Βάπται (fr. 80)

253

ναι μά τήν αμυγδαλήν No one swears by an almond tree elsewhere,
and Schneidewin, comparing what Pausanias (7.17.11) calls a local Achaian
cult-legend and a previously unedited Greek hymn (in Attinem XLIV 2.12-13
Heitsch) that refers to Attis as ^τ}όν πολύκαρπος έτικτεν άμύγδαλος άνέρα
συρικτάν (“the Pan-pipe-player whom a fruitful almond tree bore”), suggested
that the speaker here—presumably a devotee of an Eastern mystery cult—was
swearing by the god’s sacred tree. If so, this would be far and away the oldest
reference to the cult of Attis in the Greek world (subsequently at Theopomp.
Com. fr. 28 (probably a human being called Attis because he was someone’s
delicate lover); D. 18.260 (the youthful Aeschines as a cult-devotee of Attis); IG
II2 4671 (a dedication to the god and his female companion from the Piraeus;
4th/3rd c. BCE); Neanth. FGrH 84 F 37); cf. Bremmer 2004. 540-57, esp. 540-2.
Other odd, non-standard oaths include ναι μά τάς κράμβας (“by the cabbages”;
fr. 84.2 with n.); νή τον κύνα (“by the dog”; Ar. V. 83; Pl. Ap. 22a; Grg. 482b
with Dodds 1959 ad loc.)·, νή τον χήνα (“by the goose”; Ar. Av. 707); ναι ναι μά
μήκωνος χλόην (“by the poppy’s foliage”; adesp. iamb. fr. 57); νή τήν κάππαριν
(“by the caper”; used by Zeno, according to Ath. 9.370c); and μά τά λάχανα
(“no, by the vegetables”; Suda μ 277). Such oaths are described collectively by
later sources as the “oath of Rhadamanthys”, i. e. swearing not by the gods but
“by the goose or the dog or the plane tree or the ram” (Σ™ Pl. Ap. 22a, p. 5
Greene = ΣΑ Pl. R. 399e, p. 213 Greene = Phot, p 17 = Suda p 13, citing Cratin.
fr. 249, which is corrupt but seemingly refers to oaths “by the dog” and “by
the goose”; all = Ael.Dion. p 1). For almonds, see fr. 271.1 n. For ναι μά oaths
generally, cf. frr. 84; 270.2 n.

fr. 80 K.-A. (71 K.)
επιχώριος δ’ έστ’ ή ξένης άπό χθονός;
επιχώριος ΣΡΕ : επιχωρίου Σν : έπιχωρίης Σ® δ’ έστ’ ή Dindorf: δε εστι ή Σκ : δέ
έστιν ή Σν : δέ έστι και ΣΕ : δέ ή Σ® : δ’ έσθ’ ή Fritzsche
Is he a native or from a foreign land?
ΣΡνΕΘ Ar. Ra. 417
Άρχέδημος· ούτος ώς ξένος κωμωδεΐται. καί Εϋπολις Βάπταις--
Archedemos: This man is mocked in comedy as a foreigner. Also Eupolis in Baptai:-