Κέρκιος (?) (fr. 23)

119

Discussion Meineke 1840 III.171; 1847. 579; Bothe 1855. 422; Kock 188411.143;
Edmonds 1959 11.54—5; Nesselrath 1990. 284; Kassel-Austin 1991 11.249; Sanchis
Llopis et al. 2007. 250
Citation Context A brief account of crayfish (3.104d-f) in Athenaeus segues
into a longer discussion of shrimp (3.104f-6e). The central part of this dis-
cussion (3.105e-6c) illustrates and purports to explain the differing length of
the iota in the word καρίς (‘shrimp’). Examples offered for long iota (but see
on fr. 38) are Arar. fr. 8.2-4; Eub. fr. 78; Anaxandr. frr. 28; 38; this fragment;
Eub. fr. 110; Ophel. frr. 2; 1, for short iota Eup. frr. 2; 120. Eustathius offers
an abbreviated version of the same discussion, quoting only three fragments
(Arar. fr. 8.3-4; Ophel. fr. 1; this fragment), none with attribution.
Text The spelling έρυθρότερον (CE) is metrically necessary, as at Dromo fr.
1.4, whereas the expected form έρυθρώτερον (A) is found as a variant at, e. g.,
Pl. Ti. 83b, and parallel forms are metrically guaranteed at, e. g., E. Hec. 581;
cf. Choerob. in Theod. 2.76.33-6 (« Cramer, Anec. 4.414.14-6). LSJ claim that
the variation in this and parallel forms (e.g. ελαφρότερος/ελαφρότερος) is
largely a distinction of date, but the prominence of such variation in Euripides
suggests that metrical convenience is at work; cf. Kuhner-Blass 1890-1892
1.558; Mastronarde 1994 on E. Ph. 1345.
Interpretation There appear to be two possible interpretations for this line.
Turning red is a sign of embarrassment (Dromo fr. 1 [failing to contribute to a
dinner]) or humility (Antiph. fr. 261; Men. frr. 750; 751 [cf. Ter. Adelph. 84-5]);
similarly, the failure to blush indicates brazenness (Ar. Nu. 1216; Apollod. Com.
fr. 13.10). That blushing is ordinarily represented as originating from within
rather than as caused by a second party is hardly an insurmountable objection.
More plausibly, Kock (followed by Nesselrath 1990. 284) suggested that a slave
is being threatened; cf. Ar. Ach. 112 ϊνα μή σε βάψω βάμμα Σαρδιανικόν
with ERG ϊνα μή σε ερυθρόν ποιήσω τω βάμματι μαστίξας, οίονεί ϊνα μή σε
φοινίξω, 320; Plant. Ερ. 626; Pseud. 229; Rud. 1000.
Comparing Eup. fr. 120 (see on καρϊδος), Thompson 1947. 104 claims the
phrase ‘redder than a broiled shrimp’ as a proverb, although there is little
evidence to support the assertion.
καρϊδος The shrimp or prawn; see Thompson 1947. 103-4; Olson-Sens
2000 on Archestr. fr. 26.2 (SHI56); Arnott 1996 on Alex. fr. 115.13; Dohm 1964.
106. For the red colour of cooked καρϊδες, cf. Cratin. fr. *314 = Eup. fr. 120 εχων
τό πρόσωπον καρίδος μασθλητίνης. The ι is long, as is usual after the fifth
century (e.g. Arar. fr. 8.3; Eub. fr. 78; contrast e.g. Ar. V. 1522; Cratin. fr. 314;
Eup. fr. 120); for further examples of both quantities, see LSJ s. v. and Arnott
1996 on Alex. fr. 115.13.