Όδυσσεύς (fr. 34)

163

produced by not gulping down the hot fish quickly enough (cf. 6; Eub. fr.
8.2-4 δς μόνος βροτών / δύναται καταπιεϊν έκ ζεόντων λοπαδίων / άθρους
τεμαχίτας). Most likely, the line is meant to evoke both meanings at the same
time; cf. Ar. Ra. 122 (Hp.) κρεμάσαντι σαυτόν. (Δι.) παύε, πνιγηράν λέγεις
with ZRVE® and Kock 1898 ad loc. and the similar use of άγχόνη (e. g. Ar. Ach.
125; E. Heracl. 246 with Wilkins 1993 ad loc.).
9 άλλ(ά)...γάρ Kassel-Austin compare frr. 53.3 and 56.1 for the post-
ponement of γάρ; it is better to take the two particles together (Denniston
1954.101 notes that άλλά γάρ predominates in prose, just as άλλά... γάρ does
in poetry). Denniston 1954. 100-1 (cf. Wilamowitz 1895 on E. HF 138) glosses
the phrase ‘but, as a matter of fact’ and notes that it marks a transition from
a subsidiary to a decisive point.
τάς συνουσίας Cf. Alex. fr. 160.1 with Arnott 1996 ad loc.
10 εϋοψος αγορά For the phrase, cf. Timocl. fr. 11.1 άγοράν ίδεϊν
εύοψον; Crit. fr. 3.7. As often, δψον refers primarily to fish; cf. on fr. 40.6; Gow
1965 on Macho 28; Arnott 1996 on Alex. fr. 39. The agora mentioned is almost
certainly not the well-known civic centre of Athens, but either a separate mar-
ket or area devoted to the sale of fish or, more likely, a generic market-place.
Like most goods and services for sale in Athens, fish seem to have had one
or more areas specifically devoted to them (Thphr. Char. 6.9 [Agora III, p. 196,
#647] distinguishes between τά ίχθυοπώλια and τά ταριχοπώλια). For the fish
markets in particular, see Agora III, pp. 195-6; for the various other markets,
pp. 193-206 (add. SEGXXVI 72.18-23; cf. on 2 έν τοϊς πίναξιν). Judeich 1931.
359 believed that a fishmarket was near the Stoa Poikile (cf. Alciphr. 1.3.2),
although this view is rejected, probably correctly, at Agora III, p. 195 (on #640).
As one would expect, given that such markets probably did not consist of
permanent structures, there is no concrete evidence for any exact locations,
but markets probably were in central places (and almost certainly in Athens
rather than Piraeus).
τίς ... βροτών An almost exclusively poetic formulation attested already
in Homer (e. g. II. 1.142; Od. 1.282); elsewhere in comedy only at Ar. fr. 718 (but
e.g. S. OT437; E. Hel. 656; HF 1 [cf. Bond 1981 ad loc.]).
συνδειπνεΐ Elsewhere, the verb means simply ‘to dine together (with)’;
e.g. Epich. fr. 32.1 συνδειπνέων τω λώντι; Pl. Smp. 174e εις καλόν ήκεις όπως
συνδειπνήσης; X. Cyr. 4.5.9; Lys. 1.22. Although in the other occurrences of
the word the action is seen from the point of view of the guest, here it must
be from that of the host, since (as the remaining lines make clear) the great
benefit of the fisherman’s art is the ability to attract other people.