#acharnians

   Dicaeopolis / Δικαιόπολις

Dicaeopolis

Opposition to war was a recurring theme in Aristophanes’s plays, especially Acharnians and Lysistrata.

(Taking suggestions for a better translation of Ἀπατούρια).

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The Deceptionalia is a festival held by the Athenians, the reason behind which is made clear by its naming.

To explain: there was a war between the Athenians and the Boiotians, with the Boiotians being led by Xanthos and Thymoites ruling the Athenians. (Thymoites, at the time, was already getting on in years). So Xanthos of the Boiotians challenged Thymoites to a duel, the terms being that, if he won, he would rule the Athenians as well as his own people; but if Thymoites won, he would rule the Boiotions as well as his.

As Thymoites wasn't willing to meet the challenge because of his old age, to avoid having his fatherland enslaved to another on account of his lack of strength, he announced that he would hand over power to whoever fought the duel. A Melanthios, by blood an Arkadian but living in Attike, went to fight on his behalf. When they got to the place which had been marked out for the duel, Melanthios overcame Xanthos by a trick. As the Boiotian came forward, he said to him, "Xanthos, you double-crosser! You said you'd come alone, but you've come with someone else!" When Xanthos then span around to see who had followed him, he was wounded by Melanthios and killed.

Because of this, the Athenians celebrate the festival, which they call the Deceptionalia after this deception of Melanthios.

(Scholiast to Aristophanes’ Acharnians 146; my translation)

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Ἀπατούρια ἑορτὴ παρὰ Ἀθηναίοις  τὸ συμβὰν δηλοῦσα τῇ προσηγορίᾳ.

Scholiast to Aristophanes’ Acharnians l. 44; my translation