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[174] σανίδας δ᾽ ἐκδῆσαι ὄπισθε. The best commentary on these words is that of Döderlein, in his Homeric Glossary, § 994. He shows that the punishment intended here was a form of crucifixion. It is evidently much the same as that which was inflicted as the penalty of sacrilege on Artayctes, Hdt.9. 120πρὸς σανίδα προσπασσαλεύσαντες ἀνεκρέμασαν” (cp. Hdt.7. 33). In this case the feet and hands of Melanthius were made fast behind him (cp. Il.21. 30δῆσε δ᾽ ὀπίσσω χεῖρας”), and were bound to the board (or boards), not nailed. Similarly the “σανίς” of Ar. Thesm.931Ar. Thesm., 940 was a board or plank to which offenders were bound. The punishment of Melanthius is referred to (not very accurately) by Aristophanes, Plut. 309-312οὐκοῦν σελαβόντες ὑπὸ φιληδίας τὸν Λαρτίου μιμούμενοι τῶν ὄρχεων κρεμῶμεν” .

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hide References (6 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (6):
    • Aristophanes, Plutus, 309
    • Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae, 931
    • Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae, 940
    • Herodotus, Histories, 7.33
    • Herodotus, Histories, 9.120
    • Homer, Iliad, 21.30
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