Ἑρμῆς ἐπεισελήλυθε

Ancient Greek

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /her.mɛ̂ːs e.peː.se.lɛ̌ː.ly.tʰe/ → /erˈmis e.pi.seˈli.ly.θe/ → /erˈmis e.pi.seˈli.li.θe/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /her.mɛ̂ːs e.peː.se.lɛ̌ː.ly.tʰe/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /(h)erˈme̝s e.pi.seˈle̝.ly.tʰe/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /erˈmis e.pi.seˈli.ly.θe/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /erˈmis e.pi.seˈli.ly.θe/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /erˈmis e.pi.seˈli.li.θe/

Phrase

Ἑρμῆς ἐπεισελήλῠθε • (Hermês epeiselḗlŭthe)

1. an angel passes (literally, "Hermes has entered")
   • 46 CE – 120 CE, Plutarch, Moralia 38. De garrulitate:

     καὶ καθάπερ ὅταν ἐν συλλόγῳ τινὶ σιωπὴ γένηται, τὸν Ἑρμῆν ἐπεισεληλυθέναι λέγουσιν, οὕτως ὅταν εἰς συμπόσιον ἢ συνέδριον γνωρίμων λάλος εἰσέλθῃ, πάντες ἀποσιωπῶσι μὴ βουλόμενοι λαβὴν παρασχεῖν.

     kaì katháper hótan en sullógōi tinì siōpḕ génētai, tòn Hermên epeiselēluthénai légousin, hoútōs hótan eis sumpósion ḕ sunédrion gnōrímōn lálos eisélthēi, pántes aposiōpôsi mḕ boulómenoi labḕn paraskheîn.

     • 1939 translation by W. C. Helmbold

       And just as when silence occurs in an assemblage they say that Hermes has joined the company, so when a chatterbox comes into a dinner-party or social gathering, every one grows silent, not wishing to furnish him a hold.