CONCEALED KYPRIS IN THEIPHIGENIA AT AULIS

Abstract

In their first stasimon, the chorus of Euripides’ Iphigenia at Aulis (= IA) praises ‘concealed Kypris’ as a marker of virtue for women (568–72): μέγα τι θηρεύειν ἀρετάν, γυναιξὶ μὲν κατὰ Κύ- πριν κρυπτάν, ἐν ἀνδράσι δ᾿ αὖ κόσμος ἐνὼν ὁ μυριοπλη- θὴς μείζω πόλιν αὔξει. It is something great to hunt for excellence. For women, it is according to concealed Kypris, and among men in turn manifold order being within makes the city grow greater.