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Pherecrates, Fr. 176 (Photius e 46)

 

“The gods are always screwing us.”

 

ἀεί ποθ᾿ ἡμῖν ἐγκιλικίζουσ᾿ οἱ θεοί

 

The verb ἐγκιλικίζουσ᾿ means “to be mean or treacherous like the Cilicians”. Obviously, the reference is lost on a modern audience. I went colloquial. I thought that “the gods are always messing with us” might be less abrasive, but “screwing” has a nice sense of “meanness” and the double entendre… Any other suggestions?

 

Who’s Pherecrates? A Comic poet, An old one. And Photius? Not as old or sexy.

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