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ὦ δμῶες οἳ κατʼ οἶκόν ἐστε Λαμάχου,
The vocative address 'ὦ δμῶες' (slaves/servants) directed at the chorus of old men is a deliberate piece of comic irony and social inversion. While the chorus members are technically free citizens of Athens, Dicaeopolis, the protagonist, addresses them as 'slaves' to highlight their subservience to the war-monger Lamachus and to mock the military hierarchy. This is not a literal designation of status but a rhetorical device characteristic of Old Comedy, where the protagonist often degrades or elevates characters to suit the satirical tone. The specific reference to 'Lamachus' (a real historical Athenian general known for his bellicosity) grounds the joke in contemporary political satire, contrasting the old men's domestic setting ('κατʼ οἶκόν ἐστε') with the general's martial reputation.
Acharnians. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.