Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates

THE THEATRE

the love of boys has at least the same importance as the love of the wife, we may hazard the conjecture that we shall be able to find its expression also everywhere in Greek comedy. As a matter of fact, also, Greek comedy, like all other kinds of poetry, is simply unthinkable without the love of boys ; and this is certainly not only in some way the reverse of the grotesque wit of Dionysian wantonness, but it is one of the focuses round which the ellipse of Greek, especially Attic, comedy turns. But, as already said, we have to do with caricatures. Hence tender tones are silent here, for the modest Eros-boy has become the coarse Priapus. Charis certainly hides her face for shame, but science may not pass them by.

1. PHERECRATES

From an unknown drama of Pherecrates (frag. 135) comes the bitter saying, which as it reproached Alcibiades with being too obliging to men, also taunts him with his dangerousness to the female sex: “ Alcibiades who formerly, as it seems, was no man, is now every woman’s husband.” *

2. EUPOLIS

Eupolis of Athens offers us a more abundant source of profit. He flourished during the Peloponnesian war and about 411 met his death in the Hellespont when fighting for his country. He was one of the finest intellects of the Old Comedy and long after his death his cheerful muse was a universal favourite for its grace and wit. No fewer than seven of his comedies, the number of which is variously given as fourteen or seventeen, were distinguished by the first prize. In the fourth

1 Cf. Suetonius, Cesar, 52; Curio pater eum (i.e. Czesar) omnium mulierum virum et omnium virorum mulierem appellat; Cicero, Verres, ii, 78, 192; at homo . . . magis vir inter mulieres, impura inter viros muliercula proferri non potest.

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