[438] Tartessus was an Iberian town, near the
Avernian
marshes, which
were said to be tenanted by reptiles, the progeny of vipers and muraenae,
a kind of fish.
were said to be tenanted by reptiles, the progeny of vipers and muraenae,
a kind of fish.
Aristophanes
[430] Athene.
[431] The route of the procession of the Initiate was from the Ceramicus
(a district of Athens) to Eleusis, a distance of twenty-five stadia.
[432] A shaft shot at the _choragi_ by the poet, because they had failed
to have new dresses made for the actors on this occasion.
[433] It was at the age of seven that children were entered on the
registers of their father's tribe. Aristophanes is accusing Archidemus,
who at that time was the head of the popular party, of being no citizen,
because his name is not entered upon the registers of any tribe.
[434] At funerals women tore their hair, rent their garments, and beat
their bosoms. Aristophanes parodies these demonstrations of grief and
attributes them to the effeminate Clisthenes. Sebinus the Anaphlystian is
a coined name containing an obscene allusion, implying he was in the
habit of allowing connexion with himself a posteriori, and being
masturbated by the other in turn.
[435] Callias, the son of Hipponicus, which the poet turns into
Hippobinus, i. e. one who treads a mare, was an Athenian general, who had
distinguished himself at the battle of Arginusae; he was notorious for
his debauched habits, which he doubtless practised even on board his
galleys. He is called a new Heracles, because of the legend that Heracles
triumphed over fifty virgins in a single night; no doubt the poet alludes
to some exploit of the kind here.
[436] A proverb applied to silly boasters. The Corinthians had sent an
envoy to Megara, who, in order to enhance the importance of his city,
incessantly repeated the phrase, "_The Corinth of Zeus_. "
[437] Demeter.
[438] Tartessus was an Iberian town, near the Avernian marshes, which
were said to be tenanted by reptiles, the progeny of vipers and muraenae,
a kind of fish.
[439] Tithrasios was a part of Libya, fabled to be peopled by Gorgons.
[440] "Invoke the god" was the usual formula which immediately followed
the offering of the libation in the festival of Dionysus. Here he uses
the words after a libation of a new kind and induced by fear.
[441] That is, Heracles, whose temple was at Melite, a suburban deme of
Athens.
[442] Whose statues were placed to make the boundaries of land.
[443] One of the Thirty Tyrants, noted for his versatility.
[444] Celon and Hyperbolus were both dead, and are therefore supposed to
have become the leaders and patrons of the populace in Hades, the same as
they had been on earth.
[445] Already mentioned; one of the chiefs of the popular party in 406
B. C.
[446] Heracles had carried of Cerberus.
[447] Names of Thracian slaves.
[448] As was done to unruly children; he allows every kind of torture
with the exception of the mildest.
[449] A deme of Attica, where there was a temple to Heracles. No doubt
those present uttered the cry "Oh! oh!
