154

Αστράτευτοι ή Άνδρόγυνοι (Astrateutoi e Androgynoi)
(“Draft-evaders or Effeminates”)

Introduction
Discussion d’Arnaud 1728. 148-9; Bergk 1838. 340; Stievenant 1849. 125;
Wilamowitz 1870. 51 n. 37; Brandes 1886. 37-9; Kaibel 1907 pp. 1234.63-1235.6;
Srebrny 1922. 85; Schiassi 1944. 65-6, 70; Schmid 1946. 116-17; Bowie 1988.
185; Storey 2003. 80-1; Christ 2004. 34 ~ Christ 2006. 48; Storey 2011. 62-5;
Zimmermann 2011. 748; Torello 2012. 196
Title The alternative title Άνδρόγυνοι is attested only in the Hesychian
biography partially preserved in the Suda (test. 1), which cites the play as
Αστράτευτος ή Άνδρόγυνοι, as if the central figure were named Astrateutos
and the chorus were made up of effeminates. Elsewhere the title is always
Αστράτευτοι, presumably in reference to the identity of the chorus.
άστρατεία is an attempt to avoid one’s military obligations and is properly
to be distinguished from λιποστράτιον (“desertion”, i. e. running away from
the fighting after one is already in the ranks); cf. *POxy. 5160 col. ii.24; Lys.
14.7, with discussion in Hamel 1998, esp. 362-85; Christ 2004; Christ 2006.
45-87; Torello 2012. For άνδρόγυνος, see fr. 46 n. Despite Storey 2003. 77,
the alternative title for the play does not necessarily mean that the chorus of
draft-evaders were dressed as women (like the chorus in Baptai perhaps), but
only that they were presented as generally unmanly figures. For draft-evaders
as effeminate, cf. Ar. Nu. 691-2 (Σω.) όράς; γυναίκα την Άμυνίαν καλεΐς. /
(Στρ.) οϋκουν δικαίως, ήτις ού στρατεύεται; (“(Socrates) Do you see? You’re
calling Amynias a woman. (Strepsiades) Isn’t that right, since she avoids
military service?”; cited by Storey 2003. 76). For the title of the play, cf.
Cratinus’ Malthakoi (“Soft Men”, i. e. “Effeminates”); Pherecrates’ Automoloi
(“Deserters”); and perhaps Theopompus’ Stratiotides (“Female Soldiers”) and
Plato Comicus’ Presbeis (since ambassadors would have been exempt from mil-
itary service while on their missions; cf. Ar. Ach. 68-72). Contrast Taxiarchoi
with introductory note.
Content Nothing is known of the content of Astrateutoi beyond what can be
deduced regarding the identity of the chorus (see Title).
The following have also been assigned to Astrateutoi·. frr. 376 (Gaisford);
416 (Wilamowitz 1870. 51 n. 38). In addition, Runkel 1829. 93 proposed that the
remains of two iambic lines preceded by what seems to be a corrupt indication
of source and poet preserved at ΣΤ II. 13.289-91 f άνδρογύης και έτ’ ολίγα t