Aristophanes, Lysistrata 77-84: eroticizing female athletics in Sparta
Title
Aristophanes, Lysistrata 77-84: eroticizing female athletics in Sparta
Date
between 460 and 450 - 386 BCE
Type
Comedy
Source Type
Literary source
Translation
MYRRHINE
That's the best advice.
Ah, there comes Lampito.
Enter LAMPITO.
LYSISTRATA
Welcome Lampito!
Dear Spartan girl with a delightful face,
Washed with the rosy spring, how fresh you look
In the easy stride of your sleek slenderness,
Why you could strangle a bull!
LAMPITO
I think I could.
It's frae exercise and kicking high behint.
That's the best advice.
Ah, there comes Lampito.
Enter LAMPITO.
LYSISTRATA
Welcome Lampito!
Dear Spartan girl with a delightful face,
Washed with the rosy spring, how fresh you look
In the easy stride of your sleek slenderness,
Why you could strangle a bull!
LAMPITO
I think I could.
It's frae exercise and kicking high behint.
Translation used
Jack Lindsay, Lysistrata by Aristophanes, Sydney 1926.
Text
Μυρρίνη
πολὺ σὺ κάλλιον λέγεις.
ἡδὶ δὲ καὶ δὴ Λαμπιτὼ προσέρχεται.
Λυσιστράτη
ὦ φιλτάτη Λάκαινα χαῖρε Λαμπιτοῖ.
οἷον τὸ κάλλος γλυκυτάτη σου φαίνεται.
80ὡς δ᾽ εὐχροεῖς, ὡς δὲ σφριγᾷ τὸ σῶμά σου.
κἂν ταῦρον ἄγχοις.
Λαμπιτώ
μάλα γ᾽ οἰῶ ναὶ τὼ σιώ:
γυμνάδδομαι γὰρ καὶ ποτὶ πυγὰν ἅλλομαι.
πολὺ σὺ κάλλιον λέγεις.
ἡδὶ δὲ καὶ δὴ Λαμπιτὼ προσέρχεται.
Λυσιστράτη
ὦ φιλτάτη Λάκαινα χαῖρε Λαμπιτοῖ.
οἷον τὸ κάλλος γλυκυτάτη σου φαίνεται.
80ὡς δ᾽ εὐχροεῖς, ὡς δὲ σφριγᾷ τὸ σῶμά σου.
κἂν ταῦρον ἄγχοις.
Λαμπιτώ
μάλα γ᾽ οἰῶ ναὶ τὼ σιώ:
γυμνάδδομαι γὰρ καὶ ποτὶ πυγὰν ἅλλομαι.
Edition used
Frederick W. Hall/William M. Geldart (eds.), Aristophanis Commoediae, vol. 2, Oxford 1907.
Collection
Citation
Aristophanes, “Aristophanes, Lysistrata 77-84: eroticizing female athletics in Sparta,” Cynisca: Documenting Women and Girls in Ancient Greek Sports, accessed December 22, 2024, https://fdz.bib.uni-mannheim.de/cynisca/items/show/4.