Line 621

δεῦρο συνεληλυθότες ἄνδρες ἐς Κλεισθένους

The phrase ἐς Κλεισθένους refers specifically to the temple of Athena Chalkioikos in Sparta, named after the legendary lawgiver Cleisthenes of Sparta (not the Athenian reformer), where the Spartan ephors traditionally met to deliberate on matters of state. Aristophanes uses this specific location to satirize the ephors' actual role in organizing the Spartan army, contrasting their real political function with the absurdity of the women's assembly.

Lysistrata. 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)

Λυσιστράτη Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.) — 626 focus

Χορὸς γερόντων

δεινὰ γάρ τοι τάσδε γʼ ἤδη τοὺς πολίτας νουθετεῖν,

καὶ λαλεῖν γυναῖκας οὔσας ἀσπίδος χαλκῆς πέρι,

καὶ διαλλάττειν πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀνδράσιν Λακωνικοῖς,

οἷσι πιστὸν οὐδὲν εἰ μή περ λύκῳ κεχηνότι.

ἀλλὰ ταῦθʼ ὕφηναν ἡμῖν ἄνδρες ἐπὶ τυραννίδι.
630

ἀλλʼ ἐμοῦ μὲν οὐ τυραννεύσουσʼ, ἐπεὶ φυλάξομαι

καὶ φορήσω τὸ ξίφος τὸ λοιπὸν ἐν μύρτου κλαδί,

ἀγοράσω τʼ ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις ἑξῆς Ἀριστογείτονι,

ὧδέ θʼ ἑστήξω παρʼ αὐτόν· †αὐτὸσ† γάρ μοι γίγνεται

τῆς θεοῖς ἐχθρᾶς πατάξαι τῆσδε γραὸς τὴν γνάθον.
635

Translations (2)

Lysistrata (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Jack Lindsay). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 626 focus

OLD MEN.

For is it not preposterous

They should talk this way to us

On a subject such as battle!

And, women as they are, about bronze bucklers dare prattle—

Make alliance with the Spartans—people I for one
780

Like very hungry wolves would always most sincere shun....

Some dirty game is up their sleeve,

I believe.

A Tyranny, no doubt... but they won't catch me, that know.

Henceforth on my guard I'll go,
785

A sword with myrtle-branches wreathed for ever in my hand,

And under arms in the Public Place I'll take my watchful stand,

Shoulder to shoulder with Aristogeiton. Now my staff I'll draw

And start at once by knocking

that shocking
790

Hag upon the jaw.

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.) — 626 focus

Chorus of old men: for already these things are terribly admonishing the citizens,

Chorus of old men: And even women who are, about a bronze shield, to chatter,

Chorus of old men: and to make peace with us with Lacedaemonian men,

Chorus of old men: To them, nothing is trustworthy, unless perhaps to a wolf with its mouth gaping open.

Chorus of old men: But these things men have woven for us in order to establish tyranny.

630

Chorus of old men: But they will not tyrannize over me, since I will keep watch.

Chorus of old men: And I shall wear the sword henceforth in a myrtle branch,

Chorus of old men: I will buy, next to the weapons, from Aristogeiton,

Chorus of Old Men: Thus I shall stand beside him; for I am becoming bold.

Chorus of old men: To strike the jaw of this old woman, an enemy of the goddesses.

635

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

621. mvp-tlg0019-tlg007-sanjaya-com-eng1-20

Line 621

δεῦρο συνεληλυθότες ἄνδρες ἐς Κλεισθένους

Aristophanes Lysistrata 621

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