[114] The third Archon, whose duty was the
protection
of strangers.
Aristophanes
_"
[105] There were two urns, one called that of Conviction, the other of
Acquittal.
[106] Meaning, that he had at first produced pieces under the name of
other poets, such as Callistrates and Phidonides.
[107] Eurycles, an Athenian diviner, surnamed the Engastromythes ([Greek:
muthos], speech, [Greek: en gastri], in the belly), because he was
believed to be inspired by a genius within him. --The same name was also
given to the priestesses of Apollo, who spoke their oracles without
moving their lips.
[108] Some poets misused their renown as a means of seduction among young
men.
[109] Cleon, whom he attacked in 'The Knights,' the first Comedy that
Aristophanes had produced in his own name.
[110] Cynna, like Salabaccha, was a shameless courtesan of the day.
[111] The lamiae were mysterious monsters, to whom the ancients ascribed
the most varied forms. They were depicted most frequently with the face
and bosom of a woman and the body of a serpent. Here Aristophanes endows
them with organs of virility. It was said that the blood of young men had
a special attraction for them. These lines, abusive of Cleon, occur again
in the 'Peace,' II. 738-42.
[112] Socrates and the sophists, with whom the poet confounds him in his
attacks.
[113] He likens them to vampires.
[114] The third Archon, whose duty was the protection of strangers. All
cases involving the rights of citizenship were tried before him. These
were a frequent cause of lawsuit at Athens.
[115] 'The Clouds' had not been well received.
[116] Aristophanes lets it be understood that the refusal to crown him
arose from the fact that he had been too bold in his attack.
[117] To perfume their caskets, etc. , the Ancients placed scented fruit,
especially oranges, in them.
[118] The pastimes of love.
[119] At Marathon, where the Athenians defeated the Persian invaders, 490
B. C. The battle-field is a plain on the north-east coast of Attica, about
twenty-seven miles from Athens.
[120] A favourable omen, of course. The owl was the bird of Athene.
[121] An allusion to Cimon's naval victories.
[122] The Cyclades islands and many towns on the coast of Asia Minor.
[123] The tribunals.
[105] There were two urns, one called that of Conviction, the other of
Acquittal.
[106] Meaning, that he had at first produced pieces under the name of
other poets, such as Callistrates and Phidonides.
[107] Eurycles, an Athenian diviner, surnamed the Engastromythes ([Greek:
muthos], speech, [Greek: en gastri], in the belly), because he was
believed to be inspired by a genius within him. --The same name was also
given to the priestesses of Apollo, who spoke their oracles without
moving their lips.
[108] Some poets misused their renown as a means of seduction among young
men.
[109] Cleon, whom he attacked in 'The Knights,' the first Comedy that
Aristophanes had produced in his own name.
[110] Cynna, like Salabaccha, was a shameless courtesan of the day.
[111] The lamiae were mysterious monsters, to whom the ancients ascribed
the most varied forms. They were depicted most frequently with the face
and bosom of a woman and the body of a serpent. Here Aristophanes endows
them with organs of virility. It was said that the blood of young men had
a special attraction for them. These lines, abusive of Cleon, occur again
in the 'Peace,' II. 738-42.
[112] Socrates and the sophists, with whom the poet confounds him in his
attacks.
[113] He likens them to vampires.
[114] The third Archon, whose duty was the protection of strangers. All
cases involving the rights of citizenship were tried before him. These
were a frequent cause of lawsuit at Athens.
[115] 'The Clouds' had not been well received.
[116] Aristophanes lets it be understood that the refusal to crown him
arose from the fact that he had been too bold in his attack.
[117] To perfume their caskets, etc. , the Ancients placed scented fruit,
especially oranges, in them.
[118] The pastimes of love.
[119] At Marathon, where the Athenians defeated the Persian invaders, 490
B. C. The battle-field is a plain on the north-east coast of Attica, about
twenty-seven miles from Athens.
[120] A favourable omen, of course. The owl was the bird of Athene.
[121] An allusion to Cimon's naval victories.
[122] The Cyclades islands and many towns on the coast of Asia Minor.
[123] The tribunals.
