366

Eupolis

Introduction

after 400 BCE depicts two grotesquely fat figures (perhaps padded comic ac-
tors) facing one other with an unidentifiable object—Crosby 1955. 81 suggests
that it might be a dog—between them. The names of the figures are given as
[Δι]όνυσος (“Dionysus”) and Φορ[, which was restored Φορ[μίων] (“Phormio”)
in the original publication. If this is correct, these are almost certainly the
characters in this play. But the second name might just as easily be Φόρ[κυς]
(thus already Crosby 1955. 82 n. 49), referring to another minor deity, the “old
man of the Sea” (e. g. Od. 1.72 Φόρκυνος θυγάτηρ, άλός άτρυγέτοιο μέδοντος;
13.96; Hes. Th. 237 with West 1966 ad loc.). Cf. Crosby 1955. 81-2 with pl. 34c
(the original publication); Webster 1960. 261-3; Webster 1978. 33-4; Handley
1982. 24-5; Storey 2003. 249 fig. 5; Csapo 2010 fig. 1.11 (but note that the
illustration is of the Piet de Jong watercolor representation of the pot, not of
the pot itself).

Discussion Bergk 1838. 360-1; Meineke 1839 1.142-5, 11.524; Wilamowitz
1870. 32-5; Wilamowitz 1880. 66-7; Kock 18801.325-6; Kaibel 1907 pp. 1231.55-
1232.2; Geissler 1925. 32 + 1969. xii; Norwood 1931. 197-8; Schiassi 1944.
45-50; Schmid 1946. 115-16; Gomme 1956. 236; Handley 1982. 24-5; Bowie
1988. 185; Storey 1991. 1-3; Storey 2003. 246-60; Storey 2011. 208-10
Title We know of no other comedies entitled Taxiarchoi, but for choruses
called after and thus presumably made up of participants in various aspects
of Athenian public life, cf. Crates’ Rhetores (“Orators”, i. e. “Politicians”), Tele-
cleides’ Prytaneis (“Prytanic Officers”), Plato Comicus’ Presbeis (“Ambassa-
dors”) and Leucon’s Presbeis (“Ambassadors”), while for choruses of soldiers
and the like, cf. Pherecrates’ Automoloi (“Deserters”) and Hermippus’ Stratidtai
(“Soldiers”).
Taxiarchs—the title of the play must preserve the identity of the chorus,
even if in contemporary Athens there were actually only ten at a time—were
tribal hoplite commanders, who were elected each year along with the city’s
generals ([Arist.] Ath. 61.2 with Rhodes 1981 ad loc.). Taxiarchs’ duties in-
cluded assisting the generals in compiling lists (κατάλογοι) of men from
their individual tribes who were eligible for hoplite service; selecting those
to be summoned for any particular expedition; considering requests for ex-
emption from the draft-list and adjusting it if necessary; appointing lochagoi
(“company-commanders” vel sim.); producing a list of no-shows when the
general or generals mustered the troops before a campaign; and apparently
putting the men in order on the battlefield itself. Cf. Ar. Pax 444, 1172-81;