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τένθαις πολλοῖς· κᾆτα Μελάνθιον
The text presents a significant crux regarding the reading of the first word. While the transmitted text reads τένθαις (tenthais, 'with many tenons/pegs'), some scholars, following the logic of the context (a discussion of a trap or mechanism), have conjectured τένθαις (with the accent on the first syllable) or even questioned the lexical identity entirely, as the plural dative of τέθνη (a rare form or variant of τέθνη/τένθη meaning a peg or pin) is exceptionally rare in Attic comedy. The phrase likely refers to the mechanism of the 'Trap' (ἡ παγίς) in the play's allegory, where the number of pegs is a specific detail of the trap's construction that Melanthius (the goatherd) is meant to operate or inspect. The ambiguity of the noun's form and the specific mechanical reference warrants scrutiny against the manuscript tradition.
Peace. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.