Penelope the hetaira: Odyssean innuendo in Strabo’s account of Corinth (Geography 8.6.20)

Jessica Lightfoot

doi:10.1017/S0009838824000302

Penelope the hetaira: Odyssean innuendo in Strabo’s account of Corinth (Geography 8.6.20)

Jessica Lightfoot^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Following Richard Janko’s suggestion that two trimeters cited at Strabo 'Geography' 8.6.20 form a couplet from an unknown, possibly Aristophanic comedy, this article explores the resonance and meaning of the third citation contained in the same chapter of the geographer’s work. It proposes that this third citation, which relates to a Corinthian hetaira’s work at the loom and is possibly from either the same or a different comedy, contains a joke hinting at the 'Odyssey' and alternative traditions regarding Penelope’s chastity. This Odyssean echo thematically connects this citation to the comic trimeters, which also contain clear allusions to the 'Odyssey'.

Original language	English
Journal	The Classical Quarterly
Early online date	10 Dec 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0009838824000302
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 10 Dec 2024

Keywords

Penelope
Odyssey
comedy
Aristophanes
Strabo
Corinth

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LightfootJ2024PenelopeFinal published version, 117 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

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title = "Penelope the hetaira: Odyssean innuendo in Strabo{\textquoteright}s account of Corinth (Geography 8.6.20)",

abstract = "Following Richard Janko{\textquoteright}s suggestion that two trimeters cited at Strabo 'Geography' 8.6.20 form a couplet from an unknown, possibly Aristophanic comedy, this article explores the resonance and meaning of the third citation contained in the same chapter of the geographer{\textquoteright}s work. It proposes that this third citation, which relates to a Corinthian hetaira{\textquoteright}s work at the loom and is possibly from either the same or a different comedy, contains a joke hinting at the 'Odyssey' and alternative traditions regarding Penelope{\textquoteright}s chastity. This Odyssean echo thematically connects this citation to the comic trimeters, which also contain clear allusions to the 'Odyssey'.",

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AB - Following Richard Janko’s suggestion that two trimeters cited at Strabo 'Geography' 8.6.20 form a couplet from an unknown, possibly Aristophanic comedy, this article explores the resonance and meaning of the third citation contained in the same chapter of the geographer’s work. It proposes that this third citation, which relates to a Corinthian hetaira’s work at the loom and is possibly from either the same or a different comedy, contains a joke hinting at the 'Odyssey' and alternative traditions regarding Penelope’s chastity. This Odyssean echo thematically connects this citation to the comic trimeters, which also contain clear allusions to the 'Odyssey'.

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Penelope the hetaira: Odyssean innuendo in Strabo’s account of Corinth (Geography 8.6.20)

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