The Eleven Comedies, Volume 1

Автор

Аристофан

Год написания книги

2018

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83

The [Greek: moth_on], a rough, boisterous, obscene dance.

84

At the festival of the Pyanepsia, held in honour of Athené as the protectress of Theseus in his fight with the Minotaur, the children carried olive branches in procession, round which strips of linen were wound; they were then fastened up over the entrances of each house.

85

On which the citizens sat in the Public Assembly in the Pnyx to hear the orators. In the centre of the semicircular space the tribune stood, a square block of stone, [Greek: B_ema], and from this the people were addressed.

86

Lysicles was a dealer in sheep, who had wielded great power in Athens after the death of Pericles. Cynna and Salabaccha were two celebrated courtesans.

87

Place of interment for those who died for the country.

88

Seated on the banks for the rowers.

89

Assassin of the tyrant Hippias, the son of Pisistratus. His memory was held in great honour at Athens.

90

Driven out by the invasions of the Peloponnesians, the people of the outlying districts had been obliged to seek refuge within the walls of Athens, where they were lodged wherever they could find room.

91

A verse borrowed from Euripides' lost play of 'Telephus.'

92

Themistocles joined the Piraeus to Athens by the construction of the Long Walls.

93

Which were caught off the Piraeus.

94

Mitylené, chief city of the Island of Lesbos, rebelled against the Athenians and was retaken by Chares. By a popular decree the whole manhood of the town was to suffer death, but this decree was withdrawn the next day. Aristophanes insinuates that Cleon, bought over with Mitylenaean gold, brought about this change of opinion. On the contrary, Thucydides says that the decree was revoked in spite of Cleon's opposition.

95

When bucklers were hung up as trophies, it was usual to detach the ring or brace, so as to render them useless for warlike purposes.

96

An orator of debauched habits.

97

An accusation frequently hurled at the orators.

98

Guests took off their shoes before entering the festal hall.

99

An allusion to Cleon's former calling of a tanner.

100

A plant from Cyrenaďca, which was imported into Athens in large quantities after the conclusion of a treaty of navigation, which Cleon made with this country. It was a very highly valued flavouring for sauces.

101

The name of a supposed informer. The adjective, [Greek: pyrrhos], yellow, the colour of ordure, is contained in the construction of this name; thus a most disgusting piece of word-play is intended.

102

The orators were for ever claiming the protection of Athené.

103

A very expensive burden, which was imposed upon the rich citizen. The trierarchs had to furnish both the equipment of the triremes or war-galleys and their upkeep. They varied considerably in number and ended in reaching a total of 1200; the most opulent found the money, and were later repaid partly and little by little by those not so well circumstanced. Later it was permissible for anyone, appointed as a trierarch, to point out someone richer than himself and to ask to have him take his place with the condition that if the other preferred, he should exchange fortunes with him and continue his office of trierarch.

104

This is an allusion to some extortion of Cleon's.

105

The Greek word [Greek: d_emos] means both "The People" and fat, grease. The pun cannot well be kept in English.

106

A voracious bird—in allusion to Cleon's rapacity and to his loquacity in the Assembly.

107

The orators were fond of supporting their arguments with imaginary oracles—and Cleon was an especial adept at this dodge.