Basil L. Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek

The Article

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[*] 514. The function of the article, which was originally a demonstrative, and always has more or less demonstrative force, is to fix a floating adjective or substantive. In the earlier stages of the language “i(/ppos” means ‘the horse’ (literally ‘the swift one’）¹ as well as ‘a horse,’ and we have an implicit article as well as an explicit article (“o(, h(, to/”). This implicit article served at first as particular or generic. Afterwards the particular use required the reinforcement of the explicit article, but in the generic use the employment of the explicit article was optional. Particular: (“a)/nqrwpos”), “o( a)/nqrwpos”, the man; generic: “a)/nqrwpos, o( a)/nqrwpos”, man.

Proper names being in their nature particular do not require the explicit article, and when the article is used with them, it retains much of its original demonstrative force.

It is impossible to draw a sharp line of demarcation between the uses of the attributive article at different stages. The Homeric demonstrative use passes over into the articular use, and the Attic articular use approaches the Homeric demonstrative use. In the one case we have the germ of a new life; in the other, the survival of the old. To the Attic the Homeric “o( ge/rwn” could hardly have been distinguishable from the everyday “o( ge/rwn” of prose. Much depends on the position in the verse. Sometimes there may be apposition, sometimes the article may be used for contrast. When Pindar said “a)/riston me\n u(/dwr, o( de\ xruso/s”, the verse brings out the pause, the feeling of antithesis. We say that there is no articular infinitive in Homer, because in the only apparent example, Od. 20.52: “a)ni/h kai\ to\ fula/ssein”, the appositional explanation brings the passage in line with the use elsewhere (Od. 1.370; 11.358-9) and with the later use of “tou=to”, which is the demonstrative article ‘writ large’ (PLATO, Gorg. 449C).

In the older language and in the higher poetry that follows the older norm the article proper is not so much used as in Attic prose and as in comic poetry, which approaches the language of everyday life. Homer gives the norm, which is followed closely by Pindar. The lyric parts of tragedy are more anarthrous than the dialogue. The dialogue of comedy differs decidedly from that of tragedy in this respect. Old phrases, especially prepositional phrases, retain in the heyday of Attic their anarthrous forms. Dialects vary, and the Doric is said to have affected the hearty homely article. See the Lacedaemonian chorus in the Lysistrate. Authors vary, and whereas some eschew the article with proper names or use it gingerly, others, like Plato , are exceedingly free with it. On the other hand, the familiar use of the article has led to exactness and finesse, and the subtle variations in the employment of it add a special charm to Attic prose.²

The substantive use of the article is in Attic prose a survival, and is found chiefly in fixed phrases and certain old-fashioned turns of expression.

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Substantive Use

[*] 515. o(\ me\n . . . o(\ de/, o(\ me\n . . . de/, me\n . . . o(\ de/.

Very common is “o(\ me\n . . . o(\ de/”, now used with definite reference to persons or things mentioned, the one . . . the other, the former . . . the latter, the latter . . . the former, now used indefinitely simply in contrast to each other. One or the other (more commonly the latter) of the two articles may also be replaced by a substantive or a pronoun.

Here belong also the adverbial uses of the article “to\” (“ta\”） “me\n . . . to\” (“ta\”) “de/, th=| me\n . . . th=| de/”.

“mh\ ga\r oi)/esq”（“e”) . . . “toi=s au)toi=s *fi/lippo/n te xai/rein kai\ tou\s a)rxome/nous, a)ll' o(\ me\n” (the former) “do/chs e)piqumei= . . . toi=s de\” (the latter) “th=s me\n filotimi/as th=s a)po\ tou/twn ou) me/testi”, DEM.2.15-6. “fhmi\ toi/nun e)gw\ . . . ka/llion *ko/nwna ta\ tei/xh sth=sai *qemistokle/ous: o(\ me\n” (the latter) “ga\r laqw/n, o(\ de\” (the former) “nikh/sas tou\s kwlu/sontas au)/t' e)poi/hsen”, DEM.20.74. “e)n de\ tai=s mega/lais po/lesi . . . a)rkei= kai\ mi/a e(ka/stw| te/xnh ei)s to\ tre/fesqai: polla/kis de\ ou)d' o(/lh mi/a: a)ll' u(podh/mata poiei= o(\ me\n a)ndrei=a, o(\ de\ gunaikei=a”, XEN. Cyr. 8.2.5 (indefinite use). “tau=ta sunqe/menoi oi(\ me\n e)poreu/onto . . . *cenofw=n de\ . . . h(gei=to pro\s th\n fanera\n e)/kbasin”, XEN. An. 4.2.2. “meta\ tau=ta *cenofw=n me\n h(gei=to, oi(\ d' ei(/ponto”, Ibid. 7.3.7. “u(mei=s me\n . . . pa/sas e)celu/sate ta\s paraskeua\s ta\s tou= pole/mon, o(\ de\ tou=t' e)k panto\s tou= xro/nou ma/list' e)pragmateu/eto”, DEM.18.26.

DEM.1.13: “tou\s me\n e)kbalw/n, tou\s de\ katasth/sas tw=n basile/wn h)sqe/nhse. 2.3: o(\ me\n ga\r . . . qaumasto/teros para\ pa=sin nomi/zetai: u(mei=s d”（“e\”) . . . “plei/on' ai)sxu/nhn w)flh/kate”. 15-6 (see above). 9.61. 64. 18.26 (see above). 20.74 (see above).

PLATO, Conv. 211A: “th=| me\n kalo/n, th=| d' ai)sxro/n”. Rpb. 338 D: “tw=n po/lewn ai(\ me\n turannou=ntai, ai(\ de\ dhmokratou=ntai, ai(\ de\ a)ristokratou=ntai”. 369 D: “gewrgo\s me\n ei(=s, o(\ de\ oi)kodo/mos, a)/llos de/ tis u(fa/nths”. Theaet. 152 B: “a)=r' ou)k e)ni/ote pne/ontos a)ne/mou tou= au)tou= o(\ me\n h(mw=n r(igoi=, o(\ d' ou)/; kai\ o(\ me\n h)re/ma, o(\ de\ sfo/dra;”

XEN. An. 4.1.14: “ta\ me/n ti maxo/menoi, ta\ de/ ti a)napauo/menoi”. 4.2.2 (see above). 5: “kai\ tou\s me\n katakano/ntes tou\s de\ katadiw/cantes au)toi\ e)ntau=q' e)/menon”. 4.6.23: “*xeiri/sofos me\n . . . h)=ge kata\ th\n o(do/n, oi(\ de\ . . . kata\ ta\ a)/kra e)ph=|san. 4.8.10: th=| me\n ga\r a)/nodon, th=| de\ eu)/odon eu(rh/somen to\ o)/ros. 5.6.24: ta\ me\n” (partly) “dia\ to\ e)kei=qen ei)=nai, ta\ de\” (partly) “dia\ to\ sunestrateu=sqai e)n au)th=| su\n *klea/rxw|. 6.3.7: oi( me\n ga\r *(/ellhnes . . . oi(\ de/”. 7.3.7 (see above). Cyr. 8.2.5 (see above). Hell. 1.1.5: “kai\ ta\ me\n nikw/ntwn, ta\ de\ nikwme/nwn” (sc. “tw=n *)aqhnai/wn”), “*)alkibia/dhs e)peisplei= duoi=n deou/sais ei)/kosi nausi/n”.

THUC.3.37.3-4: “oi(/ te faulo/teroi tw=n a)nqrw/pwn pro\s tou\s cunetwte/rous w(s e)pi\ to\ plei=on a)/meinon oi)kou=si ta\s po/leis. oi(\ me\n” (the latter) “ga\r tw=n te no/mwn sofw/teroi bou/lontai fai/nesqai . . . oi(\ d”（“e\”) (the former) . . . “a)maqe/steroi . . . tw=n no/mwn a)ciou=sin ei)=nai.” 4.76.5: “tw=n *)aqhnai/wn me\n prosio/ntwn toi=s a)festhko/si, toi=s de\” (sc. “toi=s *boiwtoi=s”) “ou)k ou)/shs a(qro/as th=s duna/mews.” 4.106.3: “kai\ oi(\ me\n th\n po/lin toiou/tw| tro/pw| pare/dosan, o( de\ *qoukudi/dhs kai\ ai( nh=es tau/th| th=| h(me/ra| o)ye\ kate/pleon e)s th\n *)hio/na.” 4.107.1-2: “meta\ de\ tou=to o(\ me\n” (sc. “*qoukudi/dhs”) “ta\ e)n th=| *)hio/ni kaqi/stato . . . o(\ de\” (sc. “*brasi/das”) . . . “ta\ . . . peri\ th\n *)amfi/polin e)chrtu/eto.” 8.47.2: “ta\ me\n kai\ *)alkibia/dou prospe/myantos lo/gous . . . to\ de\ ple/on kai\ a)po\ sfw=n au)tw=n” .

HDT.1.173: “no/moisi de\ ta\ me\n *krhtikoi=si, ta\ de\ *karikoi=si xre/wntai. 6.69: o(\ me\n dh\ toiau=ta e)/lege, h(\ de\ a)mei/beto toisi/de”. Ibid.: “kai\ to\ me\n” (sc. “fa/sma”) “oi)xw/kee, h(=ke de\ meta\ tau=ta *)ari/stwn. 70: h(\ me\n dh\ tau=ta e)/lege, o(\ de\ . . . e)poreu/eto e)s *)=hlin”.

AR. Vesp. 564-7: “oi(\ me/n g' a)pokla/ontai peni/an au(tw=n . . . oi(\ de\ le/gousin mu/qous h(mi=n, oi(\ d' *ai)sw/pou ti ge/loion:” | “oi(\ de\ skw/ptous”（“i”).

“ h(\ me\n ga\r h(mw=n peri\ to\n a)/ndr' e)ku/ptasen,
h(\ d' oi)ke/thn h)/geiren, h(\ de\ paidi/on
kate/klinen, h(\ d' e)/lousen, h(\ d' e)yw/misen
”

Lys. 17-19:

.

EUR. El. 799-801: “dmw=es pro\s e)/rgon pa/ntes i(/esan xe/ras”. | “oi(\ me\n sfagei=on e)/feron, oi(\ d' h)=|ron kana=”, | “a)/lloi de\ pu=r a)nh=pton. 830: xw)\ me\n skuqra/zei, despo/ths d' a)nistorei=”. Or. 356-7: “w)= dw=ma, th=| me/n s' h(de/ws prosde/rkomai . . . th=| d' i)dw\n kataste/nw” .

“ kei=nos d' . . . a)/nous kalw=s le/gontos hu(re)qh patro/s
o(\ me\n (the latter) ga\r au)to\n e)nne/pei, te/knon, kte(.
o(\ d' (the former) u(yiko/mpws ka)fro/nws h)mei/yato
”

SOPH. Ai. 762-6:

.

“ ou) ga\r ta/fou nw=|n tw\ kasignh/tw *kre/wn
to\n me\n proti/sas, to\n d' a)tima/sas e)/xei;
”

Ant. 21-2:

AESCHYL. Ag. 326-32: “oi(\ me\n ga\r . . . tou\s d”（“e/”). Sept. 295-8: “toi\ me\n . . . toi\ d”（“e/”). 481-2: “tw=| me\n . . . toi=si de/”.

PIND. O. 13.56-60: “pro\ *darda/nou teixe/wn e)do/khsan” | “e)p' a)mfo/tera maxa=n ta/mnein te/los”, | “toi\ me\n ge/nei fi/lw| su\n *)atre/os” | “*(ele/nan komi/zontes, oi(\ d' a)po\ pa/mpan” | “ei)/rgontes”. P. 12.32: “to\ me\n dw/sei, to\ d' ou)/pw”.

THEOGN. 901-2: “e)/stin o(\ me\n xei/rwn, o(\ d' a)mei/nwn e)/rgon e(/kaston:” | “ou)dei\s d' a)nqrw/pwn au)to\s a(/panta sofo/s”.

PHOCYL. 3.1-3: “teto/rwn a)po\ tw=nde ge/nonto” | “fu=la gunaikei/wn: h(\ me\n kuno/s, h(\ de\ meli/sshs”, | “h(\ de\ suo\s blosurh=s, h(\ d' i(/ppou xaithe/sshs”.

SOLON, 13.29: “a)ll' o(\ me\n au)ti/k' e)/teisen, o(\ d' u(/steron”.

AMORG. SEMON. 1.11-8: “fqa/nei de\ to\n me\n gh=ras a)/zhlon labo/n”, | . . . “tou\s de\ du/sthnoi no/soi” | “fqei/rousi qnhtw=n: tou\s d' . . . oi(\ d”（“e\”) . . . “oi(\ d”（“e\”) “kte(”.

CALLIN.1.16-7: “a)ll' o(\ me\n ou)k e)/mphs dh/mw| fi/los ou)de\ poqeino/s”, | “to\n d' o)li/gos stena/xei kai\ me/gas, h)/n ti pa/qh|” (Generic).

HES. O. et D. 161-7: “kai\ tou\s me\n . . . tou\s me\n . . . tou\s de\ . . . tou\s me\n . . . toi=s de/” (some — partly — partly — some, I say — the others). Theog. 276-7: “*sqeinw/ t' *eu)rua/lh te *me/dousa/ te lugra\ paqou=sa”. | “h(\ me\n e)/hn qnhth/, ai(\ d' a)qa/natoi kai\ a)gh/rw|”.

HOM. Od. 2.6-8: “ai)=ya de\ khru/kessi ligufqo/ggoisi ke/leusen” | “khru/ssein a)gorh/nde ka/rh komo/wntas *)axaiou/s”. | “oi(\ me\n e)kh/russon, toi\ d' h)gei/ronto ma/l) w)=ka. 6.27-8: soi\ de\ ga/mos sxedo/n e)stin, i(/na xrh\ kala\ me\n au)th\n” | “e(/nnusqai, ta\ de\ toi=si parasxei=n, oi(/ ke/ s' a)/gwntai. 12.73-101: oi( de\ du/w sko/peloi o(\ me\n ou)rano\n eu)ru\n i(ka/nei” | . . . “to\n d' e(/teron sko/pelon xqamalw/teron o)/yei, *)odusseu=”.

Il. 1.312-3: “oi(\ me\n e)/peit' a)naba/ntes e)pe/pleon u(gra\ ke/leuqa”, | “laou\s d' *)atrei+/dhs a)polumai/nesqai a)/nwgen. 5.27-8: i)/don ui(=e *da/rhtos” | “to\n me\n a)leua/menon to\n de\ kta/menon. 11.472: w(\s ei)pw\n o(\ me\n h)=rx), o(\ d' a(/m' e(/speto i)so/qeos fw/s. 16.317-22: *nestori/dai d' o(\ me\n ou)/tas' *)atu/mnion o)ce/i douri\” | “*)anti/loxos . . . *ma/ris” (brother of Atymnius) “d' au)tosxeda\ douri\” | “*antilo/xw| e)po/rouse . . . tou= d' a)nti/qeos *qrasumh/dhs” (son of Nestor ) “e)/fqh o)reca/menos pri\n ou)ta/sai. 18.593-7: h)i+/qeoi kai\ parqe/noi . . . w)rxeu=nt”（“o”) . . . “tw=n d' ai(\ me\n . . ., oi(\ de\ . . . kai/ r() ai(\ me\n . . ., oi(\ de\ kte(. 23.1: w(\s oi(\ me\n stena/xonto kata\ pto/lin: au)ta\r *)axaioi\ kte(. 3-4: oi(\ me\n . . . *murmido/nas d”（“e/”).

[*] 516. Substantive article preceded by me/n or de/.

Prepositions generally attract “me/n” and “de/” and change the order. The same thing occurs in other contrasted groups.

“e)n me\n a)/ra toi=s sumfwnou=men, e)n de\ toi=s ou)/”, PLATO, Phaedr. 263B; In some things we are in accord, in others not. “ou)de\ ta)=lla du/o h)\ tri/a mia=| po/lei, a)lla\ to\ me\n th=| to\ de\ th=|”, XEN. [R.A.] 2.12; And so of everything else, two or three are not found together in one city, but one in one, another in another.

DEM.15.10: “a)ll' u(pe\r me\n tw=n . . . me/xri tou= dunatou= pa/ntes polemou=sin, u(pe\r de\ tou= pleonektei=n ou)x ou(/tws”.

LYS. [2], 9: “u(pe\r a)mfote/rwn e)kindu/neusan, u(pe\r me\n tw=n, i(/na mhke/ti . . . e)cubri/swsin, u(pe\r de\ tw=n e(te/rwn, i(/na mh\ kte(” .

PLATO, Phaedr. 263B (see above). Rpb. 453 A: “ei)s ta\ me\n” (exception) “oi(/a te, ei)s de\ ta\ ou)/”. 467 D: “ei)s me\n a)/ra ta\s a)/cousin, ei)s de\ ta\s eu)labh/sontai”. Rpb. 546 C: “th\n de\ i)somh/kh me\n th=|, promh/kh de/”.

XEN. [R.A.] 2.8: “e)/peita fwnh\n pa=san a)kou/ontes e)cele/canto tou=to me\n e)k th=s tou=to de\ e)k th=s. 11: para\ me\n tou= . . . para\ de\ tou= . . . para\ de\ tou= . . . para\ de\ tou= . . . para\ de\ tou=”. 12 (see above).

THUC.3.61.1: “nu=n de\ pro\s me\n ta\ a)nteipei=n dei=, tw=n de\ e)/legxon poih/sasqai.” 3.82.7: “kai\ tw=| me\n ai)sxu/nontai, e)pi\ de\ tw=| a)ga/llontai.” 6.66.1: “th=| me\n ga\r teixi/a te kai\ oi)ki/ai ei)=rgon . . ., para\ de\ to\ krhmnoi/” .

HDT.1.87: “e)n me\n ga\r th=|” (sc. “ei)rh/nh|”) “oi( pai=des tou\s pate/ras qa/ptousi, e)n de\ tw=|” (sc. “pole/mw|”) “oi( pate/res tou\s pai=das. 2.138: h(\ me\n th=| perirre/ousa, h(\ de\ th=|”.

EUR. Alc. 264-5: “oi)ktra\n fi/loisin, e)k de\ tw=n ma/list' e)moi\” | “kai\ paisi/n”. Suppl. 207-8: “pro\s de\ toi=si xei/matos” | “problh/mat”（“a”).

SOPH. Ant. 557: “kalw=s su\ me\n toi=s, toi=s d' e)gw\ )do/koun fronei=n” . O. C. 742: “e)k de\ tw=n ma/list' e)gw/” .

AESCHYL. Eum. 1-2: “prw=ton me\n . . . presbeu/w” . . . | “th\n prwto/mantin *gai=an: e)k de\ th=s *qe/min. 693: e)n de\ tw=|”. 784 (= 814); “e)k de\ tou=”.

PIND. N. 7.55: “o(\ me\n ta/, ta\ d' a)/lloi”.

[*] 517. o(\ de/ without an expressed o(\ me/n.

o(\ de/ without expressed “o(\ me/n” is sometimes used in the sense of the other, another, plural the others, others, just as though a “o(\ me/n” preceded.

“du/o dh\ le/gw tou/tw ei)/dh kinh/sews, a)lloi/wsin, th\n de\ perifora/n”, PLATO, Theaet. 181D; There are two kinds of motion then that I mean, alteration (the one), the other rotation.

DEM.9.64: “ei)sfe/rein e)ke/leuon, oi(\ d' ou)de\n dei=n e)/fasan: polemei=n kai\ mh\ pisteu/ein, oi(\ d' a)/gein ei)rh/nhn, e(/ws e)gkatelh/fqhsan. 54.9: h)=|de . . . oi(\ de/”.

PLATO, Cratyl. 385B: “kalei=s ti a)lhqh= le/gein kai\ yeud\h=; *)/egwge. *ou)kou=n ei)/h a)\n lo/gos a)lhqh/s, o(\ de\ yeudh/s