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Line 1081e

ὀτότυζʼ.

This line consists of a single, highly irregular vocative form ὀτότυζʼ, representing the vocative of ὀτότυζος (or a related dialectal/colloquial variant). The word is a rare, onomatopoeic coinage meaning 'owl' or 'nightjar,' likely used here as a term of abuse or a specific stage direction indicating the entrance of a character disguised as a bird. The elision of the final vowel before the punctuation mark (ʼ) reflects the performative, breathless delivery typical of Aristophanic comedy, where such grotesque or nonsensical words serve a metrical and comic function rather than a standard lexical one. The form's rarity and its specific comic context make it a crux for understanding the character's identity or the scene's absurdity.

Thesmophoriazusae. 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)

Θεσμοφοριάζουσαι Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.) — 1098 focus

Εὐριπίδης

ὦ θεοὶ τίνʼ ἐς γῆν βαρβάρων ἀφίγμεθα

ταχεῖ πεδίλῳ; διὰ μέσου γὰρ αἰθέρος

τέμνων κέλευθον πόδα τίθημʼ ὑπόπτερον
1100

Περσεὺς πρὸς Ἄργος ναυστολῶν τὸ Γοργόνος

κάρα κομίζων.

Τοξότης

τί λέγι; τὴ Γόργος πέρι

τὸ γραμματέο σὺ τὴ κεπαλή;

Εὐριπίδης

τὴν Γοργόνος

ἔγωγε φημί.

Τοξότης

Γόργο τοι κἀγὼ λέγι.

Εὐριπίδης

ἔα· τίνʼ ὄχθον τόνδʼ ὁρῶ καὶ παρθένον
1105

θεαῖς ὁμοίαν ναῦν ὅπως ὡρμισμένην;

Μνησίλοχος

ὦ ξένε κατοίκτιρόν με τὴν παναθλίαν,

λῦσόν με δεσμῶν.

Τοξότης

οὐκὶ μὶ λαλῆσι σύ;

κατάρατο τολμᾷς ἀποτανουμένη λαλᾷς;

Εὐριπίδης

ὦ παρθένʼ οἰκτίρω σὲ κρεμαμένην ὁρῶν.
1110

Τοξότης

οὐ παρτένʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἀμαρτωλὴ γέρων

καὶ κλέπτο καὶ πανοῦργο.

Εὐριπίδης

ληρεῖς ὦ Σκύθα.

αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν Ἀνδρομέδα παῖς Κηφέως.

Τοξότης

σκέψαι τὸ κύστο· μή τι μικτὸν παίνεται;

Εὐριπίδης

φέρε δεῦρό μοι τὴν χεῖρʼ, ἵνʼ ἅψωμαι κόρης·
1115

φέρε Σκύθʼ· ἀνθρώποισι γὰρ νοσήματα

ἅπασίν ἐστιν· ἐμὲ δὲ καὐτὸν τῆς κόρης

ταύτης ἔρως εἴληφεν.

Τοξότης

οὐ ζηλῶσί σε·

ἀτὰρ εἰ τὸ πρωκτὸ δεῦρο περιεστραμμένον,

οὐκ ἐπτόνησά σʼ αὐτὸ πυγίζεις ἄγων.
1120

Εὐριπίδης

τί δʼ οὐκ ἐᾷς λύσαντά μʼ αὐτὴν ὦ Σκύθα

πεσεῖν ἐς εὐνὴν καὶ γαμήλιον λέχος;

Τοξότης

εἰ σπόδρʼ ἐπιτυμεῖς τὴ γέροντο πύγισο,

τὴ σανίδο τρήσας ἐξόπιστο πρώκτισον.

Εὐριπίδης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ λύσω δεσμά.
1125

Τοξότης

μαστιγῶ σʼ ἄρα.

Εὐριπίδης

καὶ μὴν ποιήσω τοῦτο.

Τοξότης

τὸ κεπαλή σʼ ἄρα

τὸ ξιπομάκαιραν ἀποκεκόψι τουτοϊ.

Εὐριπίδης

αἰαῖ· τί δράσω; πρὸς τίνας στρεφθῶ λόγους;

ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ ἂν δέξαιτο βάρβαρος φύσις.

σκαιοῖσι γάρ τοι καινὰ προσφέρων σοφὰ
1130

μάτην ἀναλίσκοις ἄν, ἀλλʼ ἄλλην τινὰ

τούτῳ πρέπουσαν μηχανὴν προσοιστέον.

Τοξότης

μιαρὸς ἀλώπηξ, οἶον ἐπιτήκιζί μοι.

Μνησίλοχος

μέμνησο Περσεῦ μʼ ὡς καταλείπεις ἀθλίαν.

Τοξότης

ἔτι γὰρ σὺ τὴ μάστιγαν ἐπιτυμεῖς λαβεῖν;
1135

Translations (2)

Thesmophoriazusae (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 1098 focus

Euripides now enters, costumed as Perseus.

Euripides

“Oh! ye gods! to what barbarian land has my swift flight taken me? I am Perseus; 1100 I cleave the plains of the air with my winged feet, and I am carrying the Gorgon's head to Argos .”

Scythian Archer

What, are you talking about the head of Gorgos, the scribe?

Euripides

No, I am speaking of the head of the Gorgon.

Scythian Archer

Why, yes! of Gorgos!

Euripides

1105 “But what do I behold? A young maiden, beautiful as the immortals, chained to this rock like a vessel in port?”

Mnesilochus

“Take pity on me, oh stranger! I am so unhappy and distraught! Free me from these bonds.”

Scythian Archer

You keep still! a curse upon your impudence! you are going to die, and yet you will be chattering!

Euripides

1110 “Oh! virgin! I take pity on your chains.”

Scythian Archer

But this is no virgin; he's an old rogue, a cheat and a thief.

Euripides

You have lost your wits, Scythian. This is Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus.

Scythian Archer
lifting up Mnesilochus' robe

But look at his tool; it's pretty big.

Euripides

1115 Give me your hand, that I may descend near this young maiden. Each man has his own particular weakness; as for me I am aflame with love for this virgin.

Scythian Archer

Oh! I'm not jealous; and as he has his arse turned this way, 1120 why, I don't care if you make love to him.

Euripides

“Ah! let me release her, and hasten to join her on the bridal couch.”

Scythian Archer

If you are so eager to make the old man, you can bore through the plank, and so get at him.

Euripides

1125 No, I will break his bonds.

Scythian Archer

Beware of my lash!

Euripides

No matter.

Scythian Archer

This blade shall cut off your head.

Euripides

“Ah! what can be done? what arguments can I use? This savage will understand nothing! 1130 The newest and most cunning fancies are a dead letter to the ignorant. Let us invent some artifice to fit in with his coarse nature.”

He departs.

Scythian Archer

I can see the rascal is trying to outwit me.

Mnesilochus

Ah! Perseus! remember in what condition you are leaving me.

Scythian Archer

1135 Are you wanting to feel my lash again!

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.) — 1098 focus

Euripides: O gods, to what land of the barbarians have we come?

Euripides: on a swift shoe? For through the middle of the air

Euripides: cutting the path, I set a winged foot.

1100

Euripides: Sailing to Argos, Perseus the Gorgon's

Euripides: carrying a head.

Archer: What do you say? About Gorgo?

Bowman: the secretary, is your head capsized?

Euripides: the Gorgon's

Euripides: I, for one, say so.

Bowman: Gorgo, I say the same to you.

Euripides: Let go; what mound is this I see, and a maiden?

1105

Euripides: a ship like the goddesses, how, having been moored?

Mnesilochus: Oh stranger, have pity on me, the utterly wretched one,

Mnesilochus: Loosen me from the bonds.

Archers: Are you not talking to me?

Archers: Are you cursed, daring to speak while turning away?

Euripides: Oh girl, I pity you seeing you hanging.

1110

Archer: She is not a virgin, but an old sinner.

Archer: I both steal and am cunning.

Euripides: You are babbling, O Scythian.

Euripides: for this is Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus.

Bowman: Consider the bladder; perhaps it is being mixed?

Euripides: Come here and give me your hand, so that I may touch the maiden;

1115

Euripides: Bring the Scythian! For illnesses [are] for men.

Euripides: 'It is so for everyone; but for me and myself, of the girl'

Euripides: desire has taken hold of her.

Archers: We do not envy you.

Archers: but if the anus has been turned this way,

Toxotes: I did not toil to bring you to punch yourself.

1120

Euripides: But why do you not let me release her, O Scythian?

Euripides: to fall into bed and the nuptial couch?

Archers: if you really desire to beat up the old man, do it.

Bowman: having pierced the board, thrust it backwards with force.

Euripides: By Zeus, but I will untie the bonds.

1125

Archer: So I'll whip you.

Euripides: And indeed, I will do this.

Archers: the pot, then, [will hit] you

Archers: cut off this shoe-knife!

Euripides: Alas! What shall I do? To whom shall I turn my words?

Euripides: But a barbarian nature would not accept it.

Euripides: for he brings new things to the foolish, wise things

1130

Euripides: You would waste [your money] in vain, but [spend it] on someone else.

Euripides: we must devise a scheme fitting for this.

Bowman: a filthy fox, just as I was expecting.

Mnesilochus: remember how you leave me wretched, Perseus.

Archer: For you still desire to take the whip?

1135

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

1081e. mvp-tlg0019-tlg008-sanjaya-com-eng1-37

Line 1081e

ὀτότυζʼ.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1081e

Current edition Experimental

Τοξότης τί λέγι; τὴ Γόργος πέρι τὸ γραμματέο σὺ τὴ κεπαλή;

Εὐριπίδης τὴν Γοργόνος ἔγωγε φημί.

Τοξότης Γόργο τοι κἀγὼ λέγι.

Εὐριπίδης ἔα· τίνʼ ὄχθον τόνδʼ ὁρῶ καὶ παρθένον 1105 θεαῖς ὁμοίαν ναῦν ὅπως ὡρμισμένην;

Μνησίλοχος ὦ ξένε κατοίκτιρόν με τὴν παναθλίαν, λῦσόν με δεσμῶν.

Τοξότης οὐκὶ μὶ λαλῆσι σύ; κατάρατο τολμᾷς ἀποτανουμένη λαλᾷς;

Εὐριπίδης ὦ παρθένʼ οἰκτίρω σὲ κρεμαμένην ὁρῶν. 1110

Τοξότης οὐ παρτένʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἀμαρτωλὴ γέρων καὶ κλέπτο καὶ πανοῦργο.

Εὐριπίδης ληρεῖς ὦ Σκύθα. αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν Ἀνδρομέδα παῖς Κηφέως.

Τοξότης σκέψαι τὸ κύστο· μή τι μικτὸν παίνεται;

Εὐριπίδης φέρε δεῦρό μοι τὴν χεῖρʼ, ἵνʼ ἅψωμαι κόρης· 1115 φέρε Σκύθʼ· ἀνθρώποισι γὰρ νοσήματα ἅπασίν ἐστιν· ἐμὲ δὲ καὐτὸν τῆς κόρης ταύτης ἔρως εἴληφεν.

Τοξότης οὐ ζηλῶσί σε· ἀτὰρ εἰ τὸ πρωκτὸ δεῦρο περιεστραμμένον, οὐκ ἐπτόνησά σʼ αὐτὸ πυγίζεις ἄγων. 1120

Εὐριπίδης τί δʼ οὐκ ἐᾷς λύσαντά μʼ αὐτὴν ὦ Σκύθα πεσεῖν ἐς εὐνὴν καὶ γαμήλιον λέχος;

Τοξότης εἰ σπόδρʼ ἐπιτυμεῖς τὴ γέροντο πύγισο, τὴ σανίδο τρήσας ἐξόπιστο πρώκτισον.

Εὐριπίδης μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ λύσω δεσμά. 1125

Τοξότης μαστιγῶ σʼ ἄρα.

Εὐριπίδης καὶ μὴν ποιήσω τοῦτο.

Τοξότης τὸ κεπαλή σʼ ἄρα τὸ ξιπομάκαιραν ἀποκεκόψι τουτοϊ.

Τοξότης μιαρὸς ἀλώπηξ, οἶον ἐπιτήκιζί μοι.

Μνησίλοχος μέμνησο Περσεῦ μʼ ὡς καταλείπεις ἀθλίαν.

Τοξότης ἔτι γὰρ σὺ τὴ μάστιγαν ἐπιτυμεῖς λαβεῖν; 1135

Euripides “Oh! ye gods! to what barbarian land has my swift flight taken me? I am Perseus; 1100 I cleave the plains of the air with my winged feet, and I am carrying the Gorgon's head to Argos .”

Scythian Archer What, are you talking about the head of Gorgos, the scribe?

Euripides No, I am speaking of the head of the Gorgon.

Scythian Archer Why, yes! of Gorgos!

Euripides 1105 “But what do I behold? A young maiden, beautiful as the immortals, chained to this rock like a vessel in port?”

Mnesilochus “Take pity on me, oh stranger! I am so unhappy and distraught! Free me from these bonds.”

Scythian Archer You keep still! a curse upon your impudence! you are going to die, and yet you will be chattering!

Euripides 1110 “Oh! virgin! I take pity on your chains.”

Scythian Archer But this is no virgin; he's an old rogue, a cheat and a thief.

Euripides You have lost your wits, Scythian. This is Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus.

Scythian Archer lifting up Mnesilochus' robe But look at his tool; it's pretty big.

Euripides 1115 Give me your hand, that I may descend near this young maiden. Each man has his own particular weakness; as for me I am aflame with love for this virgin.

Scythian Archer Oh! I'm not jealous; and as he has his arse turned this way, 1120 why, I don't care if you make love to him.

Euripides “Ah! let me release her, and hasten to join her on the bridal couch.”

Scythian Archer If you are so eager to make the old man, you can bore through the plank, and so get at him.

Euripides 1125 No, I will break his bonds.

Scythian Archer Beware of my lash!

Euripides No matter.

Scythian Archer This blade shall cut off your head.

Euripides “Ah! what can be done? what arguments can I use? This savage will understand nothing! 1130 The newest and most cunning fancies are a dead letter to the ignorant. Let us invent some artifice to fit in with his coarse nature.”

Scythian Archer I can see the rascal is trying to outwit me.

Mnesilochus Ah! Perseus! remember in what condition you are leaving me.

Scythian Archer 1135 Are you wanting to feel my lash again!

Commentary

Line 1081e

Stable identifiers

Τοξότης

τί λέγι; τὴ Γόργος πέρι

τὸ γραμματέο σὺ τὴ κεπαλή;

Εὐριπίδης

τὴν Γοργόνος

ἔγωγε φημί.

Τοξότης

Γόργο τοι κἀγὼ λέγι.

Εὐριπίδης

ἔα· τίνʼ ὄχθον τόνδʼ ὁρῶ καὶ παρθένον
1105

θεαῖς ὁμοίαν ναῦν ὅπως ὡρμισμένην;

Μνησίλοχος

ὦ ξένε κατοίκτιρόν με τὴν παναθλίαν,

λῦσόν με δεσμῶν.

Τοξότης

οὐκὶ μὶ λαλῆσι σύ;

κατάρατο τολμᾷς ἀποτανουμένη λαλᾷς;

Εὐριπίδης

ὦ παρθένʼ οἰκτίρω σὲ κρεμαμένην ὁρῶν.
1110

Τοξότης

οὐ παρτένʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἀμαρτωλὴ γέρων

καὶ κλέπτο καὶ πανοῦργο.

Εὐριπίδης

ληρεῖς ὦ Σκύθα.

αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν Ἀνδρομέδα παῖς Κηφέως.

Τοξότης

σκέψαι τὸ κύστο· μή τι μικτὸν παίνεται;

Εὐριπίδης

φέρε δεῦρό μοι τὴν χεῖρʼ, ἵνʼ ἅψωμαι κόρης·
1115

φέρε Σκύθʼ· ἀνθρώποισι γὰρ νοσήματα

ἅπασίν ἐστιν· ἐμὲ δὲ καὐτὸν τῆς κόρης

ταύτης ἔρως εἴληφεν.

Τοξότης

οὐ ζηλῶσί σε·

ἀτὰρ εἰ τὸ πρωκτὸ δεῦρο περιεστραμμένον,

οὐκ ἐπτόνησά σʼ αὐτὸ πυγίζεις ἄγων.
1120

Εὐριπίδης

τί δʼ οὐκ ἐᾷς λύσαντά μʼ αὐτὴν ὦ Σκύθα

πεσεῖν ἐς εὐνὴν καὶ γαμήλιον λέχος;

Τοξότης

εἰ σπόδρʼ ἐπιτυμεῖς τὴ γέροντο πύγισο,

τὴ σανίδο τρήσας ἐξόπιστο πρώκτισον.

Εὐριπίδης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ λύσω δεσμά.
1125

Τοξότης

μαστιγῶ σʼ ἄρα.

Εὐριπίδης

καὶ μὴν ποιήσω τοῦτο.

Τοξότης

τὸ κεπαλή σʼ ἄρα

τὸ ξιπομάκαιραν ἀποκεκόψι τουτοϊ.

Τοξότης

μιαρὸς ἀλώπηξ, οἶον ἐπιτήκιζί μοι.

Μνησίλοχος

μέμνησο Περσεῦ μʼ ὡς καταλείπεις ἀθλίαν.

Τοξότης

ἔτι γὰρ σὺ τὴ μάστιγαν ἐπιτυμεῖς λαβεῖν;
1135

Euripides

“Oh! ye gods! to what barbarian land has my swift flight taken me? I am Perseus; 1100 I cleave the plains of the air with my winged feet, and I am carrying the Gorgon's head to Argos .”

Scythian Archer

What, are you talking about the head of Gorgos, the scribe?

Euripides

No, I am speaking of the head of the Gorgon.

Scythian Archer

Why, yes! of Gorgos!

Euripides

1105 “But what do I behold? A young maiden, beautiful as the immortals, chained to this rock like a vessel in port?”

Mnesilochus

“Take pity on me, oh stranger! I am so unhappy and distraught! Free me from these bonds.”

Scythian Archer

You keep still! a curse upon your impudence! you are going to die, and yet you will be chattering!

Euripides

1110 “Oh! virgin! I take pity on your chains.”

Scythian Archer

But this is no virgin; he's an old rogue, a cheat and a thief.

Euripides

You have lost your wits, Scythian. This is Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus.

Scythian Archer
lifting up Mnesilochus' robe

But look at his tool; it's pretty big.

Euripides

1115 Give me your hand, that I may descend near this young maiden. Each man has his own particular weakness; as for me I am aflame with love for this virgin.

Scythian Archer

Oh! I'm not jealous; and as he has his arse turned this way, 1120 why, I don't care if you make love to him.

Euripides

“Ah! let me release her, and hasten to join her on the bridal couch.”

Scythian Archer

If you are so eager to make the old man, you can bore through the plank, and so get at him.

Euripides

1125 No, I will break his bonds.

Scythian Archer

Beware of my lash!

Euripides

No matter.

Scythian Archer

This blade shall cut off your head.

Euripides

“Ah! what can be done? what arguments can I use? This savage will understand nothing! 1130 The newest and most cunning fancies are a dead letter to the ignorant. Let us invent some artifice to fit in with his coarse nature.”

Scythian Archer

I can see the rascal is trying to outwit me.

Mnesilochus

Ah! Perseus! remember in what condition you are leaving me.

Scythian Archer

1135 Are you wanting to feel my lash again!