Μαρικάς (fr. 209)

217

Discussion Bergk 1838. 354-5; Meineke 1839 11.499; Struve 1841. 3-6
Citation context See fr. 17 n.
Interpretation The remark attributed to Marikas is virtually identical to what
the Sausage-seller says of himself at Ar. Eq. 188-9 (ούδέ μουσικήν έπίσταμαι /
πλήν γραμμάτων, “I don’t know mousike except for letters”), either confirming
Aristophanes’ complaint at Nu. 553-4 that much of Marikas was stolen direct
from him (thus Meineke; cf. test, i n.) or suggesting that Quintilian did not
know Eupolis’ play at first hand and is confused about who the line belongs to.
For mousike and Athenian education, see in general frr. 17 n.; 366 n. For the
slippery concept of literacy in this period, Harris 1989, esp. 65-115.

fr. 209 K.-A. (194 K.)
sVE0Barb pl 1Q37
(τηλία) σανίς πλατεία, έφ’ ής άλφιτοπωλοΰσιν. έν δέ τω ύπομνήματι ούτως- τούτο τί
έστιν ούκ οΐδα· ότι δέ συμβάλλεται προς τό έν Μαρικά Εύπόλιδος, οίδα· κάκεϊ γάρ
τήν'Υπερβόλου μητέρα τηλία εικάζει, τή πλατεία σανίδι· τινές δέ τηλίαν ξύλον φασί
πλατύ, είς δ τιθέασιν οί άρτοκόποι τούς άρτους έπί τω ξηραίνεσθαι
(τηλία) τό πλατύ ξύλον είτε μακρόν ε’ίτε άλλο τι, έφ’ ής άλφιτα πωλούσι. έχει μέν τι
καθ’ εαυτό άπορον· έάν δέ καί τό έν Μαρικά προσέλθη <τις>, ένθα είς τηλίαν
φησί (Musurus : φασί codd.) τά τού Ύπερβόλου όστά έμβεβλήσθαι,
άπορώτερον έσται. ζητητέον ούν
(telia) A broad plank, upon which they sell barley groats. But in the commentary as
follows: I do not know what this is; but I do know that it is connected with the passage
in Eupolis’ Marikas. For there too he compares Hyperbolos’ mother to a telia, a broad
plank. But some authorities say that a telia is a broad piece of wood on which bakers
put their loaves to dry
(telia) The broad piece of wood, whether long or of another shape, upon which they
sell barley groats. (The passage) contains a puzzle. But if one also goes to the passage
in Marikas where he says (thus Musurus : “they say” codd.) that Hyperboles’
bones have been thrown onto a telia, it will be even more puzzling.
Research is therefore necessary
Discussion Fritzsche 1836. 134; Meineke 1839 11.503—4; Kaibel ap. K.-A.;
Sonnino 1997; Sommerstein 2000. 442; Storey 2003. 204-5
Citation context A pair of closely related notes (preserving material from an
older commentary) on Ar. Pl. 1036-7, where the Old Woman claims that she
is so wasted away by grief that she could be drawn through a ring, to which
Chremylus mockingly responds: “If it happened to be the ring of a telial”.