314

Incertarum fabularum fragmenta (fr. 71)

Μενάνδρου· ταμιεϊόν έστιν αρετής ή σωφρονσύνη; Clem. AL Paed. 3.11.67
ταμιεϊον αρετής έστιν ανδρεία γυνή (without attribution). These three oc-
currences (accepting Meineke’s emendation of [Men.] Mon. 744 and similar
emendation of Stob. 3.5.5) and the Anaxandrides quotation are all clearly ver-
sions of the same gnomic statement. The variation between the approximate
synonyms γενναία, σώφρων, and ανδρεία163 can be accounted for in one of
three ways: Anaxandrides used (with or without varying it) a conventional
saying itself already subject to variation; Anaxandrides coined the phrase, and
it subsequently took on a life of its own as a conventional saying with the
possibility for variation that entails; or the variation is the result of corruption,
presumably abetted by the fact that the line has a complicated textual tradition
involving passage through a variety of anthologies.
Text In the absence of more complete knowledge of the context and origin
of the line, it is best to retain Stobaeus’ γενναία, since this is the adjective
used in the version specifically attributed to Anaxandrides. Although the word
has a good Euripidean parallel (Tr. 1013), it seems flat. A more striking choice
is Clement’s ανδρεία; the collocation ανδρεία γυνή is both unusual (but cf.
Arist. Pol. 3.1277b22 [cf. Po. 1454a23-4]; Ar. Lys. 1108 ώ πασών άνδρειοτάτη
[said of Lysistrata]), hence susceptible to corruption, and the sort of word-play
in which Anaxandrides sometimes indulges. But immediately after quoting
this line, Clement quotes extensively from Proverbs and may thus have been
influenced by Prov. 12:5 γυνή ανδρεία στέφανος τω άνδρί αυτής.
ταμιεϊον (pap.), as opposed to ταμεϊον (Stob.), is the classical form; cf. Men.
Sam. 229 (metrically guaranteed); Threatte 1980.1.416-18; Cronert 1903. 34-5.
Interpretation Standing in isolation, and as presented in the anthologies, the
line is a stock piece of moralizing, although it might have been much more
pointed in its original context (e. g. said sarcastically in reference to a specific
character or women in general).
ταμιεϊον The word can refer to an actual receptacle or storehouse (e. g.
Pl. R. 416d; Men. Sam. 229) or to something used as such on an ad hoc basis
(Th. 7.24.2), or may have an abstract sense (Th. 1.96.2 ταμιεϊόν τε Δήλος ήν
αύτοϊς); for its metaphorical use (not in LSJ), as here, cf. Democr. SVF 68 F
149; Anaxandr. fr. 81 (= Diph. fr. 134); Phoenicid. fr. 3.4; Phryn. PSp. 130.5-6.
γενναία γυνή Cf. E. Tr. 1013 (same metrical position). The adjective is a
term of general commendation (cf. Dover 1974. 95 ‘an extremely general term’)
common throughout Greek literature, both poetry and prose.

163

Cf. Hsch. a 4736 ανδρείων· γενναίων; γ 354 γενναίος- ανδρείος (cf. Latte 1953 ad
loc.\