διφθέρα
Τὸ νικᾶν αὐτὸν αὑτὸν πασῶν νικῶν πρώτη τε καὶ ἀρίστη. Τὸ δὲ ἡττᾶσθαι αὐτὸν ὑφ' ἑαυτοῦ πάντων αἴσχιστόν τε ἅμα καὶ κάκιστον. → Τo conquer yourself is the first and best victory of all, while to be conquered by yourself is of all the most shameful as well as evil
English (LSJ)
ἡ,
A prepared hide, piece of leather, Hdt.1.194; ἐκ διφθερέων πεποιημέναι κυνέαι Id.7.77; διφθέραι, opp. δέρρεις (hides), Th.2.75; of a drum, Hero Aut.20.4; esp. as writing-material, τὰς βύβλους διφθέρας καλέουσι ἀπὸ τοῦ παλαιοῦ οἱ Ἴωνες Hdt.5.58; δ. μελαγγραφεῖς E.Fr.627; δ. βασιλικαί, of Persian records, Ctes. ap. D.S.2.32; δ. ἱεραί, at Carthage, Plu.2.942c; χαλκαῖ δ., ib. 297a, cf. Sch.Il.1.175: prov., ἀρχαιότερα τῆς διφθέρας λέγεις Diogenian.3.2; used for bindings, διφθέρας περιβάλλειν (sc. βιβλίοις) Luc.Ind.16. II anything made of leather, leathern jerkin, Ar.Nu.72, Pl.Cri.53d, SIG 1259.6 (iv B. C.), Men.Epit.12, Luc. Tim.6,38, Arr.An.7.9.2, etc.; properly, of goatskin, opp. μηλωτή, Ammon.Diff.p.44 V. 2 wallet, bag, X.An.5.2.12, Lib.Or.58.5. 3 pl., skins used as tents, X.An. 1.5.10, Phylarch.41 J.
