ἄφαντος
ἐν πίθῳ τὴν κεραμείαν μανθάνειν → in breaking many pots, the potter learns his craft | of those who undertake the most difficult tasks without learning the elements of the art | don't run before you can walk
English (LSJ)
ον, (φαίνομαι)
A made invisible, blotted out, ἀκήδεστοι καὶ ἄ. Il.6.60; ἄσπερμος γενεὴ καὶ ἄ. ὄληται 20.303, etc.; hidden, ἄ. ἕρμα A.Ag.1007 (lyr.); ἔφην' ἄφαντον φῶς S.Ph.297; ἄ. ἔπελες Pi.O.1.46; ἐκ βροτῶν ἄ. βῆναι S.OT832; ἁνὴρ ἄ. ἐκ . . στρατοῦ he has disappeared, A.Ag.624; ἄ. οἴχεσθαι ib.657, Jul.Or.2.59a; ἔρρειν S.OT560; ἀρθεῖσ' ἄ. E.Hel.606; ἐκ χερῶν Id.Hipp.827 (lyr.); ἴχνος πλατᾶν ἄ. disappearing, A.Ag.695 (lyr.); invisible, νύξ Parm.9.3. 2 in secret, ἄφαντα βρέμειν Pi.P.11.30. 3 obscure, Id.N.8.34; θεοῖς δῆλος θνητοῖσι δ' ἄ. Epimenid.II.—Poet. and late Prose, ἄ. γενέσθαι D.S.3.60, 4.65, Ev.Luc.24.31; τὰ ἄφαντα φήναντες Aristid.1.260 J., cf. Sch.Arat. 899.
