In Greek: An Intensive Course, I've seen several instances of παύω being used with πόλεμον to mean "stop the war" or "bring an end to the war." What does it mean, though, when he says in one of the exercises there: ἐκελεύομεν γὰρ τοῦς ἐν τῇ νήσῳ ἀνθρώπους τὸν πόλεμον λῦσαι? What does it mean to λῦσαι a war? What can it mean to loose or release the war? Is this another way of saying τὸν πόλεμον παῦσαι?
Similarly, I have been translating λῦσαι τὴν εἰρήνην as "disturb the peace" and λῦσαι τὴν δημοκρατίαν as "disrupt (the) democracy." Are these reasonable? Does the former carry the idea of breaking a peace agreement or treaty?
Thanks.
λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
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λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
Jason Hare
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Re: λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
λύω can mean "undo" (probably arising from the sense of "loosen") or "break" in contexts such as those:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/tex ... y%3Dlu%2Fw
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/tex ... y%3Dlu%2Fw
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Re: λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
I'm aware of that. But, "undo a war" doesn't make sense either. When λῦσαι is used with a war, does it refer to beginning a war (as if you were releasing an army to fight) or to ending a war (as in, undoing the war itself)? There's nothing in LSJ to tell us.Calgacus wrote:λύω can mean "undo" (probably arising from the sense of "loosen") or "break" in contexts such as those:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/tex ... y%3Dlu%2Fw
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Re: λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
I would say it means "to begin a war", litterally "untie, unbind". There is a similar expression in Slavonic languages.jaihare wrote: When λῦσαι is used with a war, does it refer to beginning a war (as if you were releasing an army to fight) or to ending a war (as in, undoing the war itself)?
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Re: λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
LSJ λύω A.II.4:
καταλύω A.3.c:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/tex ... y%3Dlu%2Fwgenerally, put an end to, “νείκεα” Il.14.205; “μελεδήματα” 23.62; “ἔριν” E.Ph.81, AP9.316.12 (Leon.); “πόλεμον” Th.5.31;
καταλύω A.3.c:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/tex ... katalu%2Fwc. more commonly, κ. τὸν πόλεμον end the war, make peace, Ar.Lys.112, Th.7.31, X.An.5.7.27, etc.; δίκας settle disputes, IG5(2).357.15 (Stymphalus, iii B.C.): abs. (sc. τὸν πόλεμον), Foed. ap. Th.5.23; πρός τινα Foed.ib.8.58:—more freq. in Med., καταλύσασθαι τὰς ἔχθρας, componere inimicitias, Hdt.7.146; “τὸν πόλεμον” And.3.17, Th.6.36; “στάσιν” Ar.Ra.359: abs., make peace, Hdt. 8.140.ά, Th.1.81, X.HG6.8.6, etc.; καταλύεσθαί τινι come to terms with one, Hdt.9.11, etc.
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Re: λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
λῦσαι τὴν εἰρήνην -- end the peace, e.g., by breaking a treatySimilarly, I have been translating λῦσαι τὴν εἰρήνην as "disturb the peace" and λῦσαι τὴν δημοκρατίαν as "disrupt (the) democracy." Are these reasonable? Does the former carry the idea of breaking a peace agreement or treaty?
λῦσαι τὴν δημοκρατίαν -- abolish democratic rule
The first time I hit URL instead of Quote.
Last edited by Qimmik on Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
More cites to Th. for καταλύειν τὸν πόλεμον courtesy of Bétant:
1.24.6; 2.29.5; 2.95.2; 4.108.8; 5.47.3,4; 7.31.4; 6.36.4; 3.115.4
1.24.6; 2.29.5; 2.95.2; 4.108.8; 5.47.3,4; 7.31.4; 6.36.4; 3.115.4
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Re: λῦσαι (τὸν) πόλεμον
εἰρήνη frequenly refers to a specific peace established by a treaty between two warring sides, for example, the "Peace of Philocrates" (346 BCE). In that case λῦσαι τὴν εἰρήνην means to break a treaty or declare that the treaty is over.
Another phrase that's common in Thucydides: τὰς σπονδὰς λύειν:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/sea ... rch=Search
Another phrase that's common in Thucydides: τὰς σπονδὰς λύειν:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/sea ... rch=Search