196

Πρωτεσίλαος (fr. 41)

with perfumed oil from Peron, some of that which he sold
yesterday to Melanopus, a very rich Egyptian perfume,
with which he now anoints the feet of Callistratus
Ath. 12.553d-e (1)
Άναξανδρίδης δέ έν Πρωτεσιλάω·-
Anaxandrides in Prdtesilaos:-
Ath. 15.689f-90a (2)
Άναξανδρίδης Πρωτεσιλάω·-
Anaxandrides in Prdtesilaos:-

Metre lambic trimeter.

Discussion Bergk 1837. 45; Meineke 1840 III. 190; 1847. 587; Bothe 1855. 429;
Meineke 1857 V.clxxix; Kock 188411.151; Blaydes 1890a. 83; Blaydes 1896.123;
Edmonds 1959 11.62—3; Webster 1970. 30; Long 1986. 80-1; Nesselrath 1990.
213-14; Kassel-Austin 1991 11.259; Scholtz 1996; Sanchis Llopis et al. 2007.
260; Rusten 2011.466
Citation context Athenaeus quotes the fragment twice, both times in close
proximity to Antiph. fr. 105 and Cephisod. fr. 3, suggesting that he got the
three fragments from the same source. At 12.553d-e, the fragment is quoted
with a number of other fragments as evidence that in Athens people addicted
to luxury had their feet rubbed with perfume (12.553a-e); it follows Cephisod.
fr. 3; Eub. frr. 107; 89; Antiph. frr. 31; 152; 101; 105. The fragment also occurs
at 15.689f-90a, in the midst of a long discussion of perfume (15.686c-92f). The
specific context is as support for the claim that the Athenians used particular
perfumes for different parts of the body; this fragment follows Antiph. fr. 105
and Cephisod. fr. 3. Mention of the perfumer Peron prompts the quotation
of three other fragments that also mention him: Theopomp. Com. frr. 1; 17;
Antiph. fr. 37.
Interpretation The fragment clearly satirizes a particular political relation-
ship in the earlier part of the fourth century and appears to allude to the
same event or habit81 referred to at Plu. Dem. 13.3 και Μελάνωπος άντιπο-

81 Plutarch says that Melanopus received money from Callistratus πολλάκις and
adds that he customarily (είώθει) offered an excuse for such behavior to the demos.