Πόλεις (fr. 247)

297

Citation context From a note on Ar. Pax 1176 βέβαπται βάμμα Κυζικηνικόν
(“he’s been dyed a Cyzicene shade”, i. e. a rich yellow (see Interpretation);
referring to a taxiarch who shits himself the moment battle begins). The note
that follows in the same manuscript—not treated by Kassel-Austin as an ades-
poton fragment, presumably on the theory that it too originally cited the pas-
sage from Eupolis—takes a similar interpretive tack: τουτέστι κατασχη μονέ ι¬
οί γάρ Κυζικηνοί επί δειλία καί θηλύτητι έκωμωδοΰντο (“This is to say that he
behaves indecently; for the Cyzicenes were mocked in comedy for cowardice
and effeminacy”).
Text τοίνυν in 2 seems to mark 2-4 as a comment on or criticism of the
characterization of Cyzicus in the second half of 1 (see Interpretation), and I
accordingly adopt Cobet’s division of the lines between two speakers.
2 is metrically deficient, and Hermann’s <έγώ> is not easily improved upon.
In 3, the paradosis is unmetrical and δέ is not wanted. Hermann’s transposi-
tion and correction of the spelling of κολλύβου restores both meter and sense.
Interpretation See fr. 245 n. Cyzicus (IACP#747), the largest city on the island
of the same name, was an 8th- or 7th-century BCE Milesian colony. It came under
Persian control sometime after 547 BCE; joined the Delian League around 478
BCE; and appears in the Athenian Tribute Lists from 452/1 BCE to 418/17 BCE
(IG I3 261.V.30 and 287.11.10, respectively), paying nine talents of tribute per
year from 443/2 BCE on. Cyzicus revolted from the Empire in 411 BCE, but
was subdued again shortly thereafter (Th. 8.107.1; X. HG 1.1.14-19). For the site
itself (rich but ill-published), Hasluck 1910. The incident described in 2-3 is set
at some indeterminate point in the past (2 ποτ’), and who the speaker—presum-
ably an Athenian, but in any case certainly not a native Cyzicene—is supposed
to have been on guard against and why is impossible to say.
Greek women of all ages, but especially girls, frequently wore gold jewelry
at festivals (cf. Ar. Ach. 257-8 with Olson 2002 ad loc.). Although Cyzicus is
here said to be “full of coins” (1) rather than “covered with coins” or the like,
this may be a hint at the costuming of the character. If so, perhaps Tenos’
costume was decorated with snakes and scorpions (cf. fr. 245.2) and Chios’
costume somehow referred to horses (fr. 246.3). Rosen 1998. 162 comments:
“Allegorized as a woman on the stage, then, the city plays the role of the re-
spected and valued, yet ultimately subordinate housewife. On the other hand,
however, the fragment in the end undermines this rather polite portrayal of
Kyzikos, as the speaker launches into the litany of sexual escapades that the
city allegedly afforded him”.
1 πλέα στατήρων For the term στατήρ, see frr. 123; 270.2 n. For
Cyzicene electrum staters, “the most important currency in the area from Troy