Είλωτες (fr. 154)

25

Discussion Crusius 1910. 101; Storey 2003. 178
Citation context From a collection of proverbs; manuscript A alone pre-
serves the references to Eupolis and Aeschrion. Parallel material at [Plu.]
Par. Alex. 1.34 (CPG 1.326) is likely drawn from Seleucus of Alexandria (1st
century CE; for his Περί των παρ’ Αλεξανδρεΰσι παροιμιών, see Suda σ
200); cf. Hsch. λ 1041 Λιμοδωριεΐς· ούτως έκλήθησαν οί άπό Πελοπόννησου,
αφορίας χαλεπής εκεί γενομένης, άποικισθέντες διά ταύτην την αιτίαν καί
κατοικήσαντες περί 'Ρόδον καί Κνίδον. Δίδυμος δε τούς περί τό Κυτίνιον
κατοικούντας ούτως λέγεσθαι, διά τό λιμώττειν καί μοχθηράν εχειν ταύτην
(“Famine-Dorians: this was the name for the people from the Peloponnesus
who, when a difficult crop-failure took place there, emigrated for this reason
and settled around Rhodes and Knidos. But Didymus says that those who
settled around Kytinion are referred to in this way, because they are hungry
and inhabit this miserable (place)”, where Didymus (Comic Vocabulary fr. 5,
p. 34 Schmidt = On Proverbs fr. 4, pp. 397-8 Schmidt) is cited for a different
opinion as to the place referred to); and the abbreviated version of the same
note at Phot, λ 314 = Suda λ 555 Λιμοδωριεΐς- Πελοποννησίων οί διά λιμόν
μετοικήσαντες είς 'Ρόδον καί Κνίδον (“Famine-Dorians: the Peloponnesians
who moved to Rhodes and Knidos on account of famine”).
Interpretation The Rhodian tripolis consisted of Lindos (IACP #997), lalysos
(IACP #995) and Kamiros (IACP #996); Knidos (mentioned by Hesychius in
his more expansive description of the final destination of the Famine-Dorian
refugees) was located on the coast of Asia Minor just north of Rhodes, which
controlled it at times. Kytinion (IACP #392), to which Didymus refers, on
the other hand, was located in Doris in central Greece and was a member of
another Dorian tripolis (Andron FGrH 10 F 16a; cf. Th. 1.107.2), and it is here
that [Scylaxj Periplus 62.1 too locates οί Λιμοδωριεΐς καλούμενοι (“the so-
called Famine-Dorians”). But the claim that Eupolis used the name as a proverb
likely means in any case that he mocked a separate group of Dorians—the
eponyous Heildtes? the Megarians (cf. Ar. Ach. 532-5, 729-817)?—for their
supposed hunger. Cf. fr. 435 n. for similar abusive terms containing a national
or ethnic name.
Aischrion of Byzantium is otherwise unknown.