Άχιλλεύς (Achilleus)
(‘Achilleus’)

65

Discussion Meineke 1839 1.369-70; 1840 III.164; 1847. 575; Bothe 1855. 420;
Kock 1884 11.138; Edmonds 1959 11.48—9; Kassel-Austin 1991 11.242; Sanchis
Llopis et al. 2007. 242
Title Philetaerus is the only other comic poet to write an Άχιλλεύς, although
there were at least six tragedies by this name.
The title refers to the famous hero of the Trojan War. Anaxandrides’ pen-
chant for mythological plays is clear (see introduction), as is his preference for
plays involving a hero, as here, rather than a deity. A notable subset of these
plays concern some aspect of the Trojan myth cycle and are evenly divided
between major figures (Achilleus, Helen, Odysseus) and minor ones (Anchises,
Pandarus, Prote silaus).
Content of the comedy The play could have concerned Achilleus’ disguise
as a girl on Scyros or perhaps his education, but the possibilities are legion;
the single fragment from Philetaerus’ play simply mocks the name Peleus.
Date The title may appear at test. 5.5 ([ — ]λει), which suggests a third-place
finish at the Lenaia prior to 375 BC, or at test. 5.13 (A[-]), which was a
fifth-place finish in 352 BC, probably at the City Dionysia.

fr. 8 K.-A. (8 K.)
Antiatt. p. 104.17
κακομαθής· Άναξανδρίδης Άχιλλεϊ
Ill-educated. Anaxandrides in Achilleus
Metre Unknown.
Discussion Meineke 1840 III.164; 1847. 575; Bothe 1855. 420; Kock 188411.138;
Edmonds 195911.48—9; Kassel-Austin 1991 11.242; Sanchis Llopis et al. 2007. 242
κακομαθής The word is attested only here. LSJ gloss it as ‘bad at learn-
ing’ (Edmonds adds ‘slow at learning’), but this gives the sense of δυσμαθής.
For the difference between κακό- and δυσ-, cf. Schmidt 1876-1886 IV.413-17;
Austin-Olson 2004 on Ar. Th. 229 (discussion of κακοδαίμων [colloquial] vs.
δυσδαίμων [high-style]). Perhaps the word occurred in reference to Achilleus’
education by Chiron.