THE GENITIVE PROPER WITH NOUNS: (ADNOMINAL GENITIVE)
[*] 1290. A substantive in the genitive limits the meaning of a substantive on which it depends.
[*] 1291. The genitive limits for the time being the scope of the substantive on which it depends by referring it to a particular class or description, or by regarding it as a part of a whole. The genitive is akin in meaning to the adjective and may often be translated by an epithet. Cp.
στέφανος χρυ_σίου with
χρυ_σοῦς στέφανος, φόβος πολεμίου with
πολέμιος φόβος, τὸ εὖρος πλέθρου with
τὸ εὖρος πλεθριαῖον (
1035). But the use of the adjective is not everywhere parallel to that of the genitive.
[*] 1292. In poetry a genitive is often used with
βία_, μένος, σθένος might, etc., instead of the corresponding adjective:
βίη Διομήδεος mighty Diomede E 781.
[*] 1293. In poetry
δέμας form,
κάρα_ and
κεφαλή head, etc., are used with a genitive to express majestic or loved persons or objects:
Ἰσμήνης κάρα_ S. Ant. 1.
[*] 1294.
χρῆμα thing is used in prose with a genitive to express size, strength, etc.: ““
σφενδονητῶν πάμπολύ τι χρῆμα”
a very large mass of slingers”
X. C. 2.1.5. Cp.
1322.
[*] 1295. The genitive with substantives denotes in general a connection or dependence between two words. This connection must often be determined (1) by the meaning of the words, (2) by the context, (3) by the facts presupposed as known (
1301). The same construction may often be placed under more than one of the different classes mentioned below; and the connection between the two substantives is often so loose that it is difficult to include with precision all cases under specific grammatical classes.
a. The two substantives may be so closely connected as to be equivalent to a single compound idea:
τελευτὴ τοῦ βίου ‘life-end’ (cp.
life-time)
X. A. 1.1.1. Cp.
1146.
b. The genitive with substantives has either the attributive (
1154), or, in the case of the genitive of the divided whole (
1306), and of personal pronouns (
1185), the predicate, position (
1168).
[*] 1296. Words denoting number, especially numerals or substantives with numerals, often agree in case with the limited word instead of standing in the genitive: ““
φόρος τέσσαρα τάλαντα”
a tribute of four talents”
T. 4.57 (cp.
1323),
ἐς τὰ_ς ναῦς, αἳ ἐφρούρουν δύο, καταφυγόντες fleeing to the ships, two of which were keeping guard 4. 113. So with
οἱ μέν, οἱ δέ in apposition to the subject (
981).
GENITIVE OF POSSESSION OR BELONGING
[*] 1297. The genitive denotes ownership, possession, or belonging: ““
ἡ οἰκία_ ἡ Σίμωνος”
the house of Simon”
L. 3.32, ““
ὁ Κύ_ρου στόλος”
the expedition of Cyrus”
X. A. 1.2.5. Cp. the dative of possession (
1476).
[*] 1298. Here may be classed the genitive of origin: ““
οἱ Σόλωνος νόμοι”
the laws of Solon”
D. 20.103,
ἡ ἐπιστολὴ τοῦ Φιλίππου the letter of Philip 18. 37,
κύ_ματα παντοίων ἀνέμων waves caused by all kinds of winds B 396.
[*] 1299. The possessive genitive is used with the neuter article (singular or plural) denoting affairs, conditions, power, and the like: ““
τὸ τῶν ἐφόρων”
the power of the ephors”
P. L. 712d, ““
τὸ τῆς τέχνης”
the function of the art”
P. G. 450c, ““
τὸ τοῦ Σόλωνος”
the maxim of Solon”
P. Lach. 188b, ““
ἄδηλα τὰ τῶν πολέμων”
the chances of war are uncertain”
T. 2.11, ““
τὰ τῆς πόλεως”
the interests of the State”
P. A. 36c, ““
τὰ τοῦ δήμου φρονεῖ”
is on the side of the people”
Ar. Eq. 1216. Sometimes this is almost a mere periphrasis for the thing itself: ““
τὸ τῆς τύχης”
chance”
D. 4.12 τὰ τῆς σωτηρία_ς safety 23. 163,
τὸ τῆς ὁσία_ς, ὁτιδήποτ᾽ ἐστί the quality of holiness, whatever it is 21. 126, ““
τὸ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἡμῶν”
we elders”
P. L. 657d. So
τὸ τούτου S. Aj. 124 is almost =
οὗτος, as
τοὐμόν is =
ἐγώ or
ἐμέ. Cp.
L. 8.19.
[*] 1300. The genitive of possession may be used after a demonstrative or relative pronoun: ““
τοῦτό μου διαβάλλει”
he attacks this action of mine”
D. 18.28.
[*] 1301. With persons the genitive may denote the relation of child to parent, wife to husband, and of inferior to superior:
Θουκυ_δίδης ὁ Ὀλόρου Thucydides,
the son of Olorus T. 4.104 (and so
υιός is regularly omitted in Attic official documents),
Διὸς Ἄρτεμις Artemis,
daughter of Zeus S. Aj. 172, ““
ἡ Σμι_κυθίωνος Μελιστίχη”
Melistiche wife of Smicythion”
Ar. Eccl. 46,
Αυ_δὸς ὁ Φερεκλέους Lydus,
the slave of Pherecles And. 1.17, ““
οἱ Μένωνος”
the troops of Menon”
X. A. 1.5.13 (
οἱ τοῦ Μένωνος στρατιῶται 1. 5.
11).
a. In poetry we may have an attributive adjective:
Τελαμώνιος Αἴα_ς ( =
Αἴα_ς ὁ Τελαμῶνος) B 528. Cp. 846 f.
[*] 1302. The word on which the possessive genitive depends may be represented by the article:
ἀπὸ τῆς ἑαυτῶν from their own country (
γῆς)
T. 1.15 (cp.
1027 b). A word for
dwelling (
οἰκία_, δόμος, and also
ἱερόν) is perhaps omitted after
ἐν, εἰς, and sometimes after
ἐξ. Thus, ““
ἐν Ἀρίφρονος”
at Ariphron's”
P. Pr. 320a,
ἐν Διονύ_σου (
scil.
ἱερῷ)
at the shrine of Dionysus D. 5.7, ““
εἰς διδασκάλου φοιτᾶν”
to go to school”
X. C. 2.3.9, ““
ἐκ Πατροκλέους ἔρχομαι”
I come from Patroclus's”
Ar. Plut. 84. So, in Homer,
εἰν(
εἰς)
Ἀίδα_ο.
[*] 1303.
Predicate Use.—The genitive may be connected with the noun it limits by means of a verb.
““
Ἱπποκράτης ἐστὶ οἰκία_ς μεγάλης”
Hippocrates is of an influential house”
P. Pr. 316b, ““
Βοιωτῶν ἡ πόλις ἔσται”
the city will belong to the Boeotians”
L. 12.58, ““
ἡ Ζέλειά ἐστι τῆς Ἀσία_ς”
Zelea is in Asia”
D. 9.43, ““
οὐδὲ τῆς αὐτῆς Θρᾴκης ἐγένοντο”
nor did they belong to the same Thrace”
T. 2.29, ““
ἃ διώκει τοῦ ψηφίσματος, ταῦτ᾽ ἐστίν”
the clauses in the bill which he attacks, are these”
D. 18.56.
[*] 1304. The genitive with
εἰμί may denote the person whose
nature,
duty,
custom, etc., it is to do that set forth in an infinitive subject of the verb:
πενία_ν φέρειν οὐ παντός, ἀλλ᾽ ἀνδρὸς σοφοῦ '
tis the sage, not every one, who can bear poverty Men. Sent. 463, ““
δοκεῖ δικαίου τοῦτ᾽ εἶναι πολί_του”
this seems to be the duty of a just citizen”
D. 8.72, ““
τῶν νι_κώντων ἐστὶ καὶ τὰ ἑαυτῶν σῴζειν καὶ τὰ τῶν ἡττωμένων λαμβάνειν”
it is the custom of conquerors to keep what is their own and to take the possessions of the defeated”
X. A. 3.2.39.
[*] 1305. With verbs signifying to refer or attribute, by thought, word, or action, anything to a person or class. Such verbs are
to think, regard,
make,
name,
choose,
appoint, etc.
““
λογίζου . . . τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα τῆς τύχης”
deem that the rest belongs to chance”
E. Alc. 789, ““
τῶν ἐλευθερωτάτων οἴκων νομισθεῖσα”
deemed a daughter of a house most free”
E. And. 12, ““
ἐμὲ γράφε τῶν ἱππεύειν ὑπερεπιθυ_μούντων”
put me down as one of those who desire exceedingly to serve on horseback”
X. C. 4.3.21, ““
τῆς πρώτης τάξεως τεταγμένος”
assigned to the first class”
L. 14.11, ““
τῆς ἀγαθῆς τύχης τῆς πόλεως εἶναι τίθημι”
I reckon as belonging to the good fortune of the State”
D. 18.254, ““
εἰ δέ τινες τὴν Ἀσία_ν ἑαυτῶν ποιοῦνται”
but if some are claiming Asia as their own”
X. Ages. 1.33, ““
νομίζει ὑ_μᾶς ἑαυτοῦ εἶναι”
he thinks that you are in his power”
X. A. 2.1.11.
GENITIVE OF THE DIVIDED WHOLE (PARTITIVE GENITIVE)
[*] 1306. The genitive may denote a whole, a part of which is denoted by the noun it limits. The genitive of the divided whole may be used with any word that expresses or implies a part.
[*] 1307.
Position.—The genitive of the whole stands before or after the word denoting the part: ““
τῶν Θρᾳκῶν πελτασταί”
targeteers of the Thracians”
T. 7.27, ““
οἱ ἄποροι τῶν πολι_τῶν”
the needy among the citizens”
D. 18.104; rarely between the limited noun and its article: ““
οἱ τῶν ἀδίκων ἀφικνούμενοι”
those of the unrighteous who come here”
P. G. 525c. Cp.
1161 N. 1.
[*] 1308. When all are included there is no partition: so in
οὗτοι πάντες all of these,
all these,
τέτταρες ἡμεῖς ἦμεν there were four of us, ““
τὸ πᾶν πλῆθος τῶν ὁπλι_τῶν”
the entire body of the hoplites”
T. 8.93,
ὅσοι ἐστὲ τῶν ὁμοίων as many of you as belong to the ‘
peers’
X. A. 4.6.14.
[*] 1309. The idea of division is often not explicitly stated. See third example in 1310.
[*] 1310. (I) The genitive of the divided whole is used with substantives.
““
μέρος τι τῶν βαρβάρων”
some part of the barbarians”
T. 1.1,
οἱ Δωριῆς ἡμῶν those of us who are Dorians 4. 61. The governing word may be omitted:
Ἀρχία_ς τῶν Ἡρα_κλειδῶν Archias (one)
of the Heraclidae T. 6.3. To an indefinite substantive without the article may be added a genitive denoting the special sort:
Φεραύλα_ς Πέρσης τῶν δημοτῶν Pheraulas,
a Persian,
one of the common people X. C. 2.3.7.
[*] 1311.
Chorographic Genitive.—““
τῆς Ἀττικῆς ἐς Οἰνόην”
to Oenoë in Attica”
T. 2.18 (or
ἐς Οἰνόην τῆς Ἀττικῆς,
not ἐς τῆς Ἀττικῆς Οἰνόην),
τῆς Ἰταλία_ς Αοκροί the Locrians in Italy 3. 86. The article, which is always used with the genitive of the country (as a place well known), is rarely added to the governing substantive (““
τὸ Κήναιον τῆς Εὐβοία_ς”
Cenaeum in Euboea”
T. 3.93).
[*] 1312. (II) With substantive adjectives and participles.
““
οἱ ἄδικοι τῶν ἀνθρώπων”
the unjust among men”
D. 27.68 (but always
οἱ θνητοὶ ἄνθρωποι), ““
μόνος τῶν πρυτάνεων”
alone of the prytans”
P. A. 32b, ““
ὀλίγοι αὐτῶν”
few of them”
X. A. 3.1.3, ““
τῶν ἄλλων Ἑλλήνων ὁ βουλόμενος”
whoever of the rest of the Greeks so desires”
T. 3.92. So ““
τὸ καταντικρὺ αὐτῶν τοῦ σπηλαίου”
the part of the cavern facing them”
P. R. 515a. For
nihil novi the Greek says
οὐδὲν καινόν.
[*] 1313. Adjectives denoting magnitude, and some others, may conform in gender to the genitive, instead of appearing in the neuter: ““
ἔτεμον τῆς γῆς τὴν πολλήν”
they ravaged most of the land”
T. 2.56,
τῆς γῆς ἡ ἀρίστη the best of the land 1. 2. This construction occurs more frequently in prose than in poetry.
[*] 1314. But such adjectives, especially when singular, may be used in the neuter: ““
τῶν Ἀργείων λογάδων τὸ πολύ”
the greater part of the picked Argives”
T. 5.73,
ἐπὶ πολὺ τῆς χώρα_ς over a great part of the land 4. 3.
[*] 1315. (III) With comparatives and superlatives.
““
ἡμῶν ὁ γεραίτερος”
the elder of us”
X. C. 5.1.6 (1066 b), ““
οἱ πρεσβύτατοι τῶν στρατηγῶν”
the oldest of the generals”
X. A. 3.3.11, ““
σί_τῳ πάντων ἀνθρώπων πλείστῳ χρώμεθ᾽ ἐπεισάκτῳ”
we make use of imported grain more than all other people”
D. 18.87. So with a superlative adverb: ““
ἡ ναῦς ἄριστά μοι ἔπλει παντὸς τοῦ στρατοπέδου”
my ship was the best sailer of the whole squadron”
L. 21.6.
[*] 1316. In poetry this use is extended to positive adjectives:
ἀριδείκετος ἀνδρῶν conspicuous among men A 248, ““
ὦ φίλα_ γυναικῶν”
oh dear among women”
E. Alc. 460. In tragedy an adjective may be emphasized by the addition of the same adjective in the genitive: ““
ἄρρητ᾽ ἀρρήτων”
horrors unspeakable”
S. O. T. 465. Cp.
1064.
[*] 1317. (IV) With substantive pronouns and numerals.
““
οἱ μὲν αὐτῶν, οἱ δ᾽ οὔ”
some of them and not others”
P. A. 24e, ““
οἳ ὕστερον ἐλήφθησαν τῶν πολεμίων”
those of the enemy who were taken later”
X. A. 1.7.13, ““
οὐδεὶς ἀνθρώπων”
no one in the world”
P. S. 220a, ““
τὶ τοῦ τείχους”
a part of the wall”
T. 7.4, ““
τὶς θεῶν”
one of the gods”
E. Hec. 164 (““
τὶς θεός”
a god”
X. C. 5.2.12), ““
ἓν τῶν πολλῶν”
one of the many things”
P. A. 17a; rarely after demonstrative pronouns:
τούτοις τῶν ἀνθρώπων to these (
of)
men T. 1.71.
a. With
ὀλίγοι and with numerals
ἀπό and
ἐξ are rarely added: ““
ἐκ τριῶν ἕν”
one of three”
S. Tr. 734.
ἐξ with superlatives is also rare. See also
1688. 1 c.
[*] 1318. The genitive of the divided whole may do duty as the subject of a finite verb (928 b) or of the infinitive: (
ἔφασαν)
ἐπιμειγνύναι σφῶν πρὸς ἐκείνους they said that some
of their number associated with them X. A. 3.5.16.
[*] 1319.
Predicate Use.—““
ἦν δ᾽ αὐτῶν Φαλῖνος”
and among them was Phalinus”
X. A. 2.1.7,
Σόλων τῶν ἑπτὰ σοφιστῶν ἐκλήθη Solon was called one
of the Seven Sages I. 15.235, ““
τῶν ἀτοπωτάτων ἂν εἴη”
it would be very strange”
D. 1.26; and often with verbs signifying
to be, become,
think,
say,
name,
choose. With some of these verbs
εἷς with the genitive may be used instead of the genitive alone.
GENITIVE OF QUALITY
[*] 1320. The genitive to denote quality occurs chiefly as a predicate.
““
ἐὼν τρόπου ἡσυχίου”
being of a peaceful disposition”
Hdt. 1.107, ““
οἱ δέ τινες τῆς αὐτῆς γνώμης ὀλίγοι κατέφυγον”
but some few of the same opinion fled”
T. 3.70, ““
ταῦτα παμπόλλων ἐστὶ λόγων”
this calls for a thorough discussion”
P. L. 642a,
θεωρήσατ᾽ αὐτόν, μὴ ὁποτέρου τοῦ λόγου, ἀλλ᾽ ὁποτέρου τοῦ βίου ἐστίν consider,
not the manner of his speech, but the manner of his life Aes. 3.168, ““
εἰ δοκεῖ ταῦτα καὶ δαπάνης μεγάλης καὶ πόνων πολλῶν καὶ πρα_γματεία_ς εἶναι”
if these matters seem to involve great expense and much toil and trouble”
D. 8.48.
a. The attributive use occurs in poetry: ““
χόρτων εὐδένδρων Εὐρώπα_ς”
Europe with its pastures amid fair trees”
E. I. T. 134,
λευκῆς χιόνος πτέρυξ a wing white as snow (of white snow)
S. Ant. 114.
[*] 1321. The use of the genitive to express quality, corresponding to the Latin genitive, occurs in the non-predicate position, only when
age or
size is exactly expressed by the addition of a numeral (genitive of measure,
1325). The Latin genitive of quality in
mulier mirae pulchritudinis is expressed by
γυνὴ θαυμασία_ κάλλος (or
τοῦ κάλλους),
γυνὴ θαυμασία_ ἰδεῖν, γυνὴ ἔχουσα θαυμάσιον σχῆμα, etc.
GENITIVE OF EXPLANATION (APPOSITIVE GENITIVE)
[*] 1322. The genitive of an explicit word may explain the meaning of a more general word.
Ἰ_λίου πόλις E 642, as urbs Romae, ““
ἄελλαι παντοίων ἀνέμων”
blasts formed of winds of every sort”
ε 292. This construction is chiefly poetic, but in prose we find
ὑὸς μέγα χρῆμα a monster (great affair,
1294)
of a boar Hdt. 1.36, ““
τὸ ὄρος τῆς Ἰστώνης”
Mt. Istone”
T. 4.46 (very rare, 1142 c). An articular infinitive in the genitive often defines the application of a substantive: ““
ἀμαθία_ ἡ τοῦ οἴεσθαι εἰδέναι α:` οὐκ οἶδεν”
the ignorance of thinking one knows what one does not know”
P. A. 29b.
a. But with
ὄνομα the person or thing named is usually in apposition to
ὄνομα: ““
τῷ δὲ νεωτάτῳ ἐθέμην ὄνομα Καλλίστρατον”
I gave the youngest the name Callistratus”
D. 43.74.
GENITIVE OF MATERIAL OR CONTENTS
[*] 1323. The genitive expresses material or contents.
ἕρκος ὀδόντων the fence (consisting)
of the teeth Δ 350, ““
κρήνη ἡδέος ὕδατος”
a spring of sweet water”
X. A. 6.4.4,
σωροὶ σί_του, ξύλων, λίθων heaps of corn,
wood,
stones X. H. 4.4.12, ““
ἑξακόσια τάλαντα φόρου”
six hundred talents in taxes”
T. 2.13 (cp.
1296).
[*] 1324.
Predicate Use: ““
στεφάνους ῥόδων ὄντας, ἀλλ᾽ ου᾽ χρυ_σίου”
crowns that were of roses, not of gold”
D. 22.70, ““
ἐστρωμένη ἐστὶ ὁδὸς λίθου”
a road was paved with stone”
Hdt. 2.138, and often with verbs of making, which admit also the instrumental dative. Hdt. has
ποιεῖσθαι ἀπό and
ἔκ τινος.
GENITIVE OF MEASURE
[*] 1325. The genitive denotes measure of space, time, or degree.
““
ὀκτὼ σταδίων τεῖχος”
a wall eight stades long”
T. 7.2,
πέντε ἡμερῶν σι_τία provisions for five days 7. 43 (cp.
fossa pedum quindecim, exilium decem annorum Less commonly with a neuter adjective or pronoun:
ἐπὶ μέγα ἐχώρησαν δυνά<*> they advanced to a great pitch of power T. 1.118,
τὶ δόξης some honour (
aliq<*> famae) 1. 5,
ἀμήχανον εὐδαιμονία_ς (
something infinite in the way of happiness)
infinite happiness P. A. 41c (with emphasis on the adj.). But the phrases
εἰς τοῦτο, εἰς τοσοῦτο ἀφικέσθαι (
ἤκειν, ἐλθεῖν, προσβαίνειν, usually with a personal subject) followed by the genitive of abstracts are common: ““
εἰς τοῦτο θράσους ἀφί_κετο”
he reached such a pitch of boldness”
D. 21.194, ““
ἐν παντὶ ἀθυ_μία_ς”
in utter despondency”
T. 7.55,
ἐν τούτῳ παρασκευῆς in this stage of preparation 2. 17,
κατὰ τοῦτο καιροῦ at that critical moment 7. 2. The article with this genitive is unusual in classical Greek: ““
εἰς τοῦτο τῆς ἡλικία_ς”
to this stage of life”
L. 5.3. Some of these genitives may also be explained by 1306.
[*] 1326. Under the head of
measure belongs
amount: ““
δυοῖν μναῖν πρόσοδος”
an income of two minae”
X. Vect. 3.10. Cp.
1296,
1323.
[*] 1327.
Predicate Use.—““
ἐπειδὰν ἐτῶν ᾖ τις τριά_κοντα”
when a man is thirty years old”
P. L. 721a, ““
τὰ τείχη ἦν σταδίων ὀκτώ”
the walls were eight stades long”
T. 4.66.
SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE GENITIVE
[*] 1328. With a verbal noun the genitive may denote the subject or object of the action expressed in the noun.
a. Many of these genitives derive their construction from that of the kindred verbs: ““
τοῦ ὕδατος ἐπιθυ_μία_”
desire for water”
T. 2.52 (
1349),
χόλος υἱός anger because of his son O 138 (
1405). But the verbal idea sometimes requires the accusative, or (less commonly) the dative.
[*] 1329. In poetry an adjective may take the place of the genitive: ““
νόστος ὁ βασίλειος”
the return of the king”
A. Pers. 8. Cp.
1291.
[*] 1330. The
Subjective Genitive is active in sense:
τῶν βαρβάρων φόβος the fear of the barbarians (which they feel:
οἱ βάρβαροι φοβοῦνται)
X. A. 1.2.17,
ἡ βασιλέως ἐπιορκία_ the perjury of the king (
βασιλεὺς ἐπιορκεῖ) 3. 2. 4, ““
τὸ ὀργιζόμενον τῆς γνώμης”
their angry feelings”
T. 2.59 (such genitives with substantive participles are common in Thucydides; cp. 1153 b, N. 2).
[*] 1331. The
Objective Genitive is passive in sense, and is very common with substantives denoting a frame of mind or an emotion:
φόβος τῶν Εἱλώτων the fear of the Helots (felt towards them:
φοβοῦνται τοὺς Εἵλωτας)
T. 3.54,
ἡ τῶν Ἑλλήνων εὔνοια good-will towards the Greeks (
εὐνοεῖ τοῖς Ἕλλησι)
X. A. 4.7.20,
ἡ τῶν καλῶν συνουσία_ intercourse with the good (
σύνεισι τοῖς καλοῖς)
P. L. 838a.
a. The objective genitive often precedes another genitive on which it depends: ““
μετὰ τῆς ξυμμαχία_ς τῆς αἰτήσεως”
with the request for an alliance”
T. 1.32.
[*] 1332. Various prepositions are used in translating the objective genitive: ““
ὁ θεῶν πόλεμος”
war with the gods”
X. A. 2.5.7, ““
ὅρκοι θεῶν”
oaths by the gods”
E. Hipp. 657, ““
θεῶν εὐχαί”
prayers to the gods”
P. Phae. 244e, ““
ἀδικημάτων ὀργή”
anger at injustice”
L. 12.20, ““
ἐγκράτεια ἡδονῆς”
moderation in pleasure”
I. 1.21, ““
ἡ τῶν ἡδονῶν νί_κη”
victory over pleasures”
P. L. 840c, ““
τρόπαια βαρβάρων”
memorials of victory over barbarians”
X. A. 7.6.36, ““
παραινέσεις τῶν ξυναλλαγῶν”
exhortations to reconciliation”
T. 4.59, ““
μῦθος φίλων”
tidings about friends”
S. Ant. 11, ““
σοῦ μῦθος”
speech with thee”
S. O. C. 1161. In ““
θανάτου λύσις”
release from death”
ι 421,
μεταπαυσωλὴ πολέμοιο respite from war T 201, it is uncertain whether the genitive is objective or ablatival (
1392).
[*] 1333. The objective genitive is often used when a prepositional expression, giving greater precision, is more usual:
τὸ Μεγαρέων ψήφισμα the decree relating to (
περί)
the Megarians T. 1.140,
ἀπόβασις τῆς γῆς a descent upon the land (
ἐς τὴν γῆν) 1. 108,
ἀπόστασις τῶν Ἀθηναίων revolt from the Athenians (
ἀπὸ τῶν Ἀθηναίων) 8. 5.
[*] 1334. For the objective genitive a possessive pronoun is sometimes used: ““
σὴν χάριν”
for thy sake”
P. Soph. 242a, ““
διαβολὴ ἡ ἐμή”
calumniation of me”
P. A. 20e.
ὁ ἐμὸς φόβος is usually objective:
the fear which I inspire. (But ““
σοῦ μῦθος”
speech with thee”
S. O. C. 1161.)
[*] 1335.
Predicate Use.—
οὐ τῶν κακούργων οἶκτος, ἀλλὰ τῆς δίκης compassion is not for wrong-doers,
but for justice E. fr. 270.
GENITIVE OF VALUE
[*] 1336. The genitive expresses value.
““
ἱερὰ τριῶν ταλάντων”
offerings worth three talents”
L. 30.20, ““
χι_λίων δραχμῶν δίκην φεύγω”
I am defendant in an action involving a thousand drachmas”
D. 55.25.
[*] 1337.
Predicate Use: ““
τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους τοσούτων χρημάτων λύ_εσθαι”
to ransom the captives at so high a price”
D. 19.222,
τριῶν δραχμῶν πονηρὸς ὤν a threepenny rogue 19. 200.
TWO GENITIVES WITH ONE NOUN
[*] 1338. Two genitives expressing different relations may be used with one noun.
““
οἱ ἄνθρωποι διὰ τὸ αὑτῶν δέος τοῦ θανάτου καταψεύδονται”
by reason of their fear of death men tell lies”
P. Ph. 85a, ““
Διονύ_σου πρεσβυ_τῶν χορός”
a chorus of old men in honour of Dionysus”
P. L. 665b, ““
ἡ τοῦ Αάχητος τῶν νεῶν ἀρχή”
Laches' command of the fleet”
T. 3.115,
ἡ Φαιά_κων προενοίκησις τῆς Κερκύ_ρα_ς the former occupation of Corcyra by the Phaeacians 1.25.