Ἀθηναίας

Metakleides in his books about Homer said the women were not called [Athenaiai] but Attikai, and he also gives the reason: "for the men alone there," he says, "they call Athenaioi, but women Attikai, so that the married women might not bring shame upon the unmarried one by this name."¹ But notice that Pherekrates in Old Women says: "to the Athenaiai themselves and to their allies".² And Kantharos in Tereus [writes]: "an Athenaia woman, both beautiful and good".³ And Philemon in Wing [writes]: "I say these Hipponikas and Lysistratas and Nausinikas are the Athenaiai".⁴ But others, maintaining it is necessary not to say Athenaiai but Attikai, say it is because of the homonymity which they adduce with respect to the goddess; for the goddess is also called Athenaia; but instead of 'Athenas',⁵ they say that [the women] are called Attikai. However, there was much use of the phrase when referring to the women among the ancients, as the aforementioned poets bear witness and also Diphilos in Amastris↗.⁶ For he says that even the daughter of Themistocles was a "foreign Athenaia";⁷ and [likewise?] Pindar in (?)scholia.⁸ However, Phrynichus maintains that this word is un-Attic and wonders how Pherekrates, being so very Attic, uses this expression.⁹