Expert: Maria - 3/7/2011

Question
Comparing the different translators available, you have been best by far.
Please forgive me if they're a bit long (you'll get expert of the month for surviving them).
The first is greek from Pollux in Onomasticon (I,49):
και ο΄ τι αν καθησ, παν το συγγενομενον τω αι΄ματι εισ την εκεινον χροιαν μεταχρωννυται. χαιρει δε η'λιο ο΄μιλουσα τησ πορφυρασ η΄ βαφη, και η΄ ακτισ αυτην αναπυρσευει, και πλειω ποιει και φαιδροτεραν την αυγην, εκφοινισσομενην εκ του ανω πυροσ.
Also a couple lines before he refers t a color (or to coloring) as 'ksanthizetai'. The word is translated in the dictionaries as 'reddish-yellow', auburn', even 'golden' - but in context of a color made from porfyra (which I study) those colors seem to be off. I was thinking maybe orange or yellowish- red which at least is plausible - what's your opinion.

My second quote is from Codex Justinian (1.23.6):
Sacri adfatus, quoscumque nostrae mansuetudinis in quacumque parte paginarum scripserit auctoritas, non alio vultu penitus aut colore, nisi purpurea tantummodo scriptione illustrentur, scilicet ut cocti muricis et triti conchylii ardore signentur: eaque tantummodo fas sit proferri et dici rescripta in quibuscumque iudiciis, quae in chartis sive membranis subnotatio nostrae subscriptionis impresserit.

Scott's translation is a tragedy ('cocti' as 'ashes' instead of cooked or boiled, 'triti' is just ignored altogehter, etc). If the whole thing is too long, please then at least the two lines from 'nisi purpurea' till 'ardore signentur'; but as I must then retranslate to Hebrew for my book's new edition on the subject (Lulaot Tekhelet -1st edition 1990), I really hope you can do the whole thing.

Much thanks!

Answer
Hello,

with regard to the present indicative, deponent voice “ξανθίζεται” (transliterated as 'ksanthízetai')  we read in Julius Pollux, Onomasticon (I,48-49), it is just the intransitive  form of the verb “ξανθίζω” (csanthízō) meaning “I am /I become yellow”.

Anyway, since this verb derives from the adjective “ξανθός “ (csanthós) that means “yellow” of various shades, frequently  with a tinge of red, brown, auburn, tawny, I think that such meanings are not so far from “orange or yellowish-red”, as you say, just in context of a color made from “πορφύρα”( porfyra), the purple-fish (Latin “mūrex”).


As for “Sacri adfatus, quoscumque nostrae mansuetudinis in quacumque parte paginarum scripserit auctoritas, non alio vultu penitus aut colore,  nisi purpurea tantummodo scriptione illustrentur, scilicet ut cocti muricis et triti conchylii ardore signentur….”from Codex Justinian (1.23.6), it means :
”The imperial orders (Sacri adfatus), which (quoscumque )the authority (auctoritas)  of Our Clemency (nostrae mansuetudinis ) shall write (scripserit)  on any part of a leaf (in quacumque parte paginarum), shall appear  (illustrentur )in no other manner or color (non alio vultu penitus aut colore) ,  except (nisi)  only (tantummodo) as in purple (purpurea) script (scriptione), i.e. as if (scilicet ut) they  were marked (signentur)  by the red brightness(ardore)  of the cooked (cocti) purple fish (muricis) and crushed (triti) shellfish (conchylii)…...”.

Hope this can be helpful to you.
Best regards,
Maria