70

Γεροντομανία (fr. 9)

not be resolved (White 1912 §67); the phrase is probably an intrusive marginal
variant of ήνθει τότε which has ousted the true text and thus indicates hope-
less corruption. Nevertheless, most emendations that have been suggested are
predicated on the less likely notion that the echo (ήνθει τότε ~ ήν δε τότε) is
intentional. More plausibly, Olson suggests emending to και followed by the
name of another hetaira. If true, the obvious choice is Φίλα, one of the very
few names that fits metrically; cf. Philetaer. fr. 9 which mentions her together
with Lais, Theolyte, and other hetaerae; [D.] 59.19 with Kapparis 1999 ad loc.
The ousting of και Φίλα here may have been aided by the similar line ending
τις φίλη two lines above.
Lagiske in 4 is presumably another Corinthian; the Attic form of her name
as given by the mss. may reflect the usage of the speaker or may be a scribal
error.
Although the construction of ύποφαίνω with a participle in 6 seems unre-
markable, the only parallel appears to be Ael. NA 5.19; this fact, together with
the postponed δε, might give rise to some suspicion of the text, although it
is not obviously corrupt nor is any improvement immediately forthcoming.
Interpretation The speakers, presumably the old men of the title but per-
haps instead women (courtesans?) talking among themselves, are discussing
various hetairai whom they knew (or are claiming to have known) when they
were younger. The dialogue is clearly cast as a reminiscence, but the precise
bearing it has on the present state of the speakers is uncertain: for example,
they may be attempting to relive past glories or they may be lamenting the
present in comparison with the past. A possible reading of the exchange is as
a example of one-upmanship, in which each speaker tries to out do the other
in terms of the number, fame or beauty of his previous sexual experiences.
For hetairai in comedy in general, see Hauschild 1933 esp. 14-22; Henry
1985 esp. 33-40, 47-8; Krieter-Spiro 1997 43-54; Auhagen 2009 for lists of
hetairai, cf. Ar. Eq. 765; Anaxil. fr. 22; Philetaer. fr. 9; Timocl. fr. 27; Spyropoulos
1974 82 n. 10.
1 έκ Κορίνθου Corinth was notorious for its prostitutes, including
sacred prostitutes attached to the cult of Aphrodite, already in the time of
Periander (Hermipp. hist. FHG III.40, fr. 16). Ar. fr. 928 ού παντός άνδρός ές
Κόρινθον εσθ’ ό πλους, explained by Hsch. ο 1799 as διά τήν των εταιρών
γοητείαν and by Phot, ο 667 (= Suda ο 924 = Apost. XIII60) as έπεί πολλαί ήσαν
έταϊραι, apparently reflects a popular proverb (cf. K-A ad loc.·, Panofka 1847.
21*—2*; Renehan 1976. 105-6; Anderson 1986; Ar. Pl. 149-52 with yRVMErcccy
Note also St. Byz. p. 374.5 (= Ar. fr. 370) κορινθιάζομαι· τό έταιρεϊν, από των
έν Κορϊνθω εταιρών, ή τό μαστροπεύειν; Suda ε 3266 and see Salmon 1984.
398-400; Williams 1986.