Death & Dying

Book VIII, 209: On Violators of Tombs

by Gregory of Nazianzus 4th century AD (Paton’s date)

Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. II, 1917)

Death & Dying

Who pillaged my dear tomb that rose so high above this mighty mountain summit? It is gold that sharpens the sword against the life of man, and gold makes the greedy navigator to perish in the wintry seas. I, too, this great and beautiful tomb, was pillaged in the hope of gold. All other things are second to gold in the eyes of the wicked.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Nazianzus, Gregory of. “Book VIII, 209: On Violators of Tombs.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/gregory-nazianzus/214/.

Chicago

Nazianzus, Gregory of. “Book VIII, 209: On Violators of Tombs.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/gregory-nazianzus/214/.

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