NOTE ON ANACREON 388

摘要

Anacreon 388 (Gentili fr. 82) is transmitted to us by Athenaeus 12.533f–534, whonuses the narrative to explain why Artemon is called περιφόρητος (‘carried on anlitter’) by Chamaeleon of Pontus. This poem, one of Anacreon’s longest, is an attacknon the nouveau riche Artemon, who also appears in Anacreon fr. 8 (Gentili), andnboth times is the object of the poet’s libel. Artemon has been variously identifiednwith historical figures,1 but is perhaps best understood as a caricature of a socialnclimber trying to fit into elite society. Anacreon 388 is of particular interest becausenit represents one of the few examples of Anacreon’s abusive poetry, and for itsnunique diction. The diction, specifically that used for three items of Artemon’snwardrobe, has caused some controversy among scholars. In what follows I willnseek to clarify three aspects of Artemon’s attire: his καλύμματ᾽ ἐσφηκωμέναn(wasped cap) in line 1; his ξυλίνους ἀστραγάλους (wooden knucklebone earrings)nin line 2; and his cloak, which is described as νήπλυτον εἴλυμα κακῆς ἀσπίδοςn(‘the unwashed covering of a worthless shield’) in line 4. These three elements ofnArtemon’s clothing illustrate his former lowly status and produce a comical imagenof a poor man wearing a cheap imitation of normal komast garb. Instead of praisingnArtemon’s new rich status, Anacreon focusses on the man’s former impoverishednstate, abusing Artemon and denying him the smooth entry to high society that hendesires. But what, precisely, are the material objects represented?n‘To make like a wasp’ is the basic meaning of σφηκόω, generally interpretednto mean ‘pinched at the waist’ from the segmented shape of a wasp’s body.2nThe verb has given rise to the metrical term σφηκίας (‘wasp-like’), indicating anverse divided by a caesura into parts containing an equal number of syllables.3nHowever, the verb in Homer is used to describe the binding-up of hair, wheren‘pinched at the middle’ does not seem to be the meaning.4 I would argue that thenimage stems from the shape of the abdomen of the wasp, which bulges and then