Аристофан за Смикита – „царя на траките” (Aristoph. Equit. 967-969 et scholia)
Aristophanes on Smicythes, “King of the Thracians” (Aristoph. Equit., 967-969 et Scholia)

Summary/Abstract: This essay deals with three verses from Aristophanes’ comedy “The Knights” and the later scholia to them. The verses report the sausage seller’s (Agoracritus) prophecy about the future superiority of Paphlagonian Cleon over the Athenian demos. In the text there is a mention of Smicythes, a higher Athenian financial officer, and his master. Smicythes is feminized; “she” is expected to be asked to the Athenian court along with “her” master, just the way a woman is being appealed with her husband/guardian. According to the scholia, Smicythes is “the king of the Thracians.” The view reasoned here suggests the idea that this person cannot be a Thracian king, because the name Smicythes is Greek and was attested in many inscriptions from Attica. However, in the scholia are mentioned the relations of political dependence between the “Thracian king” and Cyrus the Younger, which fit well into the period 407-401 BC. In the opinion of the author the political relations between the Odrysians and the satrap Cyrus the Younger form Asia Minor were settled during this period. In such a way Seuthes II was aiming at re-establishing his rule over the lost paradynastic territory of his father (Maisades) in South-Eastern Thrace.

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