Proverbs used by the Alexandrians

Plutarch. Corpus paroemiographorum Graecorum, Vol. 1. Leutsch, Ernst von; Schneidewin, Friedrich Wilhelm, editors. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht, 1839.

Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.

This work is a prose compilation that collects and explains various proverbs (paroimiai) used in ancient Greece, particularly in Alexandria. Structured into multiple "centuries" (collections of around one hundred sayings), the text provides concise explanations of the origins and figurative meanings of each proverb. The sources of these sayings are highly diverse, ranging from Greek myths and historical events to regional customs, animal behavior, and anecdotes from theater or law courts. The author clearly demonstrates how each expression originated and how it is applied metaphorically. By reading this collection, readers can understand the background of the figurative language used by ancient Greeks in their daily lives and literature, gaining insight into their wisdom and humor.