DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52134#0259
255
Ύβρις (Hybris)
(‘Hybris’)
Discussion Meineke 18391.373; 1840 III. 193; 1847. 588; Bothe 1855. 430; Kock
188411.157; Edmonds 1959 11.72—3; Webster 1970. 83; Kassel-Austin 199111.267;
Sanchis Llopis et al. 2007. 267
Title Sophocles wrote a satyr play of the same name, for the title of which
Pearson 1917 ad loc. compares two other plays of Sophocles, Έρις and Μώμος,
the latter also a satyr play. For plays named after an emotion, behaviour or the
like, e. g. Anaxandrides Αντέρως (but see ad loc.) Anaxilas Εύανδρία; Eubulus
Όλβία; Menander Οργή. For hybris in general, Fisher 1992, who defines it
(493) as ‘the deliberate infliction of shame and dishonour’; MacDowell 1990a.
17-23 and on D. 21.47 (the supposed law against hybris). The title of this
play probably refers to the abstract, but the quasi-divine personification is
also possible. For Hybris as a quasi-divinity, cf. Paus. 1.28.5 (discussing the
Areopagus) τούς δέ αργούς λίθους, έφ’ ών έστάσιν όσοι δίκας ύπέχουσι και
οί διώκοντες, τον μέν'Ύβρεως τον δέ Αναίδειας όνομάζουσι (cf. X. Smp. 8.35;
Ister FGrHist 334 F 11 with Jacoby 1950-1955 ad loc.); Panyas. frr. 17.8; 18; Eub.
fr. 93.6-7; Ath. 2.36d; Eoeb in LIMCV.l.551-3.
Two other possible referents of the title are of dubious relevance. On a
red-figure vase depicting the apotheosis of Heracles (Munich 2360; ARV\ pp.
1186 #30, 1685), a satyr is labelled'Ύβρις; Eoeb in LIMCV.l.552 suggests that
‘daneben gibt es Hybris auch in “harmloser” Form, als Mutwilligkeit besonders
von jungen Tieren und Menschen, die keine Gotterstrafe nach sich zieht. So
kann auch ein Satyr den Namen H. tragen.’ At Apollod. 1.4.1 and FTzet Lyc. 772,
Pan is reported to be the son of Zeus and Hybris, but this apparent assertion is
probably illusory and an example of textual corruption due to folk etymology;
cf. ZBDEF Pi. P. arg., where Pan is the son of Zeus and Thybris (DEF: Thymbris
B; note Aegius’ emendation of Hybris to Thymbris at Apollod. 1.4.1).
Content of the comedy The play could have been a social comedy that
hinged on an act perceived, rightly or wrongly, as hybris. Equally possible,
it was a more pointed political play. The single fragment is uninformative.
Date Unknown.
Ύβρις (Hybris)
(‘Hybris’)
Discussion Meineke 18391.373; 1840 III. 193; 1847. 588; Bothe 1855. 430; Kock
188411.157; Edmonds 1959 11.72—3; Webster 1970. 83; Kassel-Austin 199111.267;
Sanchis Llopis et al. 2007. 267
Title Sophocles wrote a satyr play of the same name, for the title of which
Pearson 1917 ad loc. compares two other plays of Sophocles, Έρις and Μώμος,
the latter also a satyr play. For plays named after an emotion, behaviour or the
like, e. g. Anaxandrides Αντέρως (but see ad loc.) Anaxilas Εύανδρία; Eubulus
Όλβία; Menander Οργή. For hybris in general, Fisher 1992, who defines it
(493) as ‘the deliberate infliction of shame and dishonour’; MacDowell 1990a.
17-23 and on D. 21.47 (the supposed law against hybris). The title of this
play probably refers to the abstract, but the quasi-divine personification is
also possible. For Hybris as a quasi-divinity, cf. Paus. 1.28.5 (discussing the
Areopagus) τούς δέ αργούς λίθους, έφ’ ών έστάσιν όσοι δίκας ύπέχουσι και
οί διώκοντες, τον μέν'Ύβρεως τον δέ Αναίδειας όνομάζουσι (cf. X. Smp. 8.35;
Ister FGrHist 334 F 11 with Jacoby 1950-1955 ad loc.); Panyas. frr. 17.8; 18; Eub.
fr. 93.6-7; Ath. 2.36d; Eoeb in LIMCV.l.551-3.
Two other possible referents of the title are of dubious relevance. On a
red-figure vase depicting the apotheosis of Heracles (Munich 2360; ARV\ pp.
1186 #30, 1685), a satyr is labelled'Ύβρις; Eoeb in LIMCV.l.552 suggests that
‘daneben gibt es Hybris auch in “harmloser” Form, als Mutwilligkeit besonders
von jungen Tieren und Menschen, die keine Gotterstrafe nach sich zieht. So
kann auch ein Satyr den Namen H. tragen.’ At Apollod. 1.4.1 and FTzet Lyc. 772,
Pan is reported to be the son of Zeus and Hybris, but this apparent assertion is
probably illusory and an example of textual corruption due to folk etymology;
cf. ZBDEF Pi. P. arg., where Pan is the son of Zeus and Thybris (DEF: Thymbris
B; note Aegius’ emendation of Hybris to Thymbris at Apollod. 1.4.1).
Content of the comedy The play could have been a social comedy that
hinged on an act perceived, rightly or wrongly, as hybris. Equally possible,
it was a more pointed political play. The single fragment is uninformative.
Date Unknown.