δι’ἀγορᾶς or Διαγόρας? On Aristophanes, Frogs 320

Abstract

Recent commentators of Aristophanes’ Frogs have argued that there is a deliberate indeterminacy in his text when he wrote ΔΙΑΓΟΡΑΣ at line 320. It has been argued that the two readings of these letters in antiquity—δι’ ἀγορᾶς (‘through the Agora’) and Διαγόρας (the Melian poet)—were both intended by Aristophanes as a purposeful textual ambiguity for the actor to freely choose between in performance. But this article will argue that this agnosticism is ultimately misguided, and only the ‘Diagoras’ reading is viable in terms of syntax and historical context.