262

Φαρμακόμαντις (fr. 51)

Citation context The epitome of Athenaeus preserves this fragment in what
must have been part of a discussion of various seasonings and the like. This
fragment and Ion eleg. fr. 28, which follows, are adduced as evidence for the
masculine form ό όρίγανος; they are followed by Pl. Com. fr. 169 for the
feminine and Epich. fr. 15 and Amips. fr. 36 for the neuter. Eustathius’ citation
of this fragment for the same reason is presumably derived from Athenaeus.
The citation in the Et. gen. probably reflects an independent use of the same
source as the one Athenaeus used.
Interpretation The passage could be spoken by a cook but just as easily by
the title character; see Introduction to the play for a possible relation between
the two. The lines are doubtless part of a recipe, perhaps taken from a cook-
book attributed to either the title-character or some famous cook (cf. esp. Pl.
Com. fr. 189 [cf. Olson-Sens 2000. xl-xliii for a translation and discussion]).
Although these lines, and presumably the rest of the recipe, are meant to be
mock-epic, they owe little to Homer (cf. τέμει* at Η. II. 13.707; όμοϋ* at H.
II. 11.127; Od. 4.723; 12.178, 424), a fact presumbly due to the predominance
of non-epic vocabulary here. For the tradition of epic parody, especially in
gastronomic contexts, see Olson-Sens 2000. xxviii-xliii.
1 For the collocation of asparagus and squill, cf. Amips. fr. 24 ού σχϊνος
ούδ’ άσφάραγος.
άσφάραγον Asparagus appears occasionally in lists of food (e. g. Amips.
fr. 24; Aristopho fr. 15; Philem. fr. 100.6); in general, see Olson-Sens 1999 on
Matro fr. 1.16 (SH534). For this spelling, as opposed to άσπάραγος, which first
appeared in the early fourth century but did not replace the aspirated form, cf.
Phryn. Ecl. 81 (81 R) with Rutherford 1881 ad loc.; PS 41.1; Eust. II. 899.19-22.
σχϊνον The σχϊνος or σκίλλα (e.g. Diph. fr. 125.3; Theoc. 7.107; ΣνΜΕΘ
Ar. Pl. 720a; Hsch. σ 3027) is the sea-squill, an onion-like bulb (e.g. Thphr. HP
7.9.4; 7.13.4); cf. Totaro 1998 and Orth 2013 on Amips. fr. 24. For the doubts
about the identification expressed by Parker 1983. 231 n. 142, see Orth 2013
on Amips. fr. 24. The squill appears occasionally in comedy (Ar. Pl. 720; fr.
266; Cratin. fr. 250.2; Diph. fr. 125.3; cf. Cratin. fr. 73 σχινοκέφαλος), although
rarely as food, as here (Amips. fr. 24). Squill also was widely reputed to have
purifying and apotropaic qualities, and so is perhaps an appropriate item for
a φαρμακόμαντις to be collecting; cf. Kassel-Austin on Cratin. fr. 250.2; Gow
1952 on Theocr. 5.121; 7.107; Scarborough 1991, esp. 146-7.
όρίγανον Marjoram (possibly also called ϋσσωπος; cf. Olson-Sens 2000
on Archestr. fr. 23.5 [SH 153]) is very common as a condiment (for its use with
fish, cf. Antiph. fr. 221.4); in general, see Olson-Sens 2000 on Archestr. fr. 36.6
(SH 166); Arnott 1996 on Alex. fr. 132.7 (including discussion of the varying
gender of the word).