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SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE GENITIVE
The Objective Genitive is passive in sense, and is very common with substantives denoting a frame of mind or an emotion: φόβος τῶν Εἱλώτων the fear of the Helots (felt towards them: φοβοῦνται τοὺς Εἵλωτας) 3.54, ἡ τῶν Ἑλλήνων εὔνοια good-will towards the Greeks (εὐνοεῖ τοῖς Ἕλλησι) A. 4.7.20, ἡ τῶν καλῶν συνουσίᾱ intercourse with the good (σύνεισι τοῖς καλοῖς) L. 838a.
a. The objective genitive often precedes another genitive on which it depends: μετὰ τῆς ξυμμαχίᾱς τῆς αἰτήσεως
with the request for an alliance 1.32.
Various prepositions are used in translating the objective genitive: ὁ θεῶν πόλεμος
war with the gods A. 2.5.7, ὅρκοι θεῶν
oaths by the gods Hipp. 657, θεῶν εὐχαί
prayers to the gods Phae. 244e, ἀδικημάτων ὀργή
anger at injustice 12.20, ἐγκράτεια ἡδονῆς
moderation in pleasure 1.21, ἡ τῶν ἡδονῶν νῑ́κη
victory over pleasures L. 840c, τρόπαια βαρβάρων
memorials of victory over barbarians A. 7.6.36, παραινέσεις τῶν ξυναλλαγῶν
exhortations to reconciliation 4.59, μῦθος φίλων
tidings about friends Ant. 11, σοῦ μῦθος
speech with thee O. C. 1161. In θανάτου λύσις
release from death ι 421, μεταπαυσωλὴ πολέμοιο respite from war T 201, it is uncertain whether the genitive is objective or ablatival (1392).
The objective genitive is often used when a prepositional expression, giving greater precision, is more usual: τὸ Μεγαρέων ψήφισμα the decree relating to (περί) the Megarians 1.140, ἀπόβασις τῆς γῆς a descent upon the land (ἐς τὴν γῆν) 1. 108, ἀπόστασις τῶν Ἀθηναίων revolt from the Athenians (ἀπὸ τῶν Ἀθηναίων) 8. 5.
For the objective genitive a possessive pronoun is sometimes used: σὴν χάριν
for thy sake Soph. 242a, διαβολὴ ἡ ἐμή
calumniation of me A. 20e. ὁ ἐμὸς φόβος is usually objective: the fear which I inspire. (But σοῦ μῦθος
speech with thee O. C. 1161.)
Predicate Use.—οὐ τῶν κακούργων οἶκτος, ἀλλὰ τῆς δίκης compassion is not for wrong-doers, but for justice E. fr. 270.
In the index: Genitive case · Objective · Subjective genitive