ΕΥΔΟΞΑ ΑΓΝΩΣΤΑ ΚΑΤΑΓΕΛΑΣΤΑ
“Even though I am only a woman, I know this too:
the more anyone seeks to understand the affairs of the gods
the less he knows.”
ἐπίσταμαι δὲ καὶ τάδ’ οὖσά περ γυνή,
ὡς μᾶλλον ὅστις εἰδέναι τὰ τῶν θεῶν
ζητεῖ, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ἧσσον εἴσεται
Iophon who? The son of a certain Sophocles. Yes, the Sophocles.
“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.