Translatum Greek Translation Forum

[ibecomeshiva]

Thanks  !

Lys

[billberg23]

This is the answer already posted by Hero Member nickel on May 10, 2006 (under the "Tattoos and Ancient Greek" rubric):

According to the Wikipedia link in the posting above:

Ή τάν ή επί τάς (I tan i epi tas): "This, or on this". This was the farewell phrase Spartan mothers or wives said to their departing warrior sons or husbands, upon giving them their shield. A warrior returning with his shield meant that he did not flee the battlefield. Had he done so, he must have dropped the large, heavy bronze shield in order to run faster. A warrior returning on his shield was dead, and his corpse would have been carried home thus. Therefore a Spartan warrior's options were to return either victorious or dead. Returning in shame without a shield was not an option. "Rhipsaspides" (shield droppers) were executed upon return, and their family members took part in the execution lest the shame of their cowardly relative stain the family reputation. The few Spartans who cowered in battle preferred to commit suicide rather than return to Sparta.

[kuv]

Έπαιζα με αυτή την φράση τις προάλλες και σκεφτόμουν οτι ίσως θα έπρεπε να αποδοθεί και ο αυστηρός λακωνισμός της φράσης, με όσο το δυνατόν λιγότερες λέξεις. Πώς σας φαίνεται, για παράδειγμα, ένα 'With or On (this/it)';

[F_idάνι]

"This, or on this"

But it is already referred to like this in Wikipedia.

[kuv]

But it is already referred to like this in Wikipedia.

So what!? :P If memory serves, wikipedia is under constant editing by 'normal' users. It's a dynamic library that grows and expands and corrected- it's as infallible as the average user.

[F_idάνι]

Yes, you're right, but I like it like this. Or maybe ''Either this, or on this''. (There is no ''with'' in the original phrase).

[banned1]

"With it, or on it" (or "With this, or on this") would be an acceptable short form in English – regardless of the fact that there is no "with" in English.

[wings]

http://www.translatum.gr/forum/index.php/topic,925.0.html

http://www.translatum.gr/forum...opic,3757.msg6664.html#msg6664