Πακτωλὸν: mentioned here as the river on which Sardis was situated, —that city being a famous seat of Cybele's worship. Her. 5. 102“Σάρδιες μὲν ἐνεπρήσθησαν” (during the Ionian revolt in 502 C.B. ), “ἐν δὲ αὐτῇσι καὶ ἱρὸν ἐπιχωρίης θεοῦ Κυβήβης: τὸ σκηπτόμενοι οἱ Πέρσαι ὕστερον ἀντενεπίμπρασαν τὰ ἐν Ἕλλησιν ἱρά”. Hence an Athenian poet might well think of Sardis in speaking of Cybele. Lydiawas included in the older and larger meaning of Phrygia (cp. Ant. 825 n.). εὔχρυσον. When the attribute of a noun which has the article consists of more than one element (as here of “μέγαν” and “εὔχρυσον”), part of it may stand between the art. and noun, and the rest after the noun, without art.: cp. 986 “τὸ παγκρατὲς σέλας” | “Ἡφαιστότευκτον”: O.T. 1199 “τὰν γαμψώνυχα παρθένον” | “χρησμῳδόν”. The Pactolus brought down gold dust from Mount Tmolus, the range just south of Sardis ( Verg. Aen. 10. 142: Hor. Epod. 15. 19, etc.).
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part IV: The Philoctetes. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1932.
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