La "dolce costrizione" nel simposio greco (a proposito di Bacchilide fr. *20B Maehl.)

In the sympotic poem dedicated to Alexander of Macedonia, Bacchylides refers to the effects produced by wine drinking during the symposion by using the charming oxymoron: γλυκεῖα ἀνάγκα. The true meaning of this expression is explained after arguing in favour of the proposal by Jebb (based on Phocyl. fr. 14 Gent.-Pr.2) to separate γλυκεῖα  ἀνάγκα from the following genitive σευομενᾶν κυλίκων, which would have been better interpreted as an absolute genitive. The kind of constraint to which the text alludes is strictly connected with the power of Aphrodite, who is mentioned in lines 9-10 as “mixed with the gifts of Dionysus”. The poem recalls the idea expressed in the Nestor’s cup poem, according to which whoever drinks wine during the symposion intentionally provokes the appearance of Aphrodite. The goddess displays her power by stimulating the sexual desire in the symposiasts, who cannot resist to the erotic impulse. Due to the coercive nature of Aphrodite’s power the word ἀνάγκα appears correctly placed in the poem and perfectly consistent with the meaning of the word in the archaic Greek. However, this overwhelming and from certain aspects fearful power could be defined as “sweet” by reason of the happiness that the erotic desire produces when it is happily fulfilled, as Theognis’ words (vv. 1353-1356) remind us.