This paper revisits the scene from Aristophanes’ Birds where Prometheus engages in political espionage against Zeus, acting at the behest of Peisetaerus, the founder of Cloudcuckooland. Disguised as a skiadēphoros — and thus effectively as a metic — Prometheus recalls the figure of Teukros, one of the metics who, under the immunity granted during the investigations into the profanation of the Mysteries and the mutilation of the Herms, played a key role in instigating numerous arrests and convictions. The scene with Prometheus thus evokes the witch-hunt-like atmosphere that gripped Athens following the impieties of 415 BCE, on the eve of the Sicilian expedition.
A ‘Metic’ Prometheus in Aristophanes’ Birds
olimpia imperio
2025-01-01
Abstract
This paper revisits the scene from Aristophanes’ Birds where Prometheus engages in political espionage against Zeus, acting at the behest of Peisetaerus, the founder of Cloudcuckooland. Disguised as a skiadēphoros — and thus effectively as a metic — Prometheus recalls the figure of Teukros, one of the metics who, under the immunity granted during the investigations into the profanation of the Mysteries and the mutilation of the Herms, played a key role in instigating numerous arrests and convictions. The scene with Prometheus thus evokes the witch-hunt-like atmosphere that gripped Athens following the impieties of 415 BCE, on the eve of the Sicilian expedition.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
