Abstract

A comparison with south-Italian folklore can be an interesting key to interpret some aspects of ancient culture. For instance, Theocr. id. 10, 11 χαλεπὸν χορίω κύνα γεῦσαι could be explained as “it’s a risk for a dog to taste a doggy placenta”, on the basis of Geopon. 19, 2, 17; also numerous evidences of the superstitious practices of dog ‘magic binding’ support this interpretation. In the famous scene of Aeschylus’ Choeph. 894–924 Clytaimestra shows her breast in front of Orestes: I suggest here a different set from the suppliant’s one. In fact, in south-Italian folklore, to show the breast in front of a son is the traditional set of a mother’s malediction. In Varro rust. 1, 37, 2 the text of all manuscripts decrescente luna is correct: cutting the hair is to be avoided on waning moon, as well as it is widely believed in ancient and modern folklore.