Νηρεύς (fr. 31)

149

coveries. The only other attestation of the word in reference to fish is at fr.
34.16, in a similar context; different is Eup. fr. 120 = Cratin. fr. 314.
2-3 άμύμονος άμύμων, rare outside epic (twice in comedy; never in
tragedy) is an epithet of general commendation; see Parry 1973. Parry p. 87
categorizes the use of the word at Hermipp. fr. 77.5 to describe Chian wine as
parody of its use in Homer; regarding the occurrence here, she states (87) that
‘obviously, άμύμων is more likely to refer to the size, strength, and beauty of
the tuna’s body than to some indefinable aspect of its “blamelessness’”. Given
the word’s virtual restriction to epic52 and the generally high-flown character
of the passage in general, however, it is most likely used here in a conscious
attempt to evoke an epic feeling and elevate the character of Nereus (probably
shown later in more humble circumstances). Perhaps worth noting, given the
context, is Hes. Th. 263-4, where both Nereus and the works of his daughters
are called άμύμων.
δέμας Normally used of men, but of fish at Archestr. fr. 32.5 (SH 162).
Like άμύμων, this is a poetic word, common in epic, and thus continues the
elevated tenor.
θύννου The tuna, a large fish, was regarded as a delicacy (esp. Anan. fr.
5.7-8; Archestr. fr. 20 [SH 150]) and was commonly eaten and purchased in
slices (τέμαχος; cf. above on τμητόν); for a thorough discussion, including iden-
tification of varieties, parts eaten, and methods of catching, see Olson-Sens
2000 on Archestr. fr. 35.2 (SH 165); Thompson 1947. 79-90. The mock-heroic
depiction of the tuna accords well with the general tone of the fragment.
3 βρώματ(α) See on fr. 2.2.
έξ ύγράς άλός This expression has the appearance of a stock noun-
adjective phrase of the sort commonly found in Homer, although the sea is
never actually qualified as ύγρός in epic; cf. Pi. O. 7.69 έξ άλός ύγρής; Friis
Johansen-Whittle 1980 on A. Supp. 259. Although equally appropriate if taken
at face-value, the phrase here humorously refers as well to the brine in which
the fish are cooked; cf. Matro fr. 1.77 (SH 534) with Olson-Sens 1999 ad loc.
4 Νηρεύς See Introduction to the play. Note the emphatic placement
of the word, not only at the beginning of the line but also juxtaposed with
άλός and providing the culmination to the short catalogue of sea creatures

52 Parry is able to cite 15 examples of the word outside epic, although this figure
includes e.g Hermipp. fr. 77.5, which she considers epic parody, and occurrences
such as those at Mosch. 2.93 and [Mosch.] 4.8 that clearly belong to the epic trad-
ition even if they stand outside it; mentioned but not included in this figure is
αμυμ[-] at PMG adesp. fr. 924.17 (= B. fr. 66.17 dub.).