An Iambic Scepter?: The Akhnymenē Skytalē of Archilochus

Archilochus issues an iambic challenge to Kerykides through the frame of authoritative speech in Epode 185W; the much-debated phrase akhnymenē skytalē is essential to that attack. I propose a new reading of akhnymenē that allows for its double-valence: it is at once "sorrowful" (as traditionally understood) and "speaking." This double meaning accords precisely with the dual strands of Archilochus' biting poetic mode: his words bring sorrow to their target in their verbal articulation. Such a reading also recommends my view of Archilochus' message stick as an analogue to Hesiod's iconic scepter, that is, as emblematic of Archilochus' authoritative iambic speech.