*diw/numoi: e)n toi=s *(/ellhsi diw/numoi ko/lakes kai\ kekhrugme/noi perihxou=sin h(ma=s, *klei/sofoi/ te kai\ *strouqi/ai kai\ *qh/rwnes kai\ oi( peri\ th\n *dionusi/ou bombou=ntes tra/pezan kai\ oi( peri\ th\n dai=ta *)aleca/ndrou memhno/tes.
The adjective, nominative plural, is evidently extracted from the quotation given. For this adjective, in this sense, see already
delta 1243 (LSJ entry at web address 1).
The quotation is
Aelian fr. 110a Domingo-Forasté (107 Hercher), describing the Roman parasite -- hanger-on, sponger -- Albius (
alpha 1091; see also
beta 374). The names mentioned are those of well-known Greek parasite figures, mostly drawn from comedy (cf.
Aelian fr. 111a D-F, 108 Hercher). See further in the notes below.
[1] Kleisophos was a parasite of Philip II of Macedon, mentioned by
Athenaeus,
Deipnosophists 6.248D (6.53 Kaibel), and in the
Gnomologium Vaticanum. (For the pluralisation of the name, here and in what follows, signifying 'the likes of x', cf. e.g.
Plutarch,
Pericles 16.2: P. 'stood first for 40 years amidst Ephialtes's and Leokrates's etc.'.)
[2] Parasite of the soldier
Bias in
Menander’s play
Kolax. See also the commentary in
POxy, L 3534: "
Bias and Strouthias ... are the names of the soldier and his attendant who appeared together in a scene [sc. from
Kolax] which
Plutarch recalled as a classic in his essay
How to distinguish a flatterer from a friend" (cf.
Plutarch,
De adulatore et amico 57A).
[3] In
Menander’s fragmentary play
Sikyonios. Theron is another instance of a soldier’s parasite, whose important role required a large stage presence.
[4] These unnamed parasites are collectively compared to wasps or other insects; cf.
beta 374. For an analogous comparison, see Basil,
Epistles 272.1
ei)/ tines w(/sper oi( khfh=nes ta\ smh/nh, ou(/tws au)toi\ th\n lampra/n sou kai\ qaumasth\n e(sti/an peribombou=sin, "if some of them, like drones around the beehive, buzz around your splendid, wonderful home".
*bombw= is also referred to a noisy crowd by Lucian,
Bis accusatus 13.3; to heretics, by Athanasius,
de decretis Nicaeni Synodi 13.5;
de sententia Dionysii 19, 2;
contra Arianos 26 Migne, p. 445. 39;
ad Afros episcopos, PG 26.1037.1; to soldiers, by Anna Comnena 12.2.5.
[5] This '
Dionysius' will be either
delta 1178 or his son
delta 1179.
[6] Alexander the Great, presumably (
alpha 1121).
David Whitehead (modified headword and translation; augmented notes; modified keywords; extensive cosmetics) on 25 February 2005@03:18:12.
David Whitehead (another note and keyword; tweaking) on 13 July 2012@08:58:43.
Catharine Roth (updated references) on 27 May 2013@01:21:02.
Catharine Roth (tweaked note) on 25 August 2013@20:46:04.
Catharine Roth (coding) on 14 November 2014@00:37:53.
David Whitehead (expanded a ref) on 14 January 2015@11:06:43.
Catharine Roth (expanded titles) on 1 February 2015@21:34:10.
Catharine Roth (betacode cosmetics) on 10 September 2016@01:21:03.
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