Κονίσαλος (Konisalos)
(“Conisalus”)

177

Discussion Kock II (1884) 461; Bevilacqua 1939, 33; PCG VII (1989) 771.
Title Titles of phallic demons in Attic comedy are Xenarchus’ Πρίαπος, Eubulus’
Όρθάνης, and Posidippus’Ερμαφρόδιτος. One more may be Τύχων, the alterna-
tive title of Antiphanes’ Στρατιώτης (cf. Olson 2007, 139). Cf. also Plato’s Φάων
(the homonymous hero was sexually irresistible to women thanks to Aphrodite’s
reward). Livius Andronicus wrote a Verpus (gr. ψωλός, άπεψωλημένος).
Conisalus was an Attic phallic creature, a δαίμων Πριαπώδης (Sud. 2039), as-
sociated with Hermaphrodite, Orthanes, Priapus, Tychon, Gigon and others (cf.
Phot, a 3404). It seems that these demons predated Priapus; cf. Str. 13.1.12 ούδέ
γάρ 'Ησίοδος οΐδε Πρίαπον, άλλ’ έοικε τοϊς Άττικοΐς Όρθάνη και Κονισάλω και
Τύχωνι και τοϊς τοιούτοις “nor did Hesiod know Priapus, but he resembles the
Attic Orthanes, Conisalus, Tychon, and others such as these”. For phallic deities
cf. Herter 1932; Schuddeboom 2009, 43-4.
The word Κονίσαλος is probably derived from κόνις “dust” and σάλος “toss”,
cf. Chantrain 2009, s.v. As a common noun it occurs in Homer in the sense
“cloud of dust”, e. g. Hom. II. 3.13; 5.503; 22.401. In Old Comedy, Conisalus’ ap-
pearance has obscene connotations; cf. Ar. Lys. 982 Τις δ’ εϊ; πότερον άνθρωπος ή
Κονίσαλος (allusion to the erection of the Spartan herald); Pl. Com. fr. 188.12-3,
where Conisalus is mentioned in a sexual context with Orthanes, with his two
“sidekicks”, i. e. his testicles: βολβών μένΌρθάννη τρί’ ήμιεκτέα, I Κονισάλω δε
και παραστάταιν δυοΐν / μύρτων πινακίσκος χειρι παρατετιλμένων “for Orthanes
three pecks of bulbs, and for Conisalus and his two sidekicks a little dish of myrtle
berries plucked by hand”. It also seems that Κονίσαλος was an indecent ancient
dance; cf. Hesch. κ3527 σκίρτησις σατυρική ή τών έντεταμένων τά αίδοϊα; IG XII
3. 540 (in a Theran rock inscription) Κρίμων πράτιστος κονιάλω Σιμίαν ϊανε τό
(vel ίάνετο), where probably a dance is meant; cf. Wilamowitz I (1931) 279, n. I.197
Content Such a title might allude to a character satirized on stage as the ho-
monymous phallic demon; cf. Hsch. κ 3521 Κονίσαλοι ■ άφροδισιακοί “pluralis
dictus de hominibus Κονισάλου similibus” (Latte, II, 508). For Timocles’ practice
of associating notorious contemporary profligates and sexually perverse persons
with mythical figures cf. on fr. 18 (Marsyas I Autocles).198 The only surviving frag-
ment might refer to a setting not incompatible with such a character’s activities. It
maybe no coincidence that in Xenarchus’ Πρίαπος the surviving fr. 10 includes an
interlocution clearly activated in a sympotic context: σύ δε μηκέτ’ έγχει, παιδάριον,

197 Conisalus’ name is probably attested in SIG 1027.10 (Cos) τά αυτά άμέρα -Ήρακλεϊ |
[ές Κονί] σάλον βοΰς; Herter 1932, 23, 59.
198 Cf. Bevilacqua 1939, 33, who suspects a plot involving homoerotic affairs.