Αίγες (fr. 31)

151

Interpretation A βεμβράς/μεμβράς is a “smelt”, “sprat” or “anchovy”, i. e. a
tiny, inexpensive fish; cf., in addition to the fragments mentioned in Citation
context, frr. 5 with n.; 156.2 n. (on τριχίδες); Ar. V. 493-4 (also spelled with mu)
with Biles-Olson 2015 ad loc.; Nicopho fr. 10.1 (μεμβράδες-vendors); Nicostr.
Com. fr. 11 βεμβράδ’, άφύην, έψητόν; Timocl. fr. 11.9; Arist. HA 569b24-7;
Macho 35; Alciphr. 3.17.1 χύτραν μεμβράδας εχουσαν και άφύας Μεγαρικάς
(“a cookpot containing membrades and Megarian small-fry”; a bit of Attic col-
or); Thompson 1957. 32. Beekes 2010 s. v. takes the variations in the name—not
only βεμβράς and μεμβράς, but also βαμβραδών in Epicharmus (fr. 53.2)78—to
suggest a substrate (pre-Greek) origin, and compares for the form άνθρηδών ~
πεμφρηδών ~ τενθρηδών (some sort of wasp or bee) and τερηδών (a wood-eat-
ing worm). Similar formations are collected at Schwyzer 1953 i.529-30.

fr. *32 K.-A. (29 K.)
Phot, v 73 = Suda v 113
νεανισκεύεται· Άμφις Έρίθοις (Phot. : 'Ρείθρας Suda) (fr. 19)· Ποσείδιππος
Δημόταις (fr. 10)· Εϋπολις Αίξίν (Meineke : Σφιγξίν Phot. = Suda), ιδίως έσχημάτικεν
τό νεανισκεύειν εν Δήμοις (fr. 109)· —-
neaniskeuetai: Amphis in Erithoi (thus Phot.: “Rheithras” Suda) (fr. 19); Posidippos
in Demotai (fr. 10); Eupolis in Aiges (thus Meineke : “Sphinxes” Phot. = Suda), neani-
skeuein takes a peculiar form in Demoi (fr. 109):-
Discussion Meineke 1839 1.115
Citation context Drawn from the common source of Photius and the Suda
generally referred to as Σ"; de Borries traced the material to Phrynichus (=
PS fr. 338*). Fr. 109 (n.) follows.
Text Eupolis is not otherwise known to have staged a Sphinxes, and Meineke’s
correction of the play’s title should be accepted, although an asterisk before
the number (omitted in Kassel-Austin) is required.
Interpretation With the exception of the passages from comedy cited by
Photius = Suda, νεανισκεόομαι (properly “be a νεανίσκος, young man”; see fr.
367 with n.) is attested before the Roman period only at X. Cyr. 1.2.15 έξεστιν
αύτοϊς έν τοΐς έφήβοις νεανισκεύεσθαι (“they are allowed to participate as
neaniskoi among the ephebes”, i. e. “in the ephebeia”), which is cited at Poll.

78 The paradosis βαμβράς in Nicostr. Com. fr. 11 ap. Ath. 7.301b is generally treated
as an error, but might simply be another variant form of the word.