Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T00:32:59.481Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Double Pun In Aristophanes, Lysistrata 1001

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Mark Golden
Mark Golden
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.
Image of the first page of this content. For PDF version, please use the ‘Save PDF’ preceeding this image.'
Type
Shorter Notes
Information
The Classical Quarterly , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , December 1982 , pp. 467 - 468
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 It is unclear whether Aristophanes’ word is to be ascribed to ὐσσαξ otherwise unattested (as Ernout argued) or to ὕσσακoς The form ὐσσάκω occurs in a hypercatalectic iambic line in Doric dialect quoted by Hephaestion (Ench. 4. 4, p. 14 Consbruch).

ε***μ’ ***τ’ ⋯π’ ὑσσάκω λνθε***σα

Bergk guessed that the author of the line was Alcman; Page sensibly prints it as Lyr. Adesp. 974. A scholion on this passage of Hephaestion translates ὑσσάκω as πασσάλoν ‘snare’, and this is the meaning given the word by the lexicographers (Hsch. s. ὕσσακoς with Theognost. Can. 24. 9, Phot., Etym. Magn. 785. 8 s. ὑσσάκoνς). Chantraine, 1162 distinguishes this word from ὕσσαξ But Photius’ notice says that ὑσσάκoνς (which must be from ὕσσακoς, not ὕσσαξ) is found in Aristophanes, and it is reasonable, though not necessary, to think he has the Lysistrata passage in mind. Perhaps he confused the two words; then we may suppose that Aristophanes coined ὕσσαξ But it is also possible that ὕσσακoς ordinarily had two connotations, or that Aristophanes merely noticed its comic possibilities and decided to exploit them. I do not think this uncertainty affects my argument here: a gesture by the herald to one of the Spartan women's pubic area would make the reference of ὑσσάκων clear.

F. Lasserre thought he saw ὕ σσακoς or ὕ σσαξ in Archilochus fr. 48. 8W. (= POxy. 2311 fr. 1 [a]): M. L. West is suitably sceptical.