[239] The Scholiast draws our
attention
to the fact that Homer says this
of Here and not of Iris (Iliad, V.
of Here and not of Iris (Iliad, V.
Aristophanes
The bird watches Lysicrates,
because, according to Pisthetaerus, he had a right to a share of the
presents.
[231] It is thus that Phidias represents his Olympian Zeus.
[232] One of the diviners sent to Sybaris (in Magna Graecia, S. Italy)
with the Athenian colonists, who rebuilt the town under the new name of
Thurium.
[233] As if he were saying, "Oh, gods! " Like Lampon, he swears by the
birds, instead of swearing by the gods. --The names of these birds are
those of two of the Titans.
[234] Alcmena, wife of Amphitryon, King of Thebes and mother of
Heracles. --Semele, the daughter of Cadmus and Hermione and mother of
Bacchus; both seduced by Zeus. --Alope, daughter of Cercyon, a robber, who
reigned at Eleusis and was conquered by Perseus. Alope was honoured with
Posidon's caresses; by him she had a son named Hippothous, at first
brought up by shepherds but who afterwards was restored to the throne of
his grandfather by Theseus.
[235] Because the bald patch on the coot's head resembles the shaven and
depilated 'motte. '
[236] Because water is the duck's domain, as it is that of Posidon.
[237] Because the gull, like Heracles, is voracious.
[238] The Germans still call it _Zaunkonig_ and the French _roitelet_,
both names thus containing the idea of _king_.
[239] The Scholiast draws our attention to the fact that Homer says this
of Here and not of Iris (Iliad, V. 778); it is only another proof that
the text of Homer has reached us in a corrupted form, or it may be that
Aristophanes was liable, like other people, to occasional mistakes of
quotation.
[240] In sacrifices.
[241] An Athenian proverb.
[242] A celebrated temple to Zeus in an oasis of Libya.
[243] Nicias was commander, along with Demosthenes, and later on
Alcibiades, of the Athenian forces before Syracuse, in the ill-fated
Sicilian Expedition, 415-413 B. C. He was much blamed for dilatoriness and
indecision.
[244] Servants of Pisthetaerus and Euelpides.
[245] It has already been mentioned that, according to the legend
followed by Aristophanes, Procne had been changed into a nightingale and
Philomela into a swallow.
[246] The actor, representing Procne, was dressed out as a courtesan, but
wore the mask of a bird.
[247] Young unmarried girls wore golden ornaments; the apparel of married
women was much simpler.
[248] The actor, representing Procne, was a flute-player.
[249] The parabasis.
[250] A sophist of the island of Ceos, a disciple of Protagoras, as
celebrated for his knowledge as for his eloquence. The Athenians
condemned him to death as a corrupter of youth in 396 B.
because, according to Pisthetaerus, he had a right to a share of the
presents.
[231] It is thus that Phidias represents his Olympian Zeus.
[232] One of the diviners sent to Sybaris (in Magna Graecia, S. Italy)
with the Athenian colonists, who rebuilt the town under the new name of
Thurium.
[233] As if he were saying, "Oh, gods! " Like Lampon, he swears by the
birds, instead of swearing by the gods. --The names of these birds are
those of two of the Titans.
[234] Alcmena, wife of Amphitryon, King of Thebes and mother of
Heracles. --Semele, the daughter of Cadmus and Hermione and mother of
Bacchus; both seduced by Zeus. --Alope, daughter of Cercyon, a robber, who
reigned at Eleusis and was conquered by Perseus. Alope was honoured with
Posidon's caresses; by him she had a son named Hippothous, at first
brought up by shepherds but who afterwards was restored to the throne of
his grandfather by Theseus.
[235] Because the bald patch on the coot's head resembles the shaven and
depilated 'motte. '
[236] Because water is the duck's domain, as it is that of Posidon.
[237] Because the gull, like Heracles, is voracious.
[238] The Germans still call it _Zaunkonig_ and the French _roitelet_,
both names thus containing the idea of _king_.
[239] The Scholiast draws our attention to the fact that Homer says this
of Here and not of Iris (Iliad, V. 778); it is only another proof that
the text of Homer has reached us in a corrupted form, or it may be that
Aristophanes was liable, like other people, to occasional mistakes of
quotation.
[240] In sacrifices.
[241] An Athenian proverb.
[242] A celebrated temple to Zeus in an oasis of Libya.
[243] Nicias was commander, along with Demosthenes, and later on
Alcibiades, of the Athenian forces before Syracuse, in the ill-fated
Sicilian Expedition, 415-413 B. C. He was much blamed for dilatoriness and
indecision.
[244] Servants of Pisthetaerus and Euelpides.
[245] It has already been mentioned that, according to the legend
followed by Aristophanes, Procne had been changed into a nightingale and
Philomela into a swallow.
[246] The actor, representing Procne, was dressed out as a courtesan, but
wore the mask of a bird.
[247] Young unmarried girls wore golden ornaments; the apparel of married
women was much simpler.
[248] The actor, representing Procne, was a flute-player.
[249] The parabasis.
[250] A sophist of the island of Ceos, a disciple of Protagoras, as
celebrated for his knowledge as for his eloquence. The Athenians
condemned him to death as a corrupter of youth in 396 B.
