100
Θετταλοί (Thettaloi)
(‘Thessalians’)
Discussion Meineke 18391.371; 1840 III. 169; 1847. 578; Bothe 1855. 421; Kock
1884 11.141; Edmonds 1959 11.52-53; Kassel-Austin 1991 11.246; Sanchis Llopis
et al. 2007. 247
Title Titles derived from local adjectives are not uncommon (e. g. Aristophanes
Acharnians·, Crates Samioi·, Alexis Thesprdtoi·, Thebaiov, Tarantinoi·, Antiphanes
Aigyptioi·, Menander Halaeis)·, perhaps slightly more common is the use of the
singular (e. g. Antiphanes Byzantios·, Zakynthios·, Anaxandrides Amprakidtis·,
Alexis Kyprios·, Anaxandrides, Menander Samia·, Antiphanes Boidtia·, Menander
lhettale). The plural suggests an eponymous chorus, although that cannot
always have been the case, especially in later plays; see on Agroikoi·, intro-
duction.
Since Thessalians are most notably stereotyped as gluttons (e. g. Ar. fr.
507 [cf. Hsch. κ 688; Xenarch. fr. 11]; Antiph. fr. 249; Eub. fr. 87; Alex. fr. 216;
Eriph. fr. 6), a suitable subject for comedy, this trait might be the point here.
Thessalian women had a reputation as witches (cf. Kassel-Austin on Men.
lhettale, which apparently dealt with the matter; Cazeaux 1979), although the
same is not true for the men; perhaps Θετταλαί should be read, but it would
be rash to introduce the change arbitrarily.
If the play had political overtones, one basis might be the treaty between
Athens and Thessaly of 361 BC (IGII2 116); cf. Rhodes-Osborne 2003 ad loc.
(#44); Helly 1995. 53-4. This treaty, however, was broken off after only a few
years, and Philip II of Macedon soon began interfering directly in Thessalian
affairs before eventually absorbing the state into Macedonia; cf. Walbank
1957-1979 on Plb. 9.28.3; Westlake 1935. Either occasion could provide scope
for political satire.
Date Unknown.

fr. 17 K.-A. (16 K.)
Antiatt. p. 106.10
λ i θ ά ζ ε ι v · ούχΐ λεύειν καί καταλεύειν. Άναξανδρίδης Θετταλοϊς
Άναξινδρί8 cod.: corr. Bekker

To stone. Not ‘to throw stones at’ or ‘to stone to death.’ Anaxandrides in Thettaloi