This paper argues that the first words uttered by Pheidippides in his sleep in the first scene of Aristophanes’ Clouds (l. 25) are to be interpreted as an omen (a κληδών) directed at his father Strepsiades. Pheidippides’ words closely resemble Pittacus’ maxim τὴν κατὰ σαυτὸν ἔλα (“keep to your own track”), whose ethical meaning is extremely relevant both to Strepsiades’ past moral errors (his marriage with a woman of higher standing than him) and his present ones (his plan to cheat his creditors).

A neglected omen in Aristophanes' Clouds / Lentini, Giuseppe. - In: RIVISTA DI FILOLOGIA E DI ISTRUZIONE CLASSICA. - ISSN 0035-6220. - 147:2(2019), pp. 277-289.

A neglected omen in Aristophanes' Clouds

Giuseppe Lentini
2019

Abstract

This paper argues that the first words uttered by Pheidippides in his sleep in the first scene of Aristophanes’ Clouds (l. 25) are to be interpreted as an omen (a κληδών) directed at his father Strepsiades. Pheidippides’ words closely resemble Pittacus’ maxim τὴν κατὰ σαυτὸν ἔλα (“keep to your own track”), whose ethical meaning is extremely relevant both to Strepsiades’ past moral errors (his marriage with a woman of higher standing than him) and his present ones (his plan to cheat his creditors).
2019
aristophanes; cledonomancy; socrates; delphic wisdom; seven sages
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
A neglected omen in Aristophanes' Clouds / Lentini, Giuseppe. - In: RIVISTA DI FILOLOGIA E DI ISTRUZIONE CLASSICA. - ISSN 0035-6220. - 147:2(2019), pp. 277-289.
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Lentini_Neglected-omen_2019.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 249.57 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
249.57 kB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1364437
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact