Άθάμας (fr. 1)

21

Themisto and their scheming tricks and vile plans were probably the specific
mythical elements that were mostly exploited for comic purposes by Amphis.
If so, the preference for a hetaira over a wedded wife expressed in fr. 1 may
reflect Athamas’ comic escape from his conjugal troubles. Rather than being
a passing reference, this penchant for hetairai may have formed part of an
imagery of antagonism between hetairai and wives, which underpinned the
play’s plotline. Besides, the use of contemporary themes (like hetairai) within
a play with a mythological plot is a typical feature of Middle Comedy; see
Nesselrath (1990) 188-241, and 1995; Konstantakos 2014. Cf. Intro. 4 (“Themes
& Motifs”).

fr. 1 (1 K.)
είτ’ ού γυναικός έστιν εύνοϊκώτερον
γαμέτης εταίρα; πολύ γε καί μάλ’ εικότως.
ή μέν νόμω γάρ καταφρονούσ’ ένδον μένει,
ή δ’ οίδεν ότι ή τοϊς τρόποις ώνητέος
5 άνθρωπός έστιν ή προς άλλον άπιτέον
1 εύνοϊκώτερον Meineke: εύνοϊκώτερον A, PCG: -τέρα CE 2 πολύ γε κ. μ. είκ. om.
CE 4 οίδεν δτι ή ... ώνητέος ACE: οίδ’δτι ήτοι... όνητέος Cobet 5 άνθρωπός
ACE: άν- Meineke
And so, is not a hetaira more well-disposed
than a wedded wife? Very much so and reasonably enough.
For a wife, even if she is disdainful, gets to stay in the house by
custom,
while a hetaira knows that she must either buy
a man with her manners or go off to another one
Ath. 13.559a-b
Άμφις δ’ έν Αθάμαντι (δ’ έν Αθ. om. CE)· είτ’-άπιτέον
And Amphis in “Athamas”: “And-another one”

Metre lambic trimeter
1. — — -I-'
2. —— -l·
3. ---1-'

(penthemimeral caesura)
(penthemimeral caesura)
(penthemimeral caesura)