Πρωτεσίλαος (fr. 42)

219

(e. g. E. Ion 435; Xenarch. fr. 7.14) of πρόχους add little additional information,
although the προχοίδιον is twice connected with the kadiskos (Cratin. fr. 206;
Stratt. fr. 23).
κέρχνων τε σιρόν κέρχνος (equivalent to κέγχρος) is common millet;
cf. Hsch. κ 1163 και δσπριον κέχνος; Thphr. HP 1.11.2; Pritchett 1956. 191-2;
Jasny 1944. 12-13;Jarde 1925. 2-3; for the word, Shipp 1979. 282-3. For the
importance of the grain supply from the north, including Thrace, cf. Hdt.
4.17.1; Isager and Hansen 1975. 20-1; Moreno 2007, esp. 144-208. The point
here, as in the following two lines, is the sheer quantity rather than the in-
herent value of the item.
σιροί are storage pits, normally for grain; cf. on 11; Husson 1983 252-3;
S. fr. 276 σιροι κριθών with Pearson 1917 ad loc.·, D. 8.45 των μελινών και
των όλυρών των έν τοϊς Θρακίοις σιροϊς with Σ ad loc.·, Var. R. 1.57.2 quidam
granaria habent sub terris speluncas, quas vacant sirus, ut in Cappadocia et
Thracia·, Col. 1.6.15; Plin. NH 18.306.
28 βολβών τε χύτραν δωδεκάπηχυν βολβός is the generic term for
edible bulbs, numerous types of which were known and distinguished in an-
tiquity; when used of a food, usually the bulb of the purse-tassel hyacinth is
meant. Although the point here and in the following line, as in the previous
one, is partly the quantity of the gift, the more important point, especially
since the recipient is a bride-groom, is that both bulbs and octopus (for the
collocation of the two, cf. Alex. fr. 175.3 with Arnott 1996 ad loc.·, Toup 1778.
371-2) were believed to be aphrodisiacs. For bulbs in general and their per-
ceived value as an aphrodisiac, see Arnott 1996 on Alex. fr. 167.13; Hunter
1983 on Eub. fr. 6.5 (7 Kock); Olson-Sens 2000 on Archestr. fr. 91 (SH137).
For χύτρα, see on fr. 6.3. δωδεκάπηχυς, a linear measurement, presumably
refers to the breadth of the pot; cf. on 11 for twelve with the sense ‘very large’.
Compounds in -πηχυς are common; for ‘twelve cubits’, cf. Hdt. 2.153 (statues);
Opp. H. 2.143 (width of an ox-fish).
29 πουλυπόδων έκατόμβην Eike the bulbs in 28, the octopus was
considered an aphrodisiac and is thus an appropriate gift here; in general,
see Olson-Sens 2000 on Archestr. fr. 54.1 (SH 184); Arnott 1996 on Alex. fr.
175.3; Thompson 1947. 204-8. For εκατόμβη used of food, cf. Ephipp. fr. 8.4
ώών εκατόμβη.
30-1 The long passage in indirect statement (4-29) concludes with the
repetition of φασί from 4. After this brief summation, the speaker proceeds
to his main topic, the description of the feast given by his masters (32-71).
ταϋτα μέν ... γάμον Possibly ταϋτα is adverbial and γάμον is the direct
object of ποιήσαι (thus Gulick 1928-1957; for γάμον ποιέω, cf. D. 30.21); but
ταϋτα is better understood as the direct object, and γάμον in apposition to the