in kind.
37
sing, praise. continuous, perpetual, here adverbial. - be fit, proper,
appropriate; normally this would take dat. + inf. or acc. + inf.; the acc. + pcpl. in l.38 is a bit unexpected.
38
Epic for . gift of honor; privilege, prerogative; some other
honor. comparative of .
39
than, with l.38 .