Aristophanes Clouds 442

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Clouds. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.

Current edition Experimental

Commentary (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) (English) (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)
Νεφέλαι Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 478-509 focus
Translations (2)
Clouds Perseus (Aristophanes. The Comedies of Aristophanes, Vol. I. Hickie, William James, translator. Bohn: London, 1853.) — 437 focus
English (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) Experimental (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) — 437 focus

Commentary

Commentary (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) focus

442. mvp-tlg0019-tlg003-sanjaya-com-eng1-31

Line 442

αὐχμεῖν ῥιγῶν ἀσκὸν δείρειν,
The verb δείρειν here functions as a present infinitive of purpose or result following αὐχμεῖν (to be frozen), but its specific meaning in this context is technical: it denotes the action of 'churning' or 'working' a wineskin to force air into it, a necessary step in the physical comedy of the Clouds' lesson on natural philosophy where the protagonist must physically manipulate the skin to demonstrate the power of air. This usage is distinct from the more common sense of 'wringing' or 'breaking' a neck or limb, and the combination with the genitive ῥιγῶν (being frozen) creates a vivid, almost grotesque image of the physical exertion required to maintain the illusion of the 'air' within the skin.