L'Odeion di Pericle, emblema di tirannide e medismo (Cratino, fr. 73 K.-A.)

In Crat. fr. 73 K.-A., Pericles is called Zeus schinokephalos and is shown wearing the Odeum on his head: is this description useful in order to charge Pericles of tyrannis, as already the epithet Zeus does? The circumstance that Pericles is wearing the Odeum is an evident consequence of the failing of the ostracism against the politician (see âÂȉ‹): so, the Odeum on Pericles’ head seems to act as an emblem of tyrannical, absolute power. Therefore, it is possibile to think that the Odeum-headgear was introduced by Cratinus to show Pericles as he is wearing something reminding (to the audience) a tiara orthé, which was the tipical headgear used properly by Persian Kings. Actually, tiara, and its meaning as emblem of absolute power, was well known by Athenian theatrical audience in fifth century b.C.; moreover, tiara and Odeum were similar in the fact that they both could look as ‘pointed’. The story about the Odeum as ‘imitation’ of ‘Great King’s tent’ seems to confirm this hypothesis. Besides, the epitheth Zeus too could connect Pericle to Persian King: in several sources of fifth and foruth century b.C., the Great King is compared to a deity, especially to Zeus. So, in Cratinus’ text, the epithet of Zeus, and the Odeumheadgear, which turned out to remind a tiara, were congruent to depict Pericles as a tyrannos similar to Persian kings.