Diphilus’ Paralyomenos (P. Louvre 7733v, col. ii, 32-35): Reading the Evidence

Abstract

Abstract P. Louvre 7733v is the only source to attest a comedy by Diphilus entitled Paralyomenos and fr. 59 K.-A. from this play. This article ventures a cautious interrogation of the available—albeit limited and thus unexplored—evidence, with the purpose of extracting as much material as possible that could shed light on this play’s dramatic circumstances. It is argued that the present participle in the title is suggestive of a possibly critical situation (discharge from military service or physical disability) occurring within the course or shortly before the opening of the plot. Given parallel dramatic situations, it could reasonably be inferred that the title-character’s peculiar position may have got him involved in circumstances producing comic effect. Moreover, the restoration of fr. 59 proposed in this article may provide clues to a dramatic crisis. Overall, a close reading of the evidence in conjunction with comic practice could give scope for mapping the material concerning Diphilus’ Paralyomenos onto the dramatic contexts of fourth-century comedy.