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Line 1021b

τίς ὁ Σαρδανάπαλλος οὑτοσί;

The character Peisthetaerus uses this question to mock the effeminacy and decadence of the Persian king Sardanapallus (a figure known from later Hellenistic and Roman tradition, notably Diodorus Siculus, rather than contemporary 5th-century sources). Aristophanes employs this anachronistic allusion to characterize the current political leader (likely Cleon or a similar demagogue) as a figure of moral corruption and softness, contrasting sharply with the traditional Greek ideal of martial virtue. The specific epithet 'Sardanapallus' functions as a cultural shorthand for extreme luxury and passivity, a rhetorical device that relies on the audience's recognition of the legendary Persian king as a symbol of Eastern decadence.

Birds. 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)

Ὄρνιθες Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 1021 focus

Ἐπίσκοπος

ποῦ πρόξενοι;

Πισθέταιρος

τίς ὁ Σαρδανάπαλλος οὑτοσί;

Ἐπίσκοπος

ἐπίσκοπος ἥκω δεῦρο τῷ κυάμῳ λαχὼν

ἐς τὰς Νεφελοκοκκυγίας.

Πισθέταιρος

ἐπίσκοπος;

ἔπεμψε δὲ τίς σε δεῦρο;

Ἐπίσκοπος

φαῦλον βιβλίον

Τελέου.
1025

Πισθέταιρος

τί; βούλει δῆτα τὸν μισθὸν λαβὼν

μὴ πράγματʼ ἔχειν ἀλλʼ ἀπιέναι;

Ἐπίσκοπος

νὴ τοὺς θεούς.

ἐκκλησιάσαι δʼ οὖν ἐδεόμην οἴκοι μένων.

ἔστιν γὰρ ἃ διʼ ἐμοῦ πέπρακται Φαρνάκῃ.

Πισθέταιρος

ἄπιθι λαβών· ἔστιν δʼ ὁ μισθὸς οὑτοσί.

Ἐπίσκοπος

τουτὶ τί ἦν;
1030

Πισθέταιρος

ἐκκλησία περὶ Φαρνάκου.

Ἐπίσκοπος

μαρτύρομαι τυπτόμενος ὢν ἐπίσκοπος.

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐκ ἀποίσεις τὼ κάδω;

οὐ δεινά; καὶ πέμπουσιν ἤδη ʼπισκόπους

ἐς τὴν πόλιν, πρὶν καὶ τεθύσθαι τοῖς θεοῖς;

Ψηφισματοπώλης

ἐὰν δʼ ὁ Νεφελοκοκκυγιεὺς τὸν Ἀθηναῖον ἀδικῇ —
1035

Πισθέταιρος

τουτὶ τί ἔστιν αὖ κακὸν τὸ βιβλίον;

Ψηφισματοπώλης

ψηφισματοπώλης εἰμὶ καὶ νόμους νέους

ἥκω παρʼ ὑμᾶς δεῦρο πωλήσων.

Πισθέταιρος

τὸ τί;

Ψηφισματοπώλης

χρῆσθαι Νεφελοκοκκυγιᾶς τοῖσδε τοῖς μέτροισι καὶ
1040

σταθμοῖσι καὶ ψηφίσμασι καθάπερ Ὀλοφύξιοι.

Πισθέταιρος

σὺ δέ γʼ οἷσπερ ὡτοτύξιοι χρήσει τάχα.

Ψηφισματοπώλης

οὗτος τί πάσχεις;

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκ ἀποίσεις τοὺς νόμους;

πικροὺς ἐγώ σοι τήμερον δείξω νόμους.
1045

Ἐπίσκοπος

καλοῦμαι Πισθέταιρον ὕβρεως ἐς τὸν Μουνιχιῶνα μῆνα.

Πισθέταιρος

ἄληθες οὗτος; ἔτι γὰρ ἐνταῦθʼ ἦσθα σύ;

Ψηφισματοπώλης

ἐὰν δέ τις ἐξελαύνῃ τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ μὴ δέχηται
1050

κατὰ τὴν στήλην —

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμοι κακοδαίμων, καὶ σὺ γὰρ ἐνταῦθʼ ἦσθʼ ἔτι;

Ἐπίσκοπος

ἀπολῶ σε καὶ γράφω σε μυρίας δραχμάς.

Πισθέταιρος

ἐγὼ δὲ σοῦ γε τὼ κάδω διασκεδῶ.

Ψηφισματοπώλης

μέμνησʼ ὅτε τῆς στήλης κατετίλας ἑσπέρας;

Πισθέταιρος

αἰβοῖ· λαβέτω τις αὐτόν. οὗτος οὐ μενεῖς;
1055

ἀπίωμεν ἡμεῖς ὡς τάχιστʼ ἐντευθενὶ

θύσοντες εἴσω τοῖς θεοῖσι τὸν τράγον.

Translations (3)

Birds Perseus (Aristophanes. The Complete Greek Drama, Vol. 2. Anonymous, translator. O'Neill, Eugene; Oates, Whitney Jennings, editors. New York: Random House, 1938 (printing).)

No corresponding passage available

Birds (OCR draft) Experimental (Anonymous translation, 1938 compilation; legacy Perseus source migration. Preserved separately from the revised canonical perseus-eng2 at the project owner's request.) — 1021 focus

Meton takes to his heels. He is no sooner gone than an Inspector arrives.

Inspector

Where are the Proxeni?

Pisthetaerus

Who is this Sardanapalus?

Inspector

I have been appointed by lot to come to Nephelococcygia as inspector.

Pisthetaerus

An inspector! and who sends you here, you rascal?

Inspector

1025 A decree of Teleas.

Pisthetaerus

Will you just pocket your salary, do nothing, and get out?

Inspector

Indeed I will; I am urgently needed to be at Athens to attend the Assembly; for I am charged with the interests of Pharnaces.

Pisthetaerus

Take it then, and get on your way. This is your salary. He beats him.

Inspector

1030 What does this mean?

Pisthetaerus

This is the assembly where you have to defend Pharnaces.

Inspector

You shall testify that they dare to strike me, the inspector.

Pisthetaerus

Are you not going to get out with your urns? It's not to be believed; they send us inspectors before we have so much as paid sacrifice to the gods. The Inspector goes into hiding. A Dealer in Decrees arrives.

Dealer in Decrees
Reading.

1035 “If the Nephelococcygian does wrong to the Athenian ...”

Pisthetaerus

What trouble now? What book is that?

Dealer in Decrees

I am a dealer in decrees, and I have come here to sell you the new laws.

Pisthetaerus

Which?

Dealer in Decrees

1040 “The Nephelococcygians shall adopt the same weights, measures and decrees as the Olophyxians.”

Pisthetaerus

And you shall soon be imitating the Ototyxians.

He beats him.

Dealer in Decrees

Ow! what are you doing?

Pisthetaerus

Now will you get out of here with your decrees? 1045 For I am going to let you see some severe ones.

The Dealer in Decrees departs; the Inspector comes out of hiding.

Inspector
Returning.

I summon Pisthetaerus for outrage for the month of Munychion.

Pisthetaerus

Ha! my friend! are you still here?

The Dealer in Decrees also returns.

Dealer in Decrees

1050 “Should anyone drive away the magistrates and not receive them, according to the decree duly posted ...”

Pisthetaerus

What! rascal! you are back too?

He rushes at him.

Inspector

Woe to you! I'll have you condemned to a fine of ten thousand drachmae.

Pisthetaerus

And I'll smash your urns.

Inspector

Do you recall that evening when you crapped on the column where the decrees are posted?

1055

Pisthetaerus

Here! here! let him be seized.

The Inspector runs off.

Why, don't you want to stay any longer? But let us get indoors as quick as possible; we will sacrifice the goat inside.

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.) — 1021 focus

Episcopus: Where are the ambassadors?

Pisthetaerus: Who is this Sardapallos?

Overseer: I have come here as overseer having drawn the bean.

Scout: To the Cloudcuckooland.

Pisthetaerus: a spy?

Pisthetaerus: Who sent you here?

Ephorus: a bad book

Overseer: Complete it.

1025

Pisthetaerus: What? Do you really want to take the fee?

Pisthetaerus: Is he in trouble, or should he go away?

Scout: By the gods.

Episkopos: I was actually wanting to convene an assembly while staying at home.

Episkopos: for there are things that have been sold by me to Pharnakes.

Pisthetaerus: Go, taking it; for the payment is right here.

Ephippus: What was this?

1030

Pisthetaerus: An assembly about Pharnakes.

Ephorus: I swear, even though I am being beaten, I am an ephorus.

Pisthetaerus: Won't you be quiet? Won't you carry off the two jugs?

Pisthetairos: Isn't it terrible? And they are already sending out scouts.

Pisthetaerus: To the city, before also sacrificing to the gods?

Salesman of decrees: if, however, the Cloudcuckoolander wrongs the Athenian —

1035

Pisthetaerus: What is this misfortune again, this scroll?

Bill-seller: I am a bill-seller and [I sell] new laws.

Bid-seller: I have come here to you to sell.

Pisthetaerus: 'What is it?'

Bill-Seller: let the Cloud-Cuckoo-Landers use these measures and

1040

The bill-seller: on the stations and with the decrees just like the Olophyxians.

Pisthetaerus: But you will soon use the very things with which you were struck on the ears.

Bill-seller: "What is wrong with you?"

Pisthetaerus: Will you not take the laws away?

Pisthetaerus: I will show you bitter laws today.

1045

Epidikos: I am called Pisthetaerus, having arrived in the month of Munychion to commit hubris against the people of Munychia.

Pisthetaerus: Is this true? For you were still here, weren't you?

The Bill-Seller: if someone drives out the rulers and does not receive them

1050

Salesman of decrees: according to the stele —

Pisthetaerus: Alas, wretched me, and you were still here, then?

Ephoros: I will destroy you and I am writing you down for ten thousand drachmas.

Pisthetaerus: But as for you, I will amuse myself with the two jars.

Soldier of the Decree: do you remember when you threw down the stele in the evening?

Pisthetaerus: Alas! Let someone seize him. Will not this man endure?

1055

Pisthetaerus: Let us go as quickly as possible from here.

Pisthetaerus: Sacrifice the he-goat inside for the gods.

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

1021b. mvp-tlg0019-tlg006-sanjaya-com-eng1-64

Line 1021b

τίς ὁ Σαρδανάπαλλος οὑτοσί;

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1021b

Current edition Experimental

Ἐπίσκοπος ποῦ πρόξενοι;

Πισθέταιρος τίς ὁ Σαρδανάπαλλος οὑτοσί;

Ἐπίσκοπος ἐπίσκοπος ἥκω δεῦρο τῷ κυάμῳ λαχὼν ἐς τὰς Νεφελοκοκκυγίας.

Πισθέταιρος ἐπίσκοπος; ἔπεμψε δὲ τίς σε δεῦρο;

Ἐπίσκοπος φαῦλον βιβλίον Τελέου. 1025

Πισθέταιρος τί; βούλει δῆτα τὸν μισθὸν λαβὼν μὴ πράγματʼ ἔχειν ἀλλʼ ἀπιέναι;

Ἐπίσκοπος νὴ τοὺς θεούς. ἐκκλησιάσαι δʼ οὖν ἐδεόμην οἴκοι μένων. ἔστιν γὰρ ἃ διʼ ἐμοῦ πέπρακται Φαρνάκῃ.

Πισθέταιρος ἄπιθι λαβών· ἔστιν δʼ ὁ μισθὸς οὑτοσί.

Ἐπίσκοπος τουτὶ τί ἦν; 1030

Πισθέταιρος ἐκκλησία περὶ Φαρνάκου.

Ἐπίσκοπος μαρτύρομαι τυπτόμενος ὢν ἐπίσκοπος.

Πισθέταιρος οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐκ ἀποίσεις τὼ κάδω; οὐ δεινά; καὶ πέμπουσιν ἤδη ʼπισκόπους ἐς τὴν πόλιν, πρὶν καὶ τεθύσθαι τοῖς θεοῖς;

Ψηφισματοπώλης ἐὰν δʼ ὁ Νεφελοκοκκυγιεὺς τὸν Ἀθηναῖον ἀδικῇ — 1035

Πισθέταιρος τουτὶ τί ἔστιν αὖ κακὸν τὸ βιβλίον;

Ψηφισματοπώλης ψηφισματοπώλης εἰμὶ καὶ νόμους νέους ἥκω παρʼ ὑμᾶς δεῦρο πωλήσων.

Πισθέταιρος τὸ τί;

Ψηφισματοπώλης χρῆσθαι Νεφελοκοκκυγιᾶς τοῖσδε τοῖς μέτροισι καὶ 1040 σταθμοῖσι καὶ ψηφίσμασι καθάπερ Ὀλοφύξιοι.

Πισθέταιρος σὺ δέ γʼ οἷσπερ ὡτοτύξιοι χρήσει τάχα.

Ψηφισματοπώλης οὗτος τί πάσχεις;

Πισθέταιρος οὐκ ἀποίσεις τοὺς νόμους; πικροὺς ἐγώ σοι τήμερον δείξω νόμους. 1045

Ἐπίσκοπος καλοῦμαι Πισθέταιρον ὕβρεως ἐς τὸν Μουνιχιῶνα μῆνα.

Πισθέταιρος ἄληθες οὗτος; ἔτι γὰρ ἐνταῦθʼ ἦσθα σύ;

Ψηφισματοπώλης ἐὰν δέ τις ἐξελαύνῃ τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ μὴ δέχηται 1050 κατὰ τὴν στήλην —

Πισθέταιρος οἴμοι κακοδαίμων, καὶ σὺ γὰρ ἐνταῦθʼ ἦσθʼ ἔτι;

Ἐπίσκοπος ἀπολῶ σε καὶ γράφω σε μυρίας δραχμάς.

Πισθέταιρος ἐγὼ δὲ σοῦ γε τὼ κάδω διασκεδῶ.

Ψηφισματοπώλης μέμνησʼ ὅτε τῆς στήλης κατετίλας ἑσπέρας;

Πισθέταιρος αἰβοῖ· λαβέτω τις αὐτόν. οὗτος οὐ μενεῖς; 1055 ἀπίωμεν ἡμεῖς ὡς τάχιστʼ ἐντευθενὶ θύσοντες εἴσω τοῖς θεοῖσι τὸν τράγον.

Inspector Where are the Proxeni?

Pisthetaerus Who is this Sardanapalus?

Inspector I have been appointed by lot to come to Nephelococcygia as inspector.

Pisthetaerus An inspector! and who sends you here, you rascal?

Inspector 1025 A decree of Teleas.

Pisthetaerus Will you just pocket your salary, do nothing, and get out?

Inspector Indeed I will; I am urgently needed to be at Athens to attend the Assembly; for I am charged with the interests of Pharnaces.

Pisthetaerus Take it then, and get on your way. This is your salary. He beats him.

Inspector 1030 What does this mean?

Pisthetaerus This is the assembly where you have to defend Pharnaces.

Inspector You shall testify that they dare to strike me, the inspector.

Pisthetaerus Are you not going to get out with your urns? It's not to be believed; they send us inspectors before we have so much as paid sacrifice to the gods. The Inspector goes into hiding. A Dealer in Decrees arrives.

Dealer in Decrees Reading. 1035 “If the Nephelococcygian does wrong to the Athenian ...”

Pisthetaerus What trouble now? What book is that?

Dealer in Decrees I am a dealer in decrees, and I have come here to sell you the new laws.

Pisthetaerus Which?

Dealer in Decrees 1040 “The Nephelococcygians shall adopt the same weights, measures and decrees as the Olophyxians.”

Pisthetaerus And you shall soon be imitating the Ototyxians.

Dealer in Decrees Ow! what are you doing?

Pisthetaerus Now will you get out of here with your decrees? 1045 For I am going to let you see some severe ones.

Inspector Returning. I summon Pisthetaerus for outrage for the month of Munychion.

Pisthetaerus Ha! my friend! are you still here?

Dealer in Decrees 1050 “Should anyone drive away the magistrates and not receive them, according to the decree duly posted ...”

Pisthetaerus What! rascal! you are back too?

Inspector Woe to you! I'll have you condemned to a fine of ten thousand drachmae.

Pisthetaerus And I'll smash your urns.

Inspector Do you recall that evening when you crapped on the column where the decrees are posted?

Pisthetaerus Here! here! let him be seized. The Inspector runs off. Why, don't you want to stay any longer? But let us get indoors as quick as possible; we will sacrifice the goat inside.

Commentary

Line 1021b

Stable identifiers

Ἐπίσκοπος

ποῦ πρόξενοι;

Πισθέταιρος

τίς ὁ Σαρδανάπαλλος οὑτοσί;

Ἐπίσκοπος

ἐπίσκοπος ἥκω δεῦρο τῷ κυάμῳ λαχὼν

ἐς τὰς Νεφελοκοκκυγίας.

Πισθέταιρος

ἐπίσκοπος;

ἔπεμψε δὲ τίς σε δεῦρο;

Ἐπίσκοπος

φαῦλον βιβλίον

Τελέου.
1025

Πισθέταιρος

τί; βούλει δῆτα τὸν μισθὸν λαβὼν

μὴ πράγματʼ ἔχειν ἀλλʼ ἀπιέναι;

Ἐπίσκοπος

νὴ τοὺς θεούς.

ἐκκλησιάσαι δʼ οὖν ἐδεόμην οἴκοι μένων.

ἔστιν γὰρ ἃ διʼ ἐμοῦ πέπρακται Φαρνάκῃ.

Πισθέταιρος

ἄπιθι λαβών· ἔστιν δʼ ὁ μισθὸς οὑτοσί.

Ἐπίσκοπος

τουτὶ τί ἦν;
1030

Πισθέταιρος

ἐκκλησία περὶ Φαρνάκου.

Ἐπίσκοπος

μαρτύρομαι τυπτόμενος ὢν ἐπίσκοπος.

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐκ ἀποίσεις τὼ κάδω;

οὐ δεινά; καὶ πέμπουσιν ἤδη ʼπισκόπους

ἐς τὴν πόλιν, πρὶν καὶ τεθύσθαι τοῖς θεοῖς;

Ψηφισματοπώλης

ἐὰν δʼ ὁ Νεφελοκοκκυγιεὺς τὸν Ἀθηναῖον ἀδικῇ —
1035

Πισθέταιρος

τουτὶ τί ἔστιν αὖ κακὸν τὸ βιβλίον;

Ψηφισματοπώλης

ψηφισματοπώλης εἰμὶ καὶ νόμους νέους

ἥκω παρʼ ὑμᾶς δεῦρο πωλήσων.

Πισθέταιρος

τὸ τί;

Ψηφισματοπώλης

χρῆσθαι Νεφελοκοκκυγιᾶς τοῖσδε τοῖς μέτροισι καὶ
1040

σταθμοῖσι καὶ ψηφίσμασι καθάπερ Ὀλοφύξιοι.

Πισθέταιρος

σὺ δέ γʼ οἷσπερ ὡτοτύξιοι χρήσει τάχα.

Ψηφισματοπώλης

οὗτος τί πάσχεις;

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκ ἀποίσεις τοὺς νόμους;

πικροὺς ἐγώ σοι τήμερον δείξω νόμους.
1045

Ἐπίσκοπος

καλοῦμαι Πισθέταιρον ὕβρεως ἐς τὸν Μουνιχιῶνα μῆνα.

Πισθέταιρος

ἄληθες οὗτος; ἔτι γὰρ ἐνταῦθʼ ἦσθα σύ;

Ψηφισματοπώλης

ἐὰν δέ τις ἐξελαύνῃ τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ μὴ δέχηται
1050

κατὰ τὴν στήλην —

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμοι κακοδαίμων, καὶ σὺ γὰρ ἐνταῦθʼ ἦσθʼ ἔτι;

Ἐπίσκοπος

ἀπολῶ σε καὶ γράφω σε μυρίας δραχμάς.

Πισθέταιρος

ἐγὼ δὲ σοῦ γε τὼ κάδω διασκεδῶ.

Ψηφισματοπώλης

μέμνησʼ ὅτε τῆς στήλης κατετίλας ἑσπέρας;

Πισθέταιρος

αἰβοῖ· λαβέτω τις αὐτόν. οὗτος οὐ μενεῖς;
1055

ἀπίωμεν ἡμεῖς ὡς τάχιστʼ ἐντευθενὶ

θύσοντες εἴσω τοῖς θεοῖσι τὸν τράγον.

Inspector

Where are the Proxeni?

Pisthetaerus

Who is this Sardanapalus?

Inspector

I have been appointed by lot to come to Nephelococcygia as inspector.

Pisthetaerus

An inspector! and who sends you here, you rascal?

Inspector

1025 A decree of Teleas.

Pisthetaerus

Will you just pocket your salary, do nothing, and get out?

Inspector

Indeed I will; I am urgently needed to be at Athens to attend the Assembly; for I am charged with the interests of Pharnaces.

Pisthetaerus

Take it then, and get on your way. This is your salary. He beats him.

Inspector

1030 What does this mean?

Pisthetaerus

This is the assembly where you have to defend Pharnaces.

Inspector

You shall testify that they dare to strike me, the inspector.

Pisthetaerus

Are you not going to get out with your urns? It's not to be believed; they send us inspectors before we have so much as paid sacrifice to the gods. The Inspector goes into hiding. A Dealer in Decrees arrives.

Dealer in Decrees
Reading.

1035 “If the Nephelococcygian does wrong to the Athenian ...”

Pisthetaerus

What trouble now? What book is that?

Dealer in Decrees

I am a dealer in decrees, and I have come here to sell you the new laws.

Pisthetaerus

Which?

Dealer in Decrees

1040 “The Nephelococcygians shall adopt the same weights, measures and decrees as the Olophyxians.”

Pisthetaerus

And you shall soon be imitating the Ototyxians.

Dealer in Decrees

Ow! what are you doing?

Pisthetaerus

Now will you get out of here with your decrees? 1045 For I am going to let you see some severe ones.

Inspector
Returning.

I summon Pisthetaerus for outrage for the month of Munychion.

Pisthetaerus

Ha! my friend! are you still here?

Dealer in Decrees

1050 “Should anyone drive away the magistrates and not receive them, according to the decree duly posted ...”

Pisthetaerus

What! rascal! you are back too?

Inspector

Woe to you! I'll have you condemned to a fine of ten thousand drachmae.

Pisthetaerus

And I'll smash your urns.

Inspector

Do you recall that evening when you crapped on the column where the decrees are posted?

Pisthetaerus

Here! here! let him be seized.

The Inspector runs off.

Why, don't you want to stay any longer? But let us get indoors as quick as possible; we will sacrifice the goat inside.