μηχανή: Difference between revisions

|Definition=Dor. [[μαχανά]], ἡ, ([[μῆχος]]): <span class="sense"><span class="bld">I</span> [[contrivance]], esp. [[machine]] for lifting weights and the like, [[crane]], <span class="bibl">Hdt.2.125</span>, <span class="title">IG</span>11(2).161 <span class="title">A</span>69, al. (Delos, iii B. C.); μηχανὴ [[τετράκωλος]], [[δίκωλος]], <span class="title">Rev.Phil.</span>44.251 (Didyma, ii B. C.); μηχανὴ [[λιθαγωγός]] <span class="bibl">Poll. 10.148</span>; <b class="b3">ἰχθυβόλῳ μηχανᾷ</b>, of [[Poseidon]]'s [[trident]], <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Th.</span>132</span> (lyr.); <b class="b3">λαοπόροις μαχαναῖς</b>, of [[Xerxes]]' [[bridge]] of [[boat]]s, <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Pers.</span>114</span> (lyr.), cf. <span class="bibl">722</span>; freq. of irrigation machines, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">POxy.</span>985</span> (i A. D.), etc.; also of [[oil-press]]es, Wilcken <span class="title">Chr.</span>176.10 (i/ii A. D.), etc. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">2</span> [[engine]] of war, μηχανὰς [[προσάγειν]] <span class="bibl">Th.2.76</span>, etc.; [[ἑλεῖν]] μηχαναῖς <span class="bibl">Id.4.13</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">3</span> [[theatrical]] [[machine]] by which gods, etc., were made to appear in the air, <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Cra.</span>425d</span>, <span class="bibl"><span class="title">Clit.</span>407a</span>; [[αἴρειν]] μηχανήν <span class="bibl">Antiph.191.15</span>, <span class="bibl">Alex.126.19</span>: hence, [[proverb|prov.]] of anything [[sudden]] and [[unexpected]], [[ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεὸς ἐπεφάνης]] <span class="bibl">Men. 227</span>; ὥσπερ ἀπὸ μηχανήν <span class="bibl">D.40.59</span>, cf. <span class="bibl">Arist.<span class="title">Po.</span>1454b1</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">4</span> [[area]] of [[land]] [[irrigate]]d by a [[machine]], POxy.1830.13 (vi A. D.), <span class="bibl"><span class="title">PLond.</span>5.1765</span> (vi A. D.), <span class="bibl"><span class="title">PSI</span>1.77.14</span> (vi A. D.). </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">II</span> any [[artificial]] [[means]] or [[contrivance]] for doing a thing, ἤτοι κλήρῳ... ἢ ἄλλῃ τινὶ μ. <span class="bibl">Hdt.3.83</span>; εἴ τίς ἐστι μ., ἴθι καὶ πειρῶ <span class="bibl">Id.8.57</span>, etc.; especially in plural [[μηχαναί]] = [[shifts]], [[devices]], [[wiles]], <span class="bibl">Hes.<span class="title">Th.</span> 146</span>; πάντα σοφίσματα καὶ πάσας μ. ἐπεποιήκεε ἐς αὐτοὺς Δαρεῖος <span class="bibl">Hdt. 3.152</span>; [[μηχαναῖς Διός]] = [[by the arts of Zeus]], <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Ag.</span>677</span>; <b class="b3">χερὸς… ἐκτίνοντα μηχανάς</b> acts of violence, ib.<span class="bibl">1582</span>; Ὀρέστην μηχαναῖσι μὲν θανόντα, νῦν δὲ μηχαναῖς σεσωσμένον <span class="bibl">S.<span class="title">El.</span>1228</span>; κρατεῖ μαχαναῖς… θηρός <span class="bibl">Id.<span class="title">Ant.</span>349</span> (lyr.); σοφιστῶν μηχανή <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Lg.</span>908d</span>: [[proverb|prov.]], [[μηχαναὶ Σισύφου]] = [[wile]]s of [[Sisyphus]] <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Ach.</span>391</span>:—Phrases: πάσας προσφέροντε μ. <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">IT</span>112</span>; μηχανὴν προσοιστέον <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Th.</span>1132</span>; πᾶσαν σπουδὴν καὶ μηχανὴν προσφερόμενος <span class="bibl">Plb.1.18.11</span>; ἐπεισήγαγον μ. <span class="bibl">Id.29.25.1</span>; μηχανὰς εὑρήσομεν, ὥστε ἀπαλλάξαι <span class="bibl">A.<span class="title">Eu.</span>82</span>; [[πλέκειν]] <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Andr.</span>66</span>; πορίζεσθαι <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Smp.</span> 191b</span>; ἐκπορίζειν <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">V.</span>365</span>; [[ζητεῖν]] ib.<span class="bibl">149</span>; [[ἀντλεῖν μαχανάν]] = [[exhaust one's resources]]; μή, φίλα ψυχά, βίον ἀθάνατον σπεῦδε, τὰν δ’ ἔμπρακτον ἄντλει μαχανάν = Oh! my [[soul]] do not [[aspire]] to [[eternal]] [[life]], but [[exhaust]] the [[limit]]s of the [[possible]]. ([https://www.translatum.gr/forum/index.php?topic=33650.0 Pindar]) <span class="bibl">Pi.<span class="title">P.</span>3.62</span>; <b class="b3">κατ' ἐμὰν μηχανάν</b> ib.<span class="bibl">109</span>: c. gen. objecti, <b class="b3">ἔξευρε μηχανάν τιν' Ἀδμήτῳ κακῶν</b> [[contrivance]] [[against]] [[ill]]s, <span class="bibl">E.<span class="title">Alc.</span>221</span> (lyr.); but [[μηχανὴ σωτηρίας]] = a [[way]], [[means]] of [[procure|procuring]] or [[means]] of [[provide|providing]] [[safety]], <span class="bibl">A. <span class="title">Th.</span>209</span>; μυρίων οὐσῶν μηχανῶν ἀπαλλαγῆς <span class="bibl">X.<span class="title">Cyr.</span>5.1.12</span>; <b class="b3">οὐδεμία μηχανή [ἐστι] ὅκως οὐ</b> c. fut. ind., <span class="bibl">Hdt.2.160</span>; <b class="b3">μὴ οὐ</b> c. inf., ib. <span class="bibl">181</span>, <span class="bibl">3.51</span>; <b class="b3">τὸ μὴ οὐ</b> (prob.) <span class="bibl">Id.1.209</span>; <b class="b3">τίς μηχανὴ μὴ οὐχὶ</b>…; <span class="bibl">Pl.<span class="title">Phd.</span>72d</span>. </span><span class="sense"><span class="bld">2</span> freq. in adverb. phrases, [[μηδεμιῇ μηχανῇ]] = [[by no means whatsoever]], [[by no contrivance]], <span class="bibl">Hdt. 7.51</span>, etc.; οὓς οὐδεμιῇ μηχανῇ δεῖ [[τιτρώσκειν]] <span class="bibl">Hp.<span class="title">Art.</span>11</span>; so <b class="b3">μήτε τέχνῃ μήτε μηχανῇ μηδεμιᾷ</b> Foed. ap. <span class="bibl">Th.5.18</span>, cf. <span class="title">IG</span>12.39.23; opp. πάσῃ τέχνῃ καὶ μηχανῇ <span class="bibl">Lys. 19.53</span>; πάσῃ μ. <span class="bibl">Ar.<span class="title">Lys.</span>300</span> (lyr.); <b class="b3">τρόπῳ ἢ μηχανῇ ᾑτινιοῦν</b> Lex ap.<span class="bibl">D.21.113</span>.</span>