Aristophanes and triremes

[Peter Pedant]

There was some doubt about how tri-remes were manned,and how the oars were banked

and there is a naughty joke in Aristophanes - oh dont put me in the lower bank or else i will get.....upon......which gives the game away.

Anyone got any ideas - of the joke and where in Aristophanes it is ?

Thanks

[Quizmonkey]

It's definitely in The Frogs - somewhere! It's pretty scatological throughout so you may wish to read the whole thing. Get a good modern translation and you should find it.

[Peter Pedant]

Thank QM - I will get reading

I read the Frogs in erm 1975 and it didnt kinda jump out at me then........

[Quizmonkey]

Take a look here:

www.users.bigpond.net.au/soloword/Frogs.htm

and find lines starting 1065. Is this what you meant?

[Peter Pedant]

Yes it is, many thanks

the greek translation is

f+rt in the face of a thalamite

but then one needs a note to say a thalamite is a rower on the lowest rung of the tri-reme - 3 obols a day I think- and I suppose everyone would think that what was intended was catamite.....the world these days, dirty as muck


PP