Aristophanes Wasps 789

Wasps. 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)
Σφῆκες Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 760-862 focus
Translations (2)
Wasps (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 799 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.) — 799 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

789. mvp-tlg0019-tlg004-sanjaya-com-eng1-38

Line 789

ἐλθὼν διεκερματίζετʼ ἐν τοῖς ἰχθύσιν,
The verb διεκερματίζετʼ (from κερματίζω, 'to cut into pieces' or 'to chop up') with the preposition ἐν ('among' or 'in the midst of') creates a vivid, grotesque image of the subject physically tearing apart the fish. This usage is characteristic of Aristophanic bodily humor and hyperbole, where the verb implies a violent, chaotic dismemberment rather than simple consumption, likely describing a gluttonous or frenzied feast scene.