Ελένη (fr. 12)

85

Metre Unknown.
Discussion Meineke 1839 1.370; 1841 IV.553; 1847. 1163; Bothe 1855. 705;
Kock 1888 III.372; Edmonds 1961 IIIA.310-11; Kassel-Austin 199111.19
Citation Context Meineke’s (1.370) emendation to Αναξανδρίδης here, al-
though fairly consistently reported, has never been accepted into the text,
despite cogent reasons for doing so. The same error occurs at frr. 10, 67 and
71, although not elsewhere in the Antiatticist, who has only the similar error
Αλεξανδρίδης (fr. 15 from Antiatt.; similar errors in other sources at frr. 5;
12; 22; 36; 39; 45; 56; 61; 75). More important, Alexander (second-first c.) is
later than any other comic poet cited by the Antiatticist; Timostratus (second
c.) is the only other poet later than the third.38 In addition, the Antiatticist
cites Timostratus five times (frr. 1; 3; 4; 5; 7), following his usual practice of
repeatedly relying on the same authors for examples (e. g. citing Anaxandrides
twelve times). He cites Alexander, on the other hand, nowhere else, nor is
there any other evidence for Alexander having written a Helen. The same
arguments can be adduced in favor of Kaibel’s suggested attribution of this
fragment to Alexis (reported by K.-A. ad loc.\ although confusion between
Άλεξις and Αλέξανδρος occurs only at Alex. fr. 8 (where only Zenob. 6.11 is
in error); cf. on fr. 21 for possible similar corruptions at Antiatt. pp. 84.13; 96.
1; 108.17.
Interpretation εύορκησία occurs only here in Greek literature (inexplicably
termed a vox nihili by Barrett 1964 on E. Hipp. 1039); other compounds from
the same roots, esp. εύορκέω and εύορκος, though not uncommon in literature
generally, are rare in drama, occurring only at Ar. Pl. 61 (εύορκου), E. Med.
495 (εύορκος) and Or. 1517 (εύορκοϊμι). The word need not refer strictly to the
keeping of oaths; cf. Holzinger 1940 on Ar. Pl. 61 ‘Die εύορκία oder εύορκησία
ist ein Ausfluss der όσιότης und der δικαιοσύνη und kann als Teilerscheinung
fur die ganze αρετή gesetzt werden.’ For oaths generally, see Sommerstein-
Torrance 2014; Sommerstein-Bayless 2012; Sommerstein-Fletcher 2007; Dover
1974. 248-50; Hirzel 1902. One obvious context for the word in a play based
on E. Hel. is that Helen has, contrary to appearances, remained faithful to
Menelaos; others might be Helen’s and Menelaus’ deception of Theoclymenus
(thus lack of εύορκησία), Theonoe’s betrayal of her brother, or the oath upheld
by the suitors of Helen when they went to Troy to reclaim her.

38 Ruhnken 1828b. 356 had already made much the same observation in passing; cf.
also Latte 1915. 373 n. 1 (= 1968. 612 n. 1).