Line 798
ναὶ τὸν Ποτειδᾶν καί κʼ ἄνις γα τῶ πατρός.
The sentence contains a severe textual corruption: 'κʼ ἄνις γα τῶ πατρός' is nonsensical in standard Attic Greek. The transmitted text likely suffers from scribal error or corruption in the archetype. The phrase 'κʼ ἄνις' (and you will go?) is syntactically awkward with the oath, and 'γα τῶ πατρός' (to the father?) is ungrammatical. A plausible conjecture, supported by the context of the *Acharnians* where Dicaeopolis often swears by Poseidon and refers to his father, is that the text should read something like 'κἀγὼ ἄνισθαι' or a similar construction, or that 'γα' is a corruption of 'γὰρ' or a particle. More specifically, the phrase 'καί κʼ ἄνις' may be a corruption of 'καί κʼ ἄν' (and even if) followed by a verb, or perhaps 'κἀγὼ ἄν' (and I too would). However, the most widely accepted emendation for this crux, given the oath to Poseidon (Poteidan) and the context of Dicaeopolis's argument about his father's legacy or status, is to read 'κἀγὼ ἄν' (and I too would) or to recognize 'γα' as a corruption of 'γάρ' (for) which might introduce a clause explaining the oath. The phrase 'τῶ πατρός' is likely correct, but the preceding words are almost certainly corrupted. Some editors have suggested 'κἀγὼ ἄν' or 'καί κἂν' (and even if) as a possible reading, though the exact emendation remains debated. The presence of 'γα' is particularly suspect, as it does not fit the syntax of an oath followed by a conditional or explanatory clause. This is a genuine crux requiring textual criticism to resolve.
Acharnians. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.