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κᾆτʼ ἀνελκύσας ἐρωτᾷ σκανδάληθρʼ ἱστὰς ἐπῶν
The phrase σκανδάληθρʼ ἱστὰς ἐπῶν describes a specific comic mechanism where the speaker (likely the chorus leader or Dicaeopolis) stands up to recite a 'trap' of verses, likely a mock-epic or iambic set-piece designed to entrap an opponent or expose their folly. The verb ἱστάναι here, in the context of 'setting up' verses, alludes to the physical act of standing (ἱστάναι) to deliver a formal or confrontational speech, a common stage direction in Old Comedy where the poet uses the 'standing' posture to signal a shift from casual dialogue to a more aggressive or formal poetic attack. The term σκανδάληθρον, a hapax legomenon in Aristophanes, is a coined compound likely derived from σκανδαλίζω (to trip up) or σκανδαλῶν (a trap), referring to a 'verbal trap' or 'snare of words' intended to catch the listener off guard. This construction is significant for understanding the performative nature of Aristophanic poetry, where the physical staging of the speaker is intrinsically linked to the rhetorical strategy of the text.
Acharnians. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.