Χρυσοϋν γένος (fr. 316)

501

Eupolis rather than explicitly to Chrysoun genos. 3-5 might therefore be from
another play (meaning that they should probably have been given a separate
fragment-number), and the reference in 5 is not necessarily to Cleon.
The political ascendancy of Cleon son of Cleaenetus (PA 8674; PAA 579130;
mentioned also in frr. 211; 331; fr. dub. 497) lasted from late 428 BCE or so,
after the death of Pericles, until his own death in battle at Amphipolis in
summer 422 BCE (cf. Ar. Eq. 128-37, where the Paphlagonian is the third in
the series of implicitly post-Periclean “sellers” of this and that, after Eucrates
and Lysicles), although after his unexpected victory over the Spartans at Pylos
in 425 BCE (fr. 331 n.) he must have been particularly influential. For Cleon’s
family and career, see in general Davies 1971. 318-20; Connor 1971. 91-101,
128-34; Bourriot 1982; Lind 1990; Spence 1995 (with particular attention to
the evidence of Thucydides).
1-2 The first verse treats the intrinsic character of the city, the second
its situation (which has and will again match its intrinsic character, but does
not do so at the moment).
1 Cf. fr. 330 with n.; Ar. Eq. 159 ώ των Αθηνών ταγέ των εύδαιμόνων (“Ο
marshaller of fortunate Athens!”; addressed to the Sausage-seller as he is being
recruited for politics); adesp. com. fr. 100 τήν λαμπροτάτην πόλεων πασών
όπόσας ό Ζευς άναφαίνει (“the most brilliant of all cities, however many
Zeus puts on display”; said of Athens, according to Ath. 1.20b); Men. Rh. περί
επιδεικτικώνp. 383.3-4 Spengel πόλεως, ήν μόνην καλλιστην πόλεων ό ήλιος
έφορα (“a city, which is the single fairest one of the cities the sun oversees”)
(all cited by Kassel-Austin).
ώ καλλίστη πόλι Extravagant if generic praise; Kassel-Austin compare
Pi. P. 9.69 καλλίσταν πόλιν (“fairest city”; of Cyrene); 12.1 καλλίστα βροτεάν
πολίων (“fairest of mortal cities”; of Aetna), and note fr. 246.1 καλή πόλις (of
Chios); Hdt. 6.24.2 πόλιν καλλιστην (of Zankle).
πασών όσας Κλεών έφορα A glancing reference to the Empire and thus
probably to the tribute in particular (see the introduction to the play on Date).
Kassel-Austin compare the description of the Paphlagonian (~ Cleon) at Ar. Eq.
75 έφορα γάρ αύτός πάντ’ (“for he himself surveys everything”), on the one
hand, and that of the Sun-god at Od. 11.109; 12.323 (cf. II. 3.277; Thgn. 1184)
ός πάντ’ έφορα και πάντ’ έπακούει (“who surveys all and overhears all”), on
the other. But similar language is also used of Zeus (Od. 13.214 άνθρώπους
έφορα και τείνυται, ός τις άμάρτη; Sol. fr. 13.17 Ζευς πάντων έφορα τέλος;
S. ΕΙ. 175 Ζεύς, ός έφορα πάντα και κρατύνει, 824 (Zeus and Helios together)
with Finglass 2007. 294 on El. 659), to whom Cleon might just as easily be
compared. For έφοράω in the sense “oversee, supervise”, cf. the Spartan office
of έφορος (“ephor”, lit. “overseer”) and the related term επίσκοπος (of divine