page_title: List of Greek phrases
section_title: Γγ
hierarchical_section_title: List of Greek phrases / Γγ
caption_attribution_description: English: Attica, Athens. 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.85 g). Helmeted head of Athena right / ΑΘΕ, owl standing right; olive-sprig and crescent above. SNG Copenhagen 39.
context_page_description: a
  ἀγεωμέτρητος μηδεὶς εἰσίτω.
  Ageōmétrētos mēdeìs eisítō.
  "Let no one untrained in geometry enter."
  Motto over the entrance to Plato's Academy.
  ἀεὶ Λιβύη φέρει τι καινόν
  Aeì Libýē phérei ti kainón.
  "Libya always bears something new", Aristotle, Historia Animalium.
  Compare Latin Ex Africa semper aliquid novi "From Africa always something new", Pliny.
  ἀεὶ κολοιὸς παρὰ κολοιῷ ἱζάνει
  Aeì koloiòs parà koloiôi hizánei.
  "A jackdaw is always found near a jackdaw"
  Similar to English "birds of a feather flock together."
  ἀεὶ ὁ θεὸς γεωμετρεῖ
  Aei ho theos geōmetreî.
  "God always geometrizes" — Plato
  Plutarch elaborated on this phrase in his essay Πῶς Πλάτων ἔλεγε τὸν θεὸν ἀεί γεωμετρεῖν "What is Plato’s meaning when he says that God always applies geometry". Based on the phrase of Plato, above, a present-day mnemonic for π was derived:
  ἀεὶ ὁ θεὸς ὁ μέγας γεωμετρεῖ τὸ σύμπαν
  Aeì ho theòs ho mégas geōmetreî tò sýmpan.
  Always the great God applies geometry to the universe
  ἀετοῦ γῆρας, κορυδοῦ νεότης
  Aetoû gêras, korydoû neótēs.
  "An eagle's old age a sparrow's youth".
  αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν
  aièn aristeúein
  “Ever to Excel“
  Motto of the University of St Andrews, the Edinburgh Academy, and Boston College.
context_section_description: g
  γηράσκω δ᾽ αἰεὶ πολλὰ διδασκόμενος.
  Gēraskō d' aíeí pollâ didaskómenos.
  "I grow old always learning many things."
  Solon the Athenian, one of the seven Sages of Greece, on learning.
  γλαῦκ’ Ἀθήναζε / εἰς Ἀθήνας
  Glaûk’ Athḗnaze / eis Athḗnas
  "Owls (Athenian drachmas) to Athens" — Aristophanes, The Birds, 302, also in 1106
  E.g., coals to Newcastle, ice to the Eskimos.
  γνῶθι σεαυτόν.
  Gnôthi seautón.
  "Know thyself"
  Aphorism inscribed over the entrance to the temple of Apollo at Delphi.
  Γόρδιος δεσμός
  Górdios desmós
  "Gordian Knot"
  The Gordian Knot is a legend associated with Alexander the Great. It is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem, solved by a bold stroke
caption: Athenian tetradrachm depicting goddess Athena (obverse) and owl (reverse); in daily use, Athenian drachmas were called glaukai, "owls"[5]
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