378

Eupolis

from the commentary in 15-16, the information offered there perhaps be-
ing nothing more than a simple deduction from the text of Eupolis itself. If
Phormio’s interlocutor is Dionysus, who has up to this point been in disguise
(as when he first comes to Hades’ house in Aristophanes’ Frogs) and has now
identified himself by name, one might imagine that Phormio responded with
a mocking claim to be the god of war.
[οΰ]κ οίσθ(α) often introduces astonished questions (e. g. Ar. Av. 609,
1641; Diph. fr. 76.2-3), but also simple statements of fact (e. g. Ar. Eq. 1337; Av.
1278; Alex. fr. 15.11-12),203 here perhaps a boast.
Άρη μοι τοϋνο[μ(α)] For nicknames in general, see Millis 2015 on
Anaxandr. fr. 35. In this case, the point must be Phormio’s enormous bellicosity;
cf. Ar. Pl. 328 βλέπειν γάρ άντικρυς δόξεις μ’ Άρη (“You’ll think I look exactly
like Ares”, sc. “because I’m so aggressive”). For Ares, see Gantz 1993. 78-81.
There is room for 4-5 letters between o[ at the end of 14 and a at the
beginning of 15, meaning that τούνο[μ —]oc rather than τοϋνο[μ]α is necessary.
Luppe 1980. 40 suggested that the line might be filled out e.g. [ώ γυναικί]α
(“you sissy”), which seems too long for the space available (thus already Luppe
himself), or [ώ νεανί]α (“aber diese Anrede ware recht blass”).

κό[κκυ πρώ]τοι
right away

fr. 268e = 268.16 K.-A.

Meter lambic tetrameter catalectic.
[—— — I- —]- —
Context POxy. 2740 fr. 1.16-18 = fr. 268.16-18 K.-A.
16 πεκαλεΐτο κόκ[κυ πρώ-
>-
τοι αντί τού πριν [ είπεΐν
κόκκυ. ηδυστρ[
17 suppl. Tsantsanoglou

16 nicknamed, right a-
way: in place of “before you can say
kokku”. ηδυστρ[

203 At e.g. Ephipp. fr. 2.1-2 and Philetaer. fr. 6.1-3 either punctuation would do.