dative of place

After verbs of motion the dative, as distinguished from the locative, denotes direction towards and is used of persons (1485), and is a form of the dative of interest.

Many verbs capable of taking the locative dative in poetry, require, in prose, the aid of a preposition in composition. The limit of motion is usually (1589) expressed by the accusative with a preposition (e.g. εἰς, πρός).

In prose the dative of place (chiefly place where) is used only of proper names: Πῡθοῖ at Pytho, Ἰσθμοῖ at the Isthmus, Σαλαμῖνι at Salamis, Ὀλυμπίᾱσι at Olympia, Ἀθήνησι at Athens (inscr.); especially with the names of Attic demes, as Φαληροῖ, Θορικοῖ, Μαραθῶνι. But ἐν Μαραθῶνι and ἐν Πλαταιαῖς occur. Some deme-names require ἐν, as ἐν Κοίλῃ.

Many adverbs are genuine locatives, as οἴκοι, πάλαι, πανδημεί, Φαληροῖ; Ἀθήνησι, Πλαταιᾶσι; others are datives in form, as κύκλῳ, Πλαταιαῖς.

With names of countries and places, ἐν is more common than the locative dative, and, with the above exceptions, the place where is expressed in Attic prose with ἐν.

Verbs of ruling often take the dative, especially in Homer: Μυρμιδόνεσσιν ἄνασσε Α 180, Γιγάντεσσιν βασίλευεν η 59, ἦρχε δ᾽ ἄρα σφιν Ἀγαμέμνων Ξ 134. Rarely in prose: ἡγεῖσθαί τινι to serve as guide (leader) to some one, ἐπιστατεῖν τινι to be set over one; ἄρχειν τινί means only = to be archon (Πῡθοδώρου ἄρχοντος Ἀθηναίοις T. 2.2). Cp. 1371.

a. Only when stress is not laid on the idea of supremacy is the dative, instead of the genitive (1370), used with verbs of ruling.

It is not clear whether the dative with verbs of ruling is a dative proper (for), a locative (among; cp. ἐν Φαίηξιν ἄνασσε η 62), or an instrumental (by). ἄρχειν, ἡγεῖσθαι may take the dative proper, ἀνάσσειν, βασιλεύειν, κρατεῖν may take the locative dative.