82
Ελένη (Helene)
(‘Helen’)
Discussion Meineke 18391.370; 1840 III. 167; 1847. 577; Bothe 1855. 420; Kock
188411.140; Edmonds 1959 11.50—1; Webster 1970. 84; Kassel-Austin 1991 11.244
(cf. 58); Sanchis Llopis et al. 2007. 245
Title A Ελένη was also written by Philyllus, Alexis (possibly to be identified
with one of his other plays about Helen; cf. Arnott 1996.197-201), and doubt-
fully Alexander Comicus (see on fr. 12a), as well as by the tragedians Euripides,
Theodectas and Diogenes. Other plays, both comedies and tragedies, focusing
on different parts of the Helen-myth are common.
For Helen and her place in Greek literature and myth generally, see Austin
1994; Pantelia 1987; Homeyer 1977, esp. 1-63; LIMCIV. 1.498-501.
Content of the comedy Although the bare title offers little help, the sur-
viving fragment suggests that Anaxandrides’ play was based on Euripides’,
as already noted by Webster 1970. 84; cf. the extensive parody of E. Hel. in Ar.
Th., and see Rau 1967. 53-65. For an assertion of the broader influence of E.
Hel. on comedy, see Katsouris 1976. 34. For parody of Euripides, particularly
by Anaxandrides, see Nesselrath 1993.191; Xanthakis-Karamanos 1980. 32-3.
Date Unknown.

fr. 12 K.A. (12 K.)
(A.) άγκυρα, λέμβος, σκεύος δ τι βούλει λέγε.
(Β.) ώΉράκλεις, ψ άβελτηρίου τεμενικοϋ ψ·
άλλ’ ούδ’ άν είπεϊν τό μέγεθος δύναιτό τις
1 λέγε S: λέγειν Phot. 2 άβελτηρίου Phot, S (AGTB): -τερίου S (F): -τερείου
Dindorf τεμενικοϋ S: τεμνικοΰ Phot.
(A.) Anchor, skiff, mention any sort of equipment you like.
(B.) By Herakles, f what religious nonsense f
But no one could express the magnitude.
Phot, a 36 = Suda a 32
αβέλτερος ... λέγουσι δέ καί f άβελτήριον τήν αβελτηρίαν f (άβελτέρειον τήν άβέλ-
τερον Dindorf). Άναξανδρίδης Ελένη·-
Simpleminded. ... And people also use the neuter adjective (άβελτήριον) in place of
the noun (άβελτηρίαν). Anaxandrides in Helene:-