[Used] in reference to small [people], by Neokleides and
Aristotle. Also Theophrastos: "as [being] a dwarf and having large genitals." For dwarves have large genitals.[1]
Stunted human beings are called
νάννοι . Also
ναννοφυεῖς ["short in stature"]. But stunted horses are called
ἰννοι .[2]
Most later [people] write this [word]
γίννοι . The expression seems to be derived from being deprived of the upper parts [
το ἄνω ], for properly speaking dwarf creatures stoop down, like infants, who also have larger upper parts.[3]
The better spelling of the headword seems to be
νάνος (or
νᾶνος with circumflex accent), but the spelling with double
nu (
νάννος ) is common in manuscripts.
[1] cf. e.g.
Photius s.v., and
Apostolius 11.97. 'Neokleides' is presumably the Athenian philosopher (C5/4 BCE) of that name. The
Aristotle passage is
History of Animals 777b27. The
Theophrastus passage is unidentifiable.
[2] cf. scholion on
Aristophanes,
Peace 790 (where
νανοφυεῖς appears); see also
iota 385,
kappa 396,
sigma 1762.
[3] cf. Orion [
Author,
Myth] 108.18;
Etymologicum Magnum 597.27.
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