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Line 1237

οἷς θυτέον αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τῷ Διί.

The sentence presents a deliberate pun (paronomasia) on the word Δίʼ (Zeus) and Διί (Zeus), exploiting the distinction between the accusative plural αὐτούς (them) and the dative singular Διί (to Zeus). The speaker, likely a bird in the play, argues that the birds should be sacrificed to (as victims), not *to* Zeus (as the recipient of sacrifice), playing on the ambiguity of the preposition ἀλλά and the context of ritual. This is a classic example of Aristophanic wordplay that hinges on the grammatical case of the divine name.

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.) — 1224 focus

Ἶρις

ἀλλʼ ἀθάνατός εἰμʼ.

Πισθέταιρος

ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἂν ἀπέθανες.

δεινότατα γάρ τοι πεισόμεσθʼ, ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ,
1225

εἰ τῶν μὲν ἄλλων ἄρχομεν, ὑμεῖς δʼ οἱ θεοὶ

ἀκολαστανεῖτε, κοὐδέπω γνώσεσθʼ ὅτι

ἀκροατέον ὑμῖν ἐν μέρει τῶν κρειττόνων.

φράσον δέ τοί μοι τὼ πτέρυγε ποῖ ναυστολεῖς;

Ἶρις

ἐγώ; πρὸς ἀνθρώπους πέτομαι παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς
1230

φράσουσα θύειν τοῖς Ὀλυμπίοις θεοῖς

μηλοσφαγεῖν τε βουθύτοις ἐπʼ ἐσχάραις

κνισᾶν τʼ ἀγυιάς.

Πισθέταιρος

τί σὺ λέγεις; ποίοις θεοῖς;

Ἶρις

ποίοισιν; ἡμῖν τοῖς ἐν οὐρανῷ θεοῖς.

Πισθέταιρος

θεοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς;
1235

Ἶρις

τίς γάρ ἐστʼ ἄλλος θεός;

Πισθέταιρος

ὄρνιθες ἀνθρώποισι νῦν εἰσιν θεοί,

οἷς θυτέον αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τῷ Διί.

Ἶρις

ὦ μῶρε μῶρε μὴ θεῶν κίνει φρένας

δεινάς, ὅπως μή σου γένος πανώλεθρον

Διὸς μακέλλῃ πᾶν ἀναστρέψῃ Δίκη,
1240

λιγνὺς δὲ σῶμα καὶ δόμων περιπτυχὰς

καταιθαλώσῃ σου Λικυμνίαις βολαῖς.

Πισθέταιρος

ἄκουσον αὕτη· παῦε τῶν παφλασμάτων·

ἔχʼ ἀτρέμα. φέρʼ ἴδω, πότερα Λυδὸν ἢ Φρύγα

ταυτὶ λέγουσα μορμολύττεσθαι δοκεῖς;
1245

ἆρʼ οἶσθʼ ὅτι Ζεὺς εἴ με λυπήσει πέρα,

μέλαθρα μὲν αὐτοῦ καὶ δόμους Ἀμφίονος

καταιθαλώσω πυρφόροισιν αἰετοῖς;

πέμψω δὲ πορφυρίωνας ἐς τὸν οὐρανὸν

ὄρνις ἐπʼ αὐτὸν παρδαλᾶς ἐνημμένους
1250

πλεῖν ἑξακοσίους τὸν ἀριθμόν. καὶ δή ποτε

εἷς Πορφυρίων αὐτῷ παρέσχε πράγματα.

σὺ δʼ εἴ με λυπήσεις τι, τῆς διακόνου

πρώτης ἀνατείνας τὼ σκέλει διαμηριῶ

τὴν Ἶριν αὐτήν, ὥστε θαυμάζειν ὅπως
1255

οὕτω γέρων ὢν στύομαι τριέμβολον.

Ἶρις

διαρραγείης ὦ μέλʼ αὐτοῖς ῥήμασιν.

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐ ταχέως; εὐρὰξ πατάξ.

Ἶρις

ἦ μήν σε παύσει τῆς ὕβρεως οὑμὸς πατήρ.

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμοι τάλας. οὔκουν ἑτέρωσε πετομένη
1260

καταιθαλώσεις τῶν νεωτέρων τινά;

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.) — 1224 focus

Iris

I am immortal.

Pisthetaerus

You would have died nevertheless. — 1225 Oh! that would be truly intolerable! What! should the universe obey us and the gods alone continue their insolence and not understand that they must submit to the law of the strongest in their due turn? But tell me, where are you flying to?

Iris

1230 I? The messenger of Zeus to mankind, I am going to tell them to sacrifice sheep and oxen on the altars and to fill their streets with the rich smoke of burning fat.

Pisthetaerus

Of which gods are you speaking?

Iris

Of which? Why, of ourselves, the gods of heaven.

Pisthetaerus

1235 You, gods?

Iris

Are there others then?

Pisthetaerus

Men now adore the birds as gods, and it's to them, by Zeus, that they must offer sacrifices, and not to Zeus at all!

Iris
In tragic style.

Oh! fool! fool! Rouse not 1240 the wrath of the gods, for it is terrible indeed. Armed with the brand of Zeus, Justice would annihilate your race; the lightning would strike you as it did Licymnius and consume both your body and the porticos of your palace.

Pisthetaerus

Here! that's enough tall talk. Just you listen and keep quiet! Do you take me for a Lydian or a Phrygian 1245 and think to frighten me with your big words? Know, that if Zeus worries me again, I shall go at the head of my eagles, who are armed with lightning, and reduce his dwelling and that of Amphion to cinders. I shall send more than six hundred porphyrions 1250 clothed in leopards' skins up to heaven against him; and formerly a single Porphyrion gave him enough to do. As for you, his messenger, if you annoy me, I shall begin by getting between your thighs, 1255 and even though you are Iris, you will be surprised at the erection the old man can produce; it's three times as good as the ram on a ship's prow!

Iris

May you perish, you wretch, you and your infamous words!

Pisthetaerus

Won't you get out of here quickly? Come, stretch your wings or look out for squalls!

Iris

If my father does not punish you for your insults ...

The Machine takes Iris away.

Pisthetaerus

1260 Ha! ... but just you be off elsewhere to roast younger folk than us with your lightning.

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.) — 1224 focus

Iris: But I am immortal.

Pisthetaerus: But still, you would have died.

Pisthetaerus: For, it seems to me, we shall be persuaded very cleverly,

1225

Pisthetaerus: if we rule over the others, but you gods...

Pisthetaerus: Keep on being unrestrained, and you will not yet realize that

Pisthetaerus: You must listen to the better things in turn.

Pisthetairos: Tell me, then, by what sea route do you sail with your two wings?

Iris: Me? I fly to humans from my father.

1230

Iris: having ordered to sacrifice to the Olympian gods

Iris: to slaughter sheep and to offer bulls on hearths

Iris: and let the streets steam.

Pisthetaerus: What are you saying? Which gods?

Iris: With whom? With us the gods in heaven.

Pisthetaerus: 'Are you, then, gods?'

1235

Iris: For who else is there another god?

Pisthetaerus: Birds are now gods to men,

Pisthetaerus: They must be sacrificed to them, but by Zeus, not to Zeus.

Iris: O fool, fool, do not disturb the minds of the gods.

Iris: terrible, how your race will be utterly destroyed.

Iris: With a hammer of Zeus, Justice will turn everything upside down.

1240

Iris: a flaxen body and the folds of the houses.

Iris: may the lightning bolts of Lykimnia strike you down.

Pisthetairos: Listen to this woman; stop your splashing;

Pisthetaerus: Hold still. Let me see, whether he is a Lydian or a Phrygian.

Pisthetaerus: Speaking these things, do you seem to be trying to frighten me?

1245

Pisthetairos: Do you know that if Zeus upsets me any further,

Pisthetaerus: the halls and buildings of Amphion.

Pisthetaerus: shall I scorch the eagle-bearers of fire?

Pisthetaerus: I will send purple robes up to the sky.

Pisthetaerus: A leopard with its spotted skin on him.

1250

Pisthetaerus: Six hundred by number. And indeed, once...

Pisthetaerus: He provided one Porphyrion with trouble.

Pisthetaerus: But if you ever annoy me in any way, [I will do something to] the maid.

Pisthetaerus: Stretching out my two legs, I will fart.

Pisthetaerus: Iris herself, so that one might wonder how

1255

Pisthetaerus: Even though I am so old, I am being aroused to a state of excitement.

Iris: Your words have been torn apart, oh my dear!

Pisthetaerus: You will not be quiet? Not quickly? Strike it down with a blow.

Iris: Indeed, my father will stop your insolence.

Pisthetaerus: Alas, wretch! Surely not flying off in another direction?

1260

Pisthetaerus: Will you behead some of the younger ones?

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

1237. mvp-tlg0019-tlg006-sanjaya-com-eng1-81

Line 1237

οἷς θυτέον αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τῷ Διί.

Aristophanes Birds 1237

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1237

Current edition Experimental

Ἶρις

ἀλλʼ ἀθάνατός εἰμʼ.

Ἶρις

ἐγώ; πρὸς ἀνθρώπους πέτομαι παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς
1230

φράσουσα θύειν τοῖς Ὀλυμπίοις θεοῖς

μηλοσφαγεῖν τε βουθύτοις ἐπʼ ἐσχάραις

κνισᾶν τʼ ἀγυιάς.

Πισθέταιρος

τί σὺ λέγεις; ποίοις θεοῖς;

Ἶρις

ποίοισιν; ἡμῖν τοῖς ἐν οὐρανῷ θεοῖς.

Πισθέταιρος

θεοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς;
1235

Ἶρις

τίς γάρ ἐστʼ ἄλλος θεός;

Πισθέταιρος

ὄρνιθες ἀνθρώποισι νῦν εἰσιν θεοί,

οἷς θυτέον αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τῷ Διί.

Ἶρις

διαρραγείης ὦ μέλʼ αὐτοῖς ῥήμασιν.

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐ ταχέως; εὐρὰξ πατάξ.

Ἶρις

ἦ μήν σε παύσει τῆς ὕβρεως οὑμὸς πατήρ.

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμοι τάλας. οὔκουν ἑτέρωσε πετομένη
1260

καταιθαλώσεις τῶν νεωτέρων τινά;

Iris

I am immortal.

Pisthetaerus

You would have died nevertheless. — 1225 Oh! that would be truly intolerable! What! should the universe obey us and the gods alone continue their insolence and not understand that they must submit to the law of the strongest in their due turn? But tell me, where are you flying to?

Iris

1230 I? The messenger of Zeus to mankind, I am going to tell them to sacrifice sheep and oxen on the altars and to fill their streets with the rich smoke of burning fat.

Pisthetaerus

Of which gods are you speaking?

Iris

Of which? Why, of ourselves, the gods of heaven.

Pisthetaerus

1235 You, gods?

Iris

Are there others then?

Pisthetaerus

Men now adore the birds as gods, and it's to them, by Zeus, that they must offer sacrifices, and not to Zeus at all!

Iris
In tragic style.

Oh! fool! fool! Rouse not 1240 the wrath of the gods, for it is terrible indeed. Armed with the brand of Zeus, Justice would annihilate your race; the lightning would strike you as it did Licymnius and consume both your body and the porticos of your palace.

Iris

May you perish, you wretch, you and your infamous words!

Pisthetaerus

Won't you get out of here quickly? Come, stretch your wings or look out for squalls!

Iris

If my father does not punish you for your insults ...

Pisthetaerus

1260 Ha! ... but just you be off elsewhere to roast younger folk than us with your lightning.

Commentary

Line 1237

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1237

Current edition Experimental

Ἶρις ἀλλʼ ἀθάνατός εἰμʼ.

Ἶρις ἐγώ; πρὸς ἀνθρώπους πέτομαι παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς 1230 φράσουσα θύειν τοῖς Ὀλυμπίοις θεοῖς μηλοσφαγεῖν τε βουθύτοις ἐπʼ ἐσχάραις κνισᾶν τʼ ἀγυιάς.

Πισθέταιρος τί σὺ λέγεις; ποίοις θεοῖς;

Ἶρις ποίοισιν; ἡμῖν τοῖς ἐν οὐρανῷ θεοῖς.

Πισθέταιρος θεοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς; 1235

Ἶρις τίς γάρ ἐστʼ ἄλλος θεός;

Πισθέταιρος ὄρνιθες ἀνθρώποισι νῦν εἰσιν θεοί, οἷς θυτέον αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τῷ Διί.

Ἶρις διαρραγείης ὦ μέλʼ αὐτοῖς ῥήμασιν.

Πισθέταιρος οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐ ταχέως; εὐρὰξ πατάξ.

Ἶρις ἦ μήν σε παύσει τῆς ὕβρεως οὑμὸς πατήρ.

Πισθέταιρος οἴμοι τάλας. οὔκουν ἑτέρωσε πετομένη 1260 καταιθαλώσεις τῶν νεωτέρων τινά;

Iris I am immortal.

Pisthetaerus You would have died nevertheless. — 1225 Oh! that would be truly intolerable! What! should the universe obey us and the gods alone continue their insolence and not understand that they must submit to the law of the strongest in their due turn? But tell me, where are you flying to?

Iris 1230 I? The messenger of Zeus to mankind, I am going to tell them to sacrifice sheep and oxen on the altars and to fill their streets with the rich smoke of burning fat.

Pisthetaerus Of which gods are you speaking?

Iris Of which? Why, of ourselves, the gods of heaven.

Pisthetaerus 1235 You, gods?

Iris Are there others then?

Pisthetaerus Men now adore the birds as gods, and it's to them, by Zeus, that they must offer sacrifices, and not to Zeus at all!

Iris In tragic style. Oh! fool! fool! Rouse not 1240 the wrath of the gods, for it is terrible indeed. Armed with the brand of Zeus, Justice would annihilate your race; the lightning would strike you as it did Licymnius and consume both your body and the porticos of your palace.

Iris May you perish, you wretch, you and your infamous words!

Pisthetaerus Won't you get out of here quickly? Come, stretch your wings or look out for squalls!

Iris If my father does not punish you for your insults ...

Pisthetaerus 1260 Ha! ... but just you be off elsewhere to roast younger folk than us with your lightning.

Commentary

Line 1237

Stable identifiers

Ἶρις

ἀλλʼ ἀθάνατός εἰμʼ.

Ἶρις

ἐγώ; πρὸς ἀνθρώπους πέτομαι παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς
1230

φράσουσα θύειν τοῖς Ὀλυμπίοις θεοῖς

μηλοσφαγεῖν τε βουθύτοις ἐπʼ ἐσχάραις

κνισᾶν τʼ ἀγυιάς.

Πισθέταιρος

τί σὺ λέγεις; ποίοις θεοῖς;

Ἶρις

ποίοισιν; ἡμῖν τοῖς ἐν οὐρανῷ θεοῖς.

Πισθέταιρος

θεοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς;
1235

Ἶρις

τίς γάρ ἐστʼ ἄλλος θεός;

Πισθέταιρος

ὄρνιθες ἀνθρώποισι νῦν εἰσιν θεοί,

οἷς θυτέον αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τῷ Διί.

Ἶρις

διαρραγείης ὦ μέλʼ αὐτοῖς ῥήμασιν.

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐ ταχέως; εὐρὰξ πατάξ.

Ἶρις

ἦ μήν σε παύσει τῆς ὕβρεως οὑμὸς πατήρ.

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμοι τάλας. οὔκουν ἑτέρωσε πετομένη
1260

καταιθαλώσεις τῶν νεωτέρων τινά;

Iris

I am immortal.

Pisthetaerus

You would have died nevertheless. — 1225 Oh! that would be truly intolerable! What! should the universe obey us and the gods alone continue their insolence and not understand that they must submit to the law of the strongest in their due turn? But tell me, where are you flying to?

Iris

1230 I? The messenger of Zeus to mankind, I am going to tell them to sacrifice sheep and oxen on the altars and to fill their streets with the rich smoke of burning fat.

Pisthetaerus

Of which gods are you speaking?

Iris

Of which? Why, of ourselves, the gods of heaven.

Pisthetaerus

1235 You, gods?

Iris

Are there others then?

Pisthetaerus

Men now adore the birds as gods, and it's to them, by Zeus, that they must offer sacrifices, and not to Zeus at all!

Iris
In tragic style.

Oh! fool! fool! Rouse not 1240 the wrath of the gods, for it is terrible indeed. Armed with the brand of Zeus, Justice would annihilate your race; the lightning would strike you as it did Licymnius and consume both your body and the porticos of your palace.

Iris

May you perish, you wretch, you and your infamous words!

Pisthetaerus

Won't you get out of here quickly? Come, stretch your wings or look out for squalls!

Iris

If my father does not punish you for your insults ...

Pisthetaerus

1260 Ha! ... but just you be off elsewhere to roast younger folk than us with your lightning.