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[*] 827. （a) Participles, like adjectives, are occasionally used substantively even without the article, in an indefinite sense; generally in the plural. E.g. Ἔπλει δώδεκα τριήρεις ἔχων ἐπὶ πολλὰς ναῦς κεκτημένους, “he sailed with twelve triremes against men who had many ships.” XEN. Hell. v. 1, 19. Ὅταν πολεμούντων πόλις ἁλῷ, “whenever a city of belligerents is taken.” Id. Cyr. vii. 5, Id. Cyr. 73. Μετὰ ταῦτα ἀφικνοῦνταί μοι ἀπαγγέλλοντες ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ ἀφεῖται, there come messengers announcing, etc. ISOC. xvii. 11. Δύναιτ᾽ ἂν οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἰσχύων φυγεῖν, “not even a strong man could escape.” SOPH. El. 697. “Οὐκ ἔστι φιλοῦντα ῾α λοϝεῤ μὴ ἀντιφιλεῖσθαι;” Lys. 212 （b) This use in the singular appears especially in θνητὸν ὄντα, one who is a mortal. This indefinite expression, though masculine, may refer to both sexes. E.g. Ἐν ποικίλοις δὲ θνητὸν ὄντα κάλλεσιν βαίνειν ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδαμῶς ἄνευ φόβου, i.e. for a mortal (like myself) to walk on these rich embroideries, etc. AESCH. Ag. 923. Κούφως φέρειν χρὴ θνητὸν ὄντα συμφοράς, (one who is) a mortal (like yourself) must bear calamities lightly (addressed to Medea). EUR. Med. 1018.So in SOPH. Ant. 455 θνητὸν ὄνθ̓ means a mortal (like myself), and refers to Antigone, not to Creon ; she means that Creon 's proclamations could not justify her in violating the edicts of the Gods.
Macmillan. London, Melbourne, Toronto. 1889. reprint edition:. St. Martin's Press. New York. 1965.
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