This chapter provides a detailed study of three problematic words from the text of Aristophanes’ Wealth, all of them taken from the episode of the lustful old woman and her former young lover. In v. 999, the milk-based cake ἄμης, sent by the young man to the old lady, implies that this kind of smooth pastry is par- ticularly appropriate for a toothless old woman. In v. 1037, the reading τηλία (nominative), given in the majority of codices, is favoured. The speaker sarcas- tically compares the old woman to a tēlia (a large round tray with a raised circular edge), to mock her fat girth. In v. 1083, the manuscripts’ reading ἐτῶν may repre- sent the genitive plural not only of ἔτος, “year”, but also of ἔτης, “fellow citizen”. Apart from being mocked for her age, the old woman is also denounced as a veteran whore who has been possessed by innumerable lovers.

Three Words in Aristophanes’ Wealth (999, 1037, 1083)

Totaro Pietro
2024-01-01

Abstract

This chapter provides a detailed study of three problematic words from the text of Aristophanes’ Wealth, all of them taken from the episode of the lustful old woman and her former young lover. In v. 999, the milk-based cake ἄμης, sent by the young man to the old lady, implies that this kind of smooth pastry is par- ticularly appropriate for a toothless old woman. In v. 1037, the reading τηλία (nominative), given in the majority of codices, is favoured. The speaker sarcas- tically compares the old woman to a tēlia (a large round tray with a raised circular edge), to mock her fat girth. In v. 1083, the manuscripts’ reading ἐτῶν may repre- sent the genitive plural not only of ἔτος, “year”, but also of ἔτης, “fellow citizen”. Apart from being mocked for her age, the old woman is also denounced as a veteran whore who has been possessed by innumerable lovers.
2024
978-3-11-129449-0
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/484660
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