238
Σαμία (Samia)
(‘Samian Woman’)
Discussion Meineke 18391.373; 1840 III. 191; 1847. 587; Bothe 1855. 429; Kock
188411.155; Edmonds 1959 11.70—1; Webster 1970. 77; Kassel-Austin 199111.264;
Sanchis Llopis et al. 2007. 265
Title Titles formed from an ethnic are common; see on Αμπρακιώτις and
Θετταλοί. The only other example of this particular title is Menander’s hom-
onymous play, although Crates wrote a Σάμιοι.
Content of the comedy Little can be said about the plot; Webster 1970. 77
not unreasonably implied that it perhaps resembled that of similarly titled
plays, which hinge on a recognition that in turn leads to marriage. If so, the
title character may be a hetaira, as in Menander’s Samia. Although the date
of the comedy is unknown, Athens’ involvement on Samos in the middle of
the fourth century and the establishment of a cleruchy there in 365 BC make
a politically motivated plot perhaps equally possible; cf. Cargill 1995. 17-21;
Shipley 1987. 138-43, 155-64.
Date Unknown.

fr. 43 K.-A. (42 K.)
τό γάρ κολακεύειν νυν άρέσκειν δνομ’ έχει
habent ACE
καί et έν Σαμία om. CE
1 γάρ ACE: δέ Bothe άρέσκειν Canter: άρέσκειαν ACE: άρέσκει’ Blaydes
For ‘flattering’ now has the name ‘be pleasing’
Ath. 6.255a-b
ταύτην δέ τήν κολακείαν τινές έκτρεπόμενοι τοϋνομα άρέσκειαν προσαγορεύουσιν,
ώς καί Άναξανδρίδης έν Σαμία·-
Some, changing its name, call this flattery ‘being pleasing’, as also Anaxandrides in
Samia:-

Metre lambic trimeter.