220

Πρωτεσίλαος (fr. 42)

sentence, μέν indicates a reference to the description just made of the wedding
of Iphicrates and supposes a contrast with what will follow, but see on 32 δ(έ).
32-5 Now that the description of the wedding of Iphicrates is complete,
these lines both establish a contrast with it and introduce the catalogue that
follows (36-66).
32 τούτων δ(έ) This phrase does not respond to ταϋτα μέν (30), since
both ταϋτα and τούτων refer to the same things; rather, δέ is resumptive
(Denniston 1954. 182-3).
πολύ σεμνότερον Presumably a reference to the wedding feast as a
whole, but for σεμνός used of food, cf. Aristopho fr. 7.4; Eub. fr. 14.4, 7. For
the normal comic sense of the word, see on fr. 34.3.
33 λαμπρότερον See on 2.
παρά δεσποσύνοις For δεσπόσυνος in the sense δεσπότης, cf. Tyrt. fr.
6.2; AP 12.169.4 (HE 1506).
36-66 This catalogue of the food that will be present at the upcoming
feast can be divided into distinct parts; for examples of similar comic cata-
logues, cf. Headlam-Knox 1922 on Herod. 7.57-61. The scene of luxury is
set with the mention of perfumes and incense; encompassing one and a half
lines, this is the only complete sentence in the passage. The main part of the
catalogue opens with a series of dependent genitives (38-45); cf. Ephipp. fr.
12.1- 2; Antiph. fr. 140; Mnesim. fr. 4. 31-2, 46-9. 46-62 continue the catalogue
in the nominative; cf. the similar transition at Ephipp. fr. 12.2-3; Mnesim. fr.
4.32-3. The final section forms a short coda, with another series of dependent
genitives (63-4) followed by a longer series of nominatives (64-6). The change
in construction is primarily for variation, although the change between 45 and
46 corresponds to a change in type of food (but that in 64 does not).
36- 7 ού σμύρνης έκ Συρίας όσμαί / λιβάνου τε πνοαί Both myrrh
and frankincense are routinely said to originate from Syria (e. g. A. Ag. 1312;
E. Ba. 144; Antiph. fr. 200.9; Archestr. fr. 60.5 [SH192] with Olson-Sens 2000
ad loc.·, Theoc. 15.114), although it was only the end-point of long trade routes
from the East; for a general account, see Miller 1969. Normally perfumes are
brought out and burned at the close of dining and the start of a symposium
(e. g. Alex. fr. 252.3; Nicostr. Com. fr. 27; Mnesim. fr. 4.57-63); here their use is
perhaps meant to set the tone of luxury and wealth, but it may also indicate
ignorance of proper etiquette.
37- 8 τερενόχρωτες / μαζών όψεις The phrase is clearly an example
of enallage, unlike the other two possible examples from Anaxandrides (frr.
31.1- 2; 34.16); cf. Headlam 1902. 434 ‘when epithets transferred are found in
comedy, they are always in burlesque of lyric style, or of tragic, which derived
its ornate character from lyric’. Bers 1974. 44 notes that όψις is found with a