Πέντε τάλανθ' ἡ Χίων πόλις διὰ τὸν πρωκτὸν ὀφλήσει
the city of Chios will have to pay five talents because of your arse
Translated by David Whitehead28 Jun 2001Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
Aristophanes is ridiculing these men as being unwholesomely effete; and with their arses, because of unwholesomeness, being rather wide and ready for defecation.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Πέντε τάλανθ' ἡ Χίων πόλις διὰ τὸν πρωκτὸν ὀφλήσει· τούτους ὡς ἀκρασίαν μαλακίας ἔχοντας σκώπτει Ἀριστοφάνης· καὶ διὰ μαλακίαν τῶν πρωκτῶν εὐρυτέρων ὄντων καὶ ἑτοίμων πρὸς τὸ ἀποπατεῖν.
Betacode
*pe/nte ta/lanq' h( *xi/wn po/lis dia\ to\n prwkto\n o)flh/sei: tou/tous w(s a)krasi/an malaki/as e)/xontas skw/ptei *)aristofa/nhs: kai\ dia\ malaki/an tw=n prwktw=n eu)rute/rwn o)/ntwn kai\ e(toi/mwn pro\s to\ a)popatei=n.
Notes
- Aristophanes, Peace 171-2 (web address 1), with comment from the scholia there.
Ancient and modern commentators alike struggle to unravel the joke(s) here, and/or any serious intent behind them. In addition to the modern commentaries (Platnauer, Olson, et al.) ad loc., see e.g. Quinn (below) 86 n.15.
For Chios see generally chi 316.
References
T.J. Quinn, Athens and Samos, Chios and Lesbos 478-404 BC (Manchester 1981)
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Linked from4 entries
- ο1015Ὀφλῆσαιto have incurred a fine [at law][Meaning] to have become liable for a debt.
- ο1016Ὀφλήσεινto be about to incur a fine [at law][Meaning] to have been condemned. Aristophanes in Clouds [writes]: "[sc. consider how you might dispute a judgment when] being about to incur a fine, with no witnesses present." A monetary fine used to be imposed on…
- ο1018Ὀφλίσκουσιthey incur a fine [at law][o)fli/skousi] and [sc. also attested is] o)/flousi: [both meaning] they are liable for a debt. Also [sc. attested is] o)fliska/nw.
- ο1019Ὄφλοιhaving incurred a fine [at law][Meaning someone] being in debt. Also [sc. attested is] o)/floi ["may he incur"]: "may he not calumniate him to the Achaeans and incur an evil consequence." "What I needed to buy a coffin, that I come away [sc. from…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history4 revisions · last 4 Sep 2011
- Revised — David Whitehead
- more keywords — David Whitehead
- x-ref — David Whitehead
- cosmetics, added link, set status — William Hutton
- Translated — David Whitehead