dip

Scholarly Notes

the difference between the words '???????' and '?????' is well illustrated by a recipe for pickles written in the 2nd century bc by nicander, a greek poet and physician. in his recipe, he states that turnip roots can be first dipped [?????] into boiling water and then soaked [???????] in a potent salt solution. the dipping is a temporary action, but the soaking changes the very nature of the vegetable. the complete text, in greek and english, follows below.<br><br>??? ?? ?????? ??? ??????????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ????? ????????? ????????? ?? ??????? ????????? ????? ?????:<br><blockquote>?????????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ???????? ???????<br>????? ?? ?????? ?? ????????? ?? ????????.<br>??? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ????????? ???????,<br>?????????? ??????? ??? ??????????? ???????:<br>??????? ?? ??????????? ????????? ????????.<br>????? ?? ?????????? ????? ???? ??????? ??????<br>??? ???????????? ???????????, ????? ??<br>?????? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ????????? [dip]<br>????? ??????? ?????? ?????????? [soak] ????,<br> ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ????<br>???? ???, ??? ?? ????? ????????? ??? ???????.<br>??????? ?? ????????? ???????? ???????? ??????<br>???????? ?? ?????????? ????????. ??? ??? ?? ????<br>????? ????????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????<br>????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??????.</blockquote><br>the deipnosophists, volume ii, book iv, 133c-133e<br>by athenaeus<br><br>but they also ate as an appetizer turnips done in vinegar and mustard, as nicander plainly shows in the second book of the <i>georgics</i>; for he says:<br><br><blockquote>of turnip and cabbage, in truth, two families appear in our gardens, long and solid. the latter you wash and dry in the north wind, and they are welcome in winter even to the idle stay-at homes; for soaked in warm water they come to life again. but the other, the turnip roots, you cut in thin slices, gently cleaning away the undried outer skin, and after drying them in the sun a little, either dip [?????] a quantity of them in boiling water and soak [???????] them in strong brine; or again, put equal parts of white must and vinegar in a jar together, then plunge the slices in it, having dried them off with salt. often, too, you may pound raisins and biting mustard-seeds with a pestle and add it to them. when cream of tartar forms, and the top grows more and more bitter, then 'tis time to draw off the pickle for those who seek their dinner.</blockquote><br>the deipnosophistae of athenaeus, volume ii, book iv, p. 114-115<br>translation by charles burton gulick