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Ioannis Tzetzes, Histories or Chiliades

ToposText · Ioannis Tzetzes · 1,469 sections

  1. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:i

    § i Tzetzes wrote this personalized, idiosyncratic, bitter/playful manual of cultural references partly on Imbros, with limited access to books, in the mid-12th century CE. He offers here, often from memory, tantalizing snippets of authors and works now lost to us, along with scatological assaults on rival intellectuals in Constantinople. He is writing, however, about a very dim past indeed, and that encyclopedic memory betrays him often enough to make him horrendously unreliable as a guide to history. The manuscript version in print is a collection of 668 numbered topoi or historiai from history, philology, rhetoric, and mythology, punctuated with autobiographical rants, condensed into 12759 lines of (mostly) 15-syllable political verse, a modernish meter that uses stress accents rather than syllable length. Their purpose is to illuminate the literary and other allusions in a series of letters Tzetzes published. The first 141 “histories” gloss a relentless flow of learned references in the “epistolion” (little letter), 308 lines in verse cautioning rival grammarian Lachanas against ingratitude and triumphalism. Tzetzes included the epistolion at Book 4, lines 472-786. The remaining stories provide explanatory footnotes to a volume of 107 letters in prose addressed to various personalities of the day and not included in this text (see Leone 1972 for the Greek edition). Tzetzes was responding to numbered lists ( pinakes ) quoting brief phrases from the letters, in the order they appeared. These lists have many overlaps and duplications due to Tzetzes' reuse of favorite historical allusions (e.g. Croesus). To save paper and time, Tzetzes summarized and cross-referenced overlapping allusions, citing the list numbers (hyperlinked below). Finding himself with a blank page at the end of his last list, he threw in some dubious biographic details on Homer. The misleading modern name “Chiliades” or “Thousands” is inspired by an early editor's arbitrary division of the text into thirteen 1000-line “books” that ignore the work's internal logic. CHILIADES OR BOOK OF HISTORIES BY JOHN TZETZES [The first lines are the ToposText editor's attempt to illustrate “political” meter in English.]

  2. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.1

    § 1.1 Book of History of Ioannis Tzetzes in Political Verses (called Alpha) [or] Historiai of Ioannes the Grammarian Tzetzes from the things referred to in one of his letters. My dearest friend, you ask to learn both scholarship unerring And all that history can teach from this one single letter; Attention give, accordingly, first to the tale of Croesus.

  3. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.4

    § 1.4 ( T1 ) CONCERNING CROESUS Croesus was Alyattes' son, the ruler of the Lydians, Whose capital and palace were establishéd at Sardis; By which the flowing Pactolus, the rain-fed golden river, From Tmolus mountain washéd down a waterfall of gold dust. [ end metrical translation ] Croesus became richest in gold of all kings. Living delicately in wealth and countless treasures. Friendly to everybody, he was also generous. As Pindar the son of Daiphantus reports, When Alcmaeon came to see Croesus once

  4. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.10

    § 1.10 He bid him take gold, as much as he could carry. Alcmaeon dressed himself in a very wide-breasted robe And the wide-soled boots of tragic actors. He entered the treasury and filled them with gold, Up to his hair, holding it with his teeth. Alcmaeon couldn't walk - the gold weighed so much. The sight moved Croesus to laughter. He told him to take two times more in addition. While this is what Pindar the lyric poet wrote somewhere, The writer Herodotus, the son of Oxylus,

  5. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.20

    § 1.20 And Plutarch as well, describe Croesus Sending to Delphi a thousand bricks of solid gold To build a golden altar for Apollo. Once he invited Solon, the lawmaker, To Sardis, to spend time at his palace. He showed him his treasures, and boasting over them he urged That he account him blessed, renowned among the fortunate. But Solon the philosopher, the law-giver, Did not hold him blessed, and Croesus asked him: “Where, Solon, do you know someone happier than I?”

  6. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.30

    § 1.30 He replied, indeed I do, the general Tellus And Cleobis and Biton, the sons of Cydippe. The first one, Tellus the general, after defeating his enemies Was glorified by many for his brilliant victory; He was fortunate to die the very evening of his victory. The children of Cydippe, the priestess of Hera, Because their mother was sick, yoked themselves like oxen And brought their mother to the Heraion precinct. Their mother prayed for the best for them. Both of them died that night, meeting a most beautiful end. [ For the remainder of the translation see theoi.com ]

  7. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.40

    § 1.40 “These ones I call happy, Croesus...

  8. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.50

    § 1.50 He was snatched away from the fire when Cyrus...

  9. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.60

    § 1.60 Since he had enough horsemen, he left off hunting And began to plunder the borders of Media...

  10. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.70

    § 1.70 Whose king was Abradatas...

  11. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.80

    § 1.80 And drove toward Sardis...

  12. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.89

    § 1.89 Oebares, Cyrus...

  13. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.102

    § 1.102 ( T2 ) CONCERNING MIDAS Midas...

  14. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.110

    § 1.110 Instead, driving his chariot by the oracles an anchor held him. He founded the Galatian...

  15. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.120

    § 1.120 Such a one was Midas...

  16. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.130

    § 1.130 And thus fell under the myth that he had Ass’s Ears....

  17. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.137

    § 1.137 ( T3 ) CONCERNING GYGES According to some writers Gyges...

  18. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.150

    § 1.150 And told him “Make a choice: Either kill Candaules...

  19. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.160

    § 1.160 The proud copper horse...

  20. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.167

    § 1.167 ( T4 ) CONCERNING CODRUS The king of Athens...

  21. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.180

    § 1.180 Acamas and Demophon...

  22. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.190

    § 1.190 But most noble of soul. For once when the Laconians...

  23. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.197

    § 1.197 ( T5 ) CONCERNING MEGACLES There have been two Megacles...

  24. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.205

    § 1.205 ( T6 ) CONCERNING ALCMAEON Alcmaeon...

  25. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.209

    § 1.209 ( T7 ) CONCERNING THE SONS OF BOREAS Boreas...

  26. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.228

    § 1.228 ( T8 ) CONCERNING EUPHORBUS According to Homer...

  27. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.235

    § 1.235 ( T9 ) CONCERNING NARCISSUS Narcissus...

  28. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.239

    § 1.239 ( T10 ) CONCERNING NIREUS Nireus...

  29. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.241

    § 1.241 ( T11 ) CONCERNING HYACINTHUS Hyacinthus...

  30. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.250

    § 1.250 But the allegory of Narcissus...

  31. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.260

    § 1.260 As if the sun rejoiced, turning to the young man And the breath of the winds was charmed by him....

  32. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.267

    § 1.267 To ask me to write for you the actual words of the wise Is inopportune,...

  33. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.280

    § 1.280 And if I live a meager life, being first of my lineage;...

  34. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.290

    § 1.290 You know now our nature and our state of mind....

  35. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.299

    § 1.299 In his Theriaca, Nicander...

  36. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.305

    § 1.305 ( T12 ) CONCERNING ORPHEUS Orpheus...

  37. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.316

    § 1.316 ( T13 ) CONCERNING AMPHION The lyre-singer Amphion...

  38. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.330

    § 1.330 ( T14 ) CONCERNING THE SIRENS About the Sirens...

  39. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.340

    § 1.340 Their allegorical meaning has been stated often....

  40. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.350

    § 1.350 ( T15 ) CONCERNING MARSYAS Marsyas...

  41. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.360

    § 1.360 “Often the pine makes moan on the spot Where Phoebus...

  42. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.370

    § 1.370 He was the son of Hyagnis...

  43. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.386

    § 1.386 ( T16 ) CONCERNING TERPANDER Terpander...

  44. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.393

    § 1.393 ( T17 ) CONCERNING ARION Arion...

  45. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.400

    § 1.400 His death-song; he took up his lyre (In cithara-singing there are seven modes in all)....

  46. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.416

    § 1.416 ( T18 ) CONCERNING THE GOLDEN LAMB OF ATREUS Atreus...

  47. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.430

    § 1.430 In Atreus' flocks there was a golden lamb...

  48. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.440

    § 1.440 Atreus was about to show it to the judges....

  49. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.450

    § 1.450 He showed him afterwards their legs and arms and drove him away from the country....

  50. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.460

    § 1.460 They forced Thyestes...

  51. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.473

    § 1.473 ( T19 ) CONCERNING THE BULL OF MINOS Minos...

  52. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.480

    § 1.480 He said he would have the Cretan...

  53. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.490

    § 1.490 Daedalus was the son of Eupalamus...

  54. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.500

    § 1.500 As accomplices in his wife's adultery....

  55. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.510

    § 1.510 Now, the bull and the intercourse need my explication And the Minotaur...

  56. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.520

    § 1.520 Minos, who was not permitted to be the ruler before,...

  57. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.530

    § 1.530 Where she had a baby; since the child had two fathers,...

  58. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.542

    § 1.542 ( T20 ) CONCERNING CEPHALUS’ DOG Procris...

  59. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.550

    § 1.550 He received the gifts and went hunting....

  60. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.560

    § 1.560 He says there was a commander named Alopex [Fox] Who was fighting against the Thebans...

  61. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.570

    § 1.570 Or else Alopex escaped with his ships With Cyn in pursuit,...

  62. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.573

    § 1.573 ( T21 ) CONCERNING MEGACLES The Megacles...

  63. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.580

    § 1.580 For which the crown for the victors was a shoot of wild olive....

  64. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.582

    § 1.582 ( T22 ) CONCERNING CIMON Cimon...

  65. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.594

    § 1.594 ( T23 ) CONCERNING ARISTOPATIRA Aristopatira...

  66. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.600

    § 1.600 They passed through the theater in splendid procession,...

  67. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.610

    § 1.610 I am not like the other women. You see,...

  68. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.619

    § 1.619 ( T24 ) CONCERNING SIMONIDES’ VICTORIES There was a Simonides...

  69. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.630

    § 1.630 Simonides wrote a thankful epigram Upon the dead man’s tomb....

  70. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.640

    § 1.640 ( T25 ) CONCERNING STESICHORUS Stesichorus...

  71. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.650

    § 1.650 He even made a door on one side of the bull...

  72. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.660

    § 1.660 Phalaris heard about this and felt disgusted by him He said: “Bring it Perillos...

  73. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.671

    § 1.671 Stesichorus was an enemy to this Phalaris...

  74. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.680

    § 1.680 Stesichorus’ daughters made hymns about Phalaris...

  75. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.690

    § 1.690 “Hurrah! Be glad, you, triumphant king Heracles...

  76. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.692

    § 1.692 ( T26 ) CONCERNING TYRTAEUS Tyrtaeus...

  77. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.700

    § 1.700 ( T27 ) CONCERNING HANNIBAL Hannibal...

  78. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.710

    § 1.710 His head was seen by the Iberians...

  79. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.720

    § 1.720 Such was his strength; he was dragged by the waters....

  80. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.730

    § 1.730 He caught the brightest and the smartest of the young men About one hundred or maybe more;...

  81. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.740

    § 1.740 He went to get ready the Sicilians...

  82. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.750

    § 1.750 His brother Hasdrubal...

  83. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.760

    § 1.760 Argyrippe was a city built by Diomedes...

  84. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.770

    § 1.770 The soldiers did not stop fighting but fearlessly continued....

  85. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.780

    § 1.780 They were afraid their roots would be vanished....

  86. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.790

    § 1.790 Then, he left for the third time to marshal against Rome...

  87. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.800

    § 1.800 He expected to find death in Libyssa,...

  88. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.806

    § 1.806 ( T28 ) CONCERNING BUCEPHALUS You already know Bucephalus...

  89. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.812

    § 1.812 ( T29 ) CONCERNING THE HIMATION OF ANTISTHENES THE SYBARITE Such was the himation of Antisthenes...

  90. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.821

    § 1.821 ( T30 ) CONCERNING CROESUS CROSSED THE HALYS WITHOUT GETTING WET When Croesus...

  91. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.826

    § 1.826 ( T31 ) CONCERNING THE BRIDGE MANDROCLES BUILT IN THE HELLESPONTINE BOSPORUS Mandrocles...

  92. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.830

    § 1.830 Darius disembarked countless soldiers in Europe....

  93. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.840

    § 1.840 It also includes the Bebrycian...

  94. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.848

    § 1.848 ( T32 ) CONCERNING XERXES Now hear how Xerxes...

  95. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.860

    § 1.860 Then Darius sent Datis...

  96. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.870

    § 1.870 He boiled over with anger and for three whole years,...

  97. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.880

    § 1.880 Daily food for his whole army Was four hundred talents,...

  98. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.890

    § 1.890 He gave the sea two hundred lashes. And hurled two pairs of iron foot-fetters Into the sea as if binding a slave....

  99. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.900

    § 1.900 They were stretched tight from each shore,...

  100. urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5030.tlg001:1.910

    § 1.910 Imitating his own father, Dareius...

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Via ToposText (topostext.org), a project of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation created by Brady Kiesling. Translated by Ann Untila et al, Brady Kiesling. Composed ca. 1150 CE. Licence: Creative Commons license, non-commercial. Source.