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Καύνιοι (Kaunioi)
(“Men of Caunus”)

Discussion Bevilacqua 1939, 40; PCG VII (1989) 770.
Title The same title occurs in Alexis. For other comic titles in the plural refer-
ring to non-Greek nations, cf. Epicharm’s Τρώες, Magnes’ Λυδοί, Aristophanes’
Βαβυλώνιοι, Antiphanes’ Κάρες, Timocles’ and Antiphanes’ Αιγύπτιοι, Xenarchus’
(and perhaps Antiphanes’) Σκύθαι.
Caunus was an ancient city of Caria, first mentioned in Herodotus (1. 172;
cf. 1.176; 5.103; Strb. 14.2.3), who notes that in his opinion its inhabitants were
indigenous, although they assert that they have come from Crete, and that their
lifestyle and customs were quite different from those of other peoples, even their
fellow Carians. Herodotus also reports that the Caunians used to assemble for
drinking-bouts in groups according to their age and gender. When certain foreign
rites were established among them, all Caunian men of full age put on their armor
and went as far as the boundaries of Calynda, striking the air with their spears
and saying that they were casting out the alien gods. For the history and cultural
characteristics of the Caunians see Bryce et alii 2009, 154-5.
The founder of the city was the mythical Caunus. Parthenius in his Love
Romances (11) sets out various versions of the incestuous love affair of Caunus
and Byblis. First he cites Nicaenetus (fr. 1 Powell), who says that Caunus fell in love
with his sister, and, being unable to rid himself of his passion, left his home and
traveled far from his native land. Then he mentions another version of the myth,
in which it was Byblis who fell in love with Caunus and propositioned him. Her
brother was horrified at what she said and decided to go into exile. Byblis hanged
herself from an oak. For the story cf. also Ovid. Met. 9.450-665. For the proverbial
Καύνιος έρως cf. Arist. Rh. 1402b 2-3 ούκ αν έλέγετο Καύνιος έρως, εί μή ήσαν
και πονηροί έρωτες “it would not be called ‘Caunian passion’ unless there were
also bad passions”; Sud. κ 1138 s.v. Καύνιος έρως: έπι των μή κατορθουμένων
έπιθυμιών· Καύνος γάρ και Βυβλ'ις αδελφοί έδυστύχησαν “Caunian passion: in
reference to unfulfilled desires; for the siblings Kaunos and Byblis were ill-fated”.
Content The title seems to allude to either a mythological or a historical setting.
The subject of the play might be a Καύνιος έρως (a mythological burlesque?). For
possible incestuous love affairs in Attic comedy cf. Aristophanes’ Αίολοσίκων, whe-
re probably the love affair between Aeolus’ son Macareus and his sister Canace and
the marriages of Aeolus’ sons and daughters were comically treated; cf. Euripides’
Aeolus and Aristophanes’ criticism of the tragic poet for introducing incestuous
relationships to his art: Ar. Nu. 1371-2; Ra. 850; Orth 2017, 14-20. Alternatively,
the plot might involve a comic exploitation of the lifestyle of the Caunians, i. e.
men or women drinking wine in company (perhaps in a symposion). However,
the only surviving fragment is not helpful for the reconstruction of the plot. The
plural in the title may or may not suggest a Caunian chorus.