Prepositions

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Main uses of prepositions in prose

1 Prepositions with one case only

(a) with accusative

ἀνά

of place: ἀνὰ ποταμόν up river
ἀνὰ τὴν ̔Ελλάδα throughout Greece

of time: ἀνὰ πα̂ϲαν τὴν ἡμέραν throughout the whole day

distributively ἀνὰ ἑκατὸν ἄνδραϲ in groups of 100 men
In compounds: up (ἀνίϲταμαι stand up); back (ἀναχωρέω go back, retreat); again (ἀναλαμβάνω take (up) again).

εἰϲ (ἐϲ)

of place: εἰϲ τὴν ̓Αττικήν into Attica

of time: εἰϲ ἑϲπέραν towards evening
εἰϲ τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον for all time

measure and limit εἰϲ τριακοϲίουϲ up to 300
purpose χρήϲιμοϲ εἰϲ ἅπαν ἔργον useful for every task
reference εὔδόκιμοϲ εἰϲ ϲοφίαν famous for wisdom
In compounds: in, into (εἰϲέρχομαι go in).

ὡϲ: (only of persons) ὡϲ Περδίκκαν to Perdiccas

(b) with genitive

ἀντί

: εἰρήνη ἀντί πολέμου peace instead of war

In compounds: instead, in return (ἀντιδίδωμι give in return); against, in opposition (ἀνθίϲταμαι stand against, oppose).

ἀπό

of place: ἀπὸ πόλέωϲ ἑκάϲτηϲ from each city

of time: ἀπὸ τω̂ν Μηδικω̂ν from the time of the Persian [Wars]

cause: ἀπὸ τούτου ἐτιμήθη he was honoured for this

In compounds: from, away, off (ἀπέρχομαι go away); in return, back (ἀποδίδωμι give back what is due).

ἐκ

of place: ἐξ ̓Ιταλίαϲ from Italy

of time: ἐκ τούτου after this

origin: ἐκ πατρὸϲ εὐγενου̂ϲ (sprung) from a noble father

In compounds: from, out, away (ἐξελαύνω drive out and away); thoroughly (ἐκμανθάνω learn thoroughly, by heart).

πρό

of place: πρὸ τω̂ν πυλω̂ν in front of the gates

of time: πρὸ τω̂ν Τρωικω̂ν before the Trojan [war]

preference: πρὸ τούτων θάνατον ἑλέϲθαι to choose death rather than this

In compounds: before, forward (προτίθημι set before, set out); in defence of (προμάχομαι fight in defence of); forth (προφέρω bring forth); publicly (προαγορεύω proclaim publicly); in preference (προαιρει̂ϲθαι choose in preference); beforehand (προαιϲθάνομαι perceive beforehand).

ἐν

of place: ἐν οὐρανῳ̂ in heaven
ἐν ὑμι̂ν δημηγορει̂ν to make a speech among (or before) you

of time: ἐν τῃ̂ προτέρᾳ ἐϲβολῃ̂ in the former invasion
ἐν ἔτεϲι πεντήκοντα within fifty years

In compounds: in, at, on (ἐμπίπτω fall in/on; ἐγγελάω laugh at).

ϲύν (ξύν)

: ϲὺν τοι̂ϲ θεοι̂ϲ with the help of the gods
ϲὺν κραυγῃ̂ with a shout

(Attic prose normally uses μετά + genitive)
In compounds: with, together (ϲυμπορεύομαι march in company with); altogether, completely (ϲυμπληρόω fill up).

2 Prepositions with accusative or genitive

διά

(a) with accusative

of cause: διὰ φόβον on account of fear
διὰ αἰϲχύνην because of (or through) shame

(b) with genitive

of place: διὰ τη̂ϲ πόλεωϲ through the city

of time: διὰ παντὸϲ του̂ πολέμου throughout all the war

of intervals: διὰ τρίτου ἔτουϲ every third year

of means: δι ̓ ἑρμηνέωϲ by means of an interpreter

In compounds: through, across (διαβαίνω cross); apart, thoroughly (διαλύω dissolve, destroy; διαπράττω complete); severally (διαδίδωμι distribute).

κατά

(a) with accusative

of place: κατὰ ποταμόν down river
κατὰ τὴν ἀγοράν throughout the market-place
κατὰ γη̂ν καὶ κατὰ θάλατταν by land and sea

of time: κατ ̓ ἐκει̂νον τὸν χρόνον about that time
οἱ καθ ̓ ἡμα̂ϲ our contemporaries

of manner: κατὰ τοὺϲ νόμουϲ according to the laws
κατὰ Πίνδαρον according to Pindar

distributively: κατὰ τρει̂ϲ by threes
καθ ̓ ἡμέραν day by day

(b) with genitive

of place: ἥλαντο κατὰ τη̂ϲ πέτραϲ they leapt down from the cliff
μύρον κατὰ τη̂ϲ κεφαλη̂ϲ καταχει̂ν to pour perfume over one's head

against: καθ ̓ αὐτου̂ μηνύειν to give information against oneself

In compounds: downwards, down (καταπίπτω fall down); back (κατέρχομαι return from exile); against (καταγιγνώϲκω condemn); completely (κατεϲθίω eat up).

μετά

(a) with accusative

of time: μετὰ τὴν μάχην after the battle

of succession: ὁ μέγιϲτοϲ ποταμὸϲ μετὰ τὸν "Ιϲτρον the greatest river after the Danube

(b) with genitive

: μεθ ̓ ἡμω̂ν πορεύεϲθαι to travel along with us
μετὰ τω̂ν ἀδικουμένων μάχεϲθαι to fight on the side of those who are wronged

In compounds: among, with (of sharing) (μεταδίδωμι give a share of); after, in quest of (μεταπέμπομαι send for); denoting change (μετανοέ́ω change one's mind).

ὑπέρ

(a) with accusative

of place: ὑπὲρ τὰ ὄρη οἰκει̂ν to live beyond the mountains

of measure: ὑπὲρ δύναμιν beyond one's power

(b) with genitive

of place: ὑπὲρ τη̂ϲ γη̂ϲ above the earth

on behalf of: ὑπὲρ τη̂ϲ πατρίδοϲ ἀποθανει̂ν to die for one's country

In compounds: over, above (ὑπερβαίνω step over, cross); in defence of (ὑπερμαχέω (poetical) fight for); exceedingly (ὑπερφρονέω βε όερπρουδ).

3 Prepositions with accusative, genitive or dative

ἐπί

(a) with accusative

of place: ἐφ ̓ ἵππον ἀναβαίνειν to mount one's horse

hostility: ἐπὶ τοὺϲ πολεμίουϲ against the enemy

(b) with genitive

of place: οὔτ ̓ ἐπὶ γη̂ϲ οὔτ ̓ ὑπὸ γη̂ϲ neither upon the earth nor under the earth
ἐπὶ ̓Αθηνω̂ν πορεύεϲθαι to travel in the direction of Athens

of time: ἐπὶ τω̂ν προγόνων in the time of our ancestors

(c) with dative

of place: αἱ ἐπὶ τῃ̂ θαλάττῃ πόλειϲ the cities on the sea coast
ἐπὶ τοι̂ϲ ὄρεϲι on the mountains

purpose: ἐπὶ δουλείᾳ τῃ̂ ἡμετέρᾳ ἥκετε you have come to enslave us (lit. with a view to our slavery)

condition: ἐπὶ τούτοιϲ on these conditions

In compounds: upon (ἔπειμι be upon); over (ἐπιτρέχω overrun); at (ἐπιχαίρω rejoice at/over); toward (ἐπιϲτέλλω send to); in addition (ἐπιδίδωμι give in addition); against (ἐπιβουλεύω plot against); after (ἐπιγίγνομαι come after).

παρά

(a) with accusative

of place: ἥκω παρὰ ϲέ I have come to you
παρὰ τὴν γη̂ν ἔπλει he sailed along the coast

comparison: ἐξετάζειν παρ ̓ ἄλληλα to compare with one another

contrary to: παρὰ τοὺϲ νόμουϲ contrary to the laws

(b) with genitive

of place: παρὰ βαϲιλέωϲ ἥκειν to have come from the King

source: παρὰ Çωκράτουϲ μανθάνειν to learn from Socrates

(c) with dative

of place: παρὰ τοι̂ϲ ̓Αθηναίοιϲ amongst the Athenians
παρ ̓ ἐμοὶ δειπνει̂ν to dine at my house (cf. French chez moi)
παρὰ τοι̂ϲ δικαϲται̂ϲ before the judges

In compounds: alongside, beside (παρέρχομαι go alongside); beyond, past (παρελαύνω drive past); aside, beyond i.e. amiss (παραβαίνω transgress).

περί

(a) with accusative

of place: περὶ Πελοπόννηϲον around the Peloponnese
οἱ περὶ ̔Ηράκλειτον the followers of Heraclitus

of time: περὶ πρω̂τον ὕπνον about the time of the first sleep

number: περὶ ἑξακοϲίουϲ about 600

reference: οἱ περὶ τοὺϲ γάμουϲ νόμοι the laws about marriage

(b) with genitive

reference: περὶ πολέμου βουλεύεϲθαι to deliberate about war
περὶ τούτων λέγειν to speak about these things

(c) with dative

of place: περὶ τῃ̂ χειρὶ δακτύλιον φέρειν to wear a ring on the hand
ϲτρεπτοὶ περὶ τοι̂ϲ τραχήλοιϲ collars about their necks

In compounds: around, about (περιβάλλω throw around); beyond, over (περιεργάζομαι waste one's labour; περιοράω overlook, allow); (remaining) over (περιγίγνομαι remain over, excel).

πρόϲ

(a) with accusative

of place: πρὸϲ τὸν λόφον towards the hill

of time: πρὸϲ ἔαρ towards spring

of reference: πρὸϲ χάριν λέγειν to speak with a view to pleasing

(b) with genitive

in appeals: πρὸϲ θεω̂ν by (or in the name of) the gods
characteristic: οὐκ ἠ̂ν πρὸϲ του̂ Κύρου τρόπου it was not like Cyrus's way

(c) with dative

of place: πρὸϲ τῃ̂ γῃ̂ ναυμαχει̂ν to fight a sea-battle near the land
πρὸϲ Αἰγίνῃ off (the island of) Aegina
addition: πρὸϲ τούτοιϲ in addition to this

In compounds: towards (προϲέρχομαι approach); in addition to (προϲδίδωμι give in addition); against (προϲπίπτω fall against).

ὑπό

(a) with accusative

of place: ὑπὸ Çπάρτωλον ἐλθόντεϲ having come up to (i.e. under the walls of)Spartolus
of time: ὑπὸ τὸν ϲειϲμόν at the time of the earthquake

(b) with genitive

of place: ὑπὸ γη̂ϲ ἐλθει̂ν to come from under the earth
agent: ὑπὸ τω̂ν πολεμίων ἀποθανει̂ν to be killed by the enemy
cause: ὑπὸ λιμου̂ ἀπώλετο he perished of hunger

(c) with dative

of place: ἡ κώμη ὑπὸ τῳ̂ ὄρει the village under (or at the foot of) the mountain
subjection: ὑπὸ Λακεδαιμονίοιϲ εἰ̂ναι to be subject to the Lacedaemonians

In compounds: under (ὑποτίθημι place under); behind (ὑπολείπω leave behind); secretly (ὑποπέμπω send secretly); gradually (ὑποκαταβαίνω descend by degrees).