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εἴ τι Πεισάνδρου βδελύττει τοὺς λόφους καὶ τὰς ὀφρῦς.
The verb βδελύττει (from βδελύττω) is a rare hapax legomenon in Aristophanes and Attic comedy generally, appearing here as a denominative formation from βδέλυγμα ('disgust' or 'offense'). While the root βδελυσ- is common, the specific transitive verbal usage meaning 'to disgust' or 'to offend' with the direct object τοὺς λόφους ('the mounds' or 'the hills') is syntactically and semantically distinctive. The phrase likely alludes to the physical appearance of the hills of Pisanthros (a reference to the character's name, often associated with the 'mounds' of his body or perhaps a specific topographical feature of his hometown) being so repulsive that they cause disgust. The construction βδελύττει + accusative is not the standard pattern for this root, which typically appears in middle/passive forms or with abstract objects, making this a unique syntactic instance of the verb's transitive application to physical topography.
Peace. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.