Pseudartabas and his Attire (Aristophanes “Acharnians” 94–97

Abstract

The article is devoted to the interpretation of the passage from Aristophanes’ “Acharnians” (94–97), in which Dikeopolis expresses his feelings caused by the appearance of the Persian ambassador Pseudartabas in a strange Persian costume. According to the traditional point of view, which had its origins in the ancient scholia, the appearance and gait of Pseudartabas resembled a ship, and it is in comparison with the ship that the meaning of the joke lies. The article offers a different explanation: Dikeopolis mocks some elements of the traditional Persian costume, showing their similarity to a damage on a warship and thereby emphasizing the contradiction between the appearance of Pseudartabas and the usual claims of the Persians to sea power.

Keywords

• aristophanes
• persians
• comedy
• costume
• scholia.