Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes, paraphrased in English as "I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts", is a Latin phrase from Aeneid, a Latin epic poem written by Virgil. The phrase is spoken by Trojan priest Laocoön referring to the Trojan Horse used by the Greeks during the Trojan War. The literal meaning of the phrase is "I fear the Danaans [Greeks], even those bearing gifts" or "even when they bear gifts". Most printed versions of the text have the variant ferentis instead of ferentes.[1] In modern English, it is used as a proverb to warn against trusting an enemy or adversary, even when they appear to be making an enticing offer.[2]
As related in the Aeneid, after a nine-year war on the beaches of Troy between the Danaans (Greeks from the mainland) and the Trojans, the Greek seer Calchas induces the leaders of the Greek army to win the war by means of subterfuge: build a huge wooden horse and sail away from Troy as if in defeat—leaving the horse behind as a votive offering for a safe journey home. The Trojan Horse actually contains a hand-picked team of Greek warriors hidden in its wooden belly. The Trojan priest Laocoön suspects that some menace is hidden in the horse, and he warns the Trojans not to accept the gift, crying, Equō nē crēdite, Teucrī! Quidquid id est, timeō Danaōs et dōna ferentēs. ("Do not trust the horse, Trojans! Whatever it is, I fear the Danaans, even when bringing gifts.") Immediately after Laocoön proclaims his warning, he throws a spear at the horse, which pierces its side; Virgil writes that the groan from the Greek warriors hidden within would surely have alerted the Trojans to the trick if the gods had not already ordained Troy's destruction.
Soon after he casts his spear, enormous twin serpents slither out of the sea and attack Laocoön's sons. When Laocoön tries to help them, he too is viciously slain. The Trojans assume the horse has been offered at Minerva's (Athena's) prompting and interpret Laocoön's death as a sign of her displeasure.
The Trojans agree unanimously to place the horse atop wheels and roll it through their impenetrable walls as a trophy of their victory. Festivities follow, celebrating the end of the war. That night, the Greeks hidden inside the horse creep out and open the city gates to the entire Greek army, which has sailed back to Troy under cover of darkness. The Greeks sack the city and Troy is destroyed.
Uses
In the modern era, the phrase was translated to Greek as Φοβοῦ τοὺς Δαναοὺς καὶ δῶρα φέροντας (Fovoú tous Danaoús kai dóra férontas, "fear the Danaans even when bearing gifts!").[3][4]
^E.g, J. B. Greenough, Vergil. Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics of Vergil. Boston. Ginn & Co. 1900, II.49; The Works of Virgil: In Latin & English. The Aeneid, Volume 2, J. Dodsley, 1778, p. 138.
^Martin, Gary. "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts". The Phrase Finder. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
^"φοβούμαι". Papyros – Dictionary of Greek Language (Πάπυρος – Mέγα Λεξικό της Ελληνικής γλώσσας).
^'Yes, Minister' Season 3, Episode 5, "The Bed of Nails", British Broadcasting Corporation, 1982.
^'The Kominsky Method' Season 3, Episode 3, "And It's Getting More and More Absurd", Netflix, 2021.
^Gică, Gică (2006). "Ziare și reviste aromâne la sfârșitul secolului XIX și începutul secolului XX" (PDF). Doina (in Romanian). 2 (4–5): 4–8.
External links
The dictionary definition of gift horse at Wiktionary
January 06, 2023
beware, greeks, bearing, gifts, timeo, danaos, dona, ferentes, paraphrased, english, fear, greeks, even, when, bearing, gifts, latin, phrase, from, aeneid, latin, epic, poem, written, virgil, phrase, spoken, trojan, priest, laocoön, referring, trojan, horse, u. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes paraphrased in English as I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts is a Latin phrase from Aeneid a Latin epic poem written by Virgil The phrase is spoken by Trojan priest Laocoon referring to the Trojan Horse used by the Greeks during the Trojan War The literal meaning of the phrase is I fear the Danaans Greeks even those bearing gifts or even when they bear gifts Most printed versions of the text have the variant ferentis instead of ferentes 1 In modern English it is used as a proverb to warn against trusting an enemy or adversary even when they appear to be making an enticing offer 2 Contents 1 Origin 2 Uses 3 References 4 External linksOrigin Edit Laocoon and His Sons sculpture shows them being attacked by sea serpents As related in the Aeneid after a nine year war on the beaches of Troy between the Danaans Greeks from the mainland and the Trojans the Greek seer Calchas induces the leaders of the Greek army to win the war by means of subterfuge build a huge wooden horse and sail away from Troy as if in defeat leaving the horse behind as a votive offering for a safe journey home The Trojan Horse actually contains a hand picked team of Greek warriors hidden in its wooden belly The Trojan priest Laocoon suspects that some menace is hidden in the horse and he warns the Trojans not to accept the gift crying Equō ne credite Teucri Quidquid id est timeō Danaōs et dōna ferentes Do not trust the horse Trojans Whatever it is I fear the Danaans even when bringing gifts Immediately after Laocoon proclaims his warning he throws a spear at the horse which pierces its side Virgil writes that the groan from the Greek warriors hidden within would surely have alerted the Trojans to the trick if the gods had not already ordained Troy s destruction Soon after he casts his spear enormous twin serpents slither out of the sea and attack Laocoon s sons When Laocoon tries to help them he too is viciously slain The Trojans assume the horse has been offered at Minerva s Athena s prompting and interpret Laocoon s death as a sign of her displeasure The Trojans agree unanimously to place the horse atop wheels and roll it through their impenetrable walls as a trophy of their victory Festivities follow celebrating the end of the war That night the Greeks hidden inside the horse creep out and open the city gates to the entire Greek army which has sailed back to Troy under cover of darkness The Greeks sack the city and Troy is destroyed Uses EditIn the modern era the phrase was translated to Greek as Foboῦ toὺs Danaoὺs kaὶ dῶra ferontas Fovou tous Danaous kai dora ferontas fear the Danaans even when bearing gifts 3 4 In popular culture the phrase is quoted in the film Helen of Troy 1956 the film La Grande Bouffe 1973 the comic Asterix the Legionary an episode of Inspector Morse series and by Sean Connery in the film The Rock 1996 It also featured prominently in an episode of the early 1980s BBC sitcom Yes Minister in which it was employed by numerous characters including those of Sir Arnold Robinson portrayed by John Nettleton and Bernard Woolley played by Derek Fowlds 5 The phrase is also quoted in The Three Musketeers Dumas 1844 and in an episode of The Kominsky Method by the main character Sandy Kominsky played by Michael Douglas 6 For a time the phrase was the motto of the Aromanian newspaper Romanul de la Pind 7 References Edit E g J B Greenough Vergil Bucolics Aeneid and Georgics of Vergil Boston Ginn amp Co 1900 II 49 The Works of Virgil In Latin amp English The Aeneid Volume 2 J Dodsley 1778 p 138 Martin Gary Beware of Greeks bearing gifts The Phrase Finder Retrieved 29 June 2021 foboymai Papyros Dictionary of Greek Language Papyros Mega Le3iko ths Ellhnikhs glwssas Translatum The Greek Translation Vortal Yes Minister Season 3 Episode 5 The Bed of Nails British Broadcasting Corporation 1982 The Kominsky Method Season 3 Episode 3 And It s Getting More and More Absurd Netflix 2021 Gică Gică 2006 Ziare și reviste aromane la sfarșitul secolului XIX și inceputul secolului XX PDF Doina in Romanian 2 4 5 4 8 External links Edit The dictionary definition of gift horse at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beware of Greeks bearing gifts amp oldid 1108702245, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
