Lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygon

Lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygon is a fictional dish mentioned in Aristophanes' comedy Assemblywomen.^[1]

It is a transliteration of the Ancient Greek word λοπαδοτεμαχοσελαχογαλεοκρανιολειψανοδριμυποτριμματοσιλφιοκαραβομελιτοκατακεχυμενοκιχλεπικοσσυφοφαττοπεριστεραλεκτρυονοπτοκεφαλλιοκιγκλοπελειολαγῳοσιραιοβαφητραγανοπτερύγων. Liddell & Scott (LSJ) translate this as "name of a dish compounded of all kinds of dainties, fish, flesh, fowl, and sauces."^[2]

Look up λοπαδοτεμαχο... in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Look up lepado... in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The Greek word has 171 letters, and for centuries it was the longest word known. It is the longest word ever to appear in literature according to Guinness World Records (1990).^[3]

Variant forms

The quoted herein form of the word is in fact the one listed in LSJ (1940) and quoted therein as having being emended by August Meineke;^[2] in contrast to this and for example, F.W. Hall and W.M. Geldart's 1907 edition of Aristophanis Comoediae reads (difference in bold):
λοπαδοτεμαχοσελαχογαλεοκρανιολειψανοδριμυποτριμματοσιλφιοτυρομελιτοκατακεχυμενοκιχλεπικοσσυφοφαττοπεριστεραλεκτρυονοπτεκεφαλλιοκιγκλοπελειολαγῳοσιραιοβαφητραγανοπτερυγών.^[4]

Dish being described

The dish was a fricassée, with at least 16 sweet and sour ingredients, including the following:^[3]

fish slices
fish of the elasmobranchii subclass (a shark or ray)
rotted dogfish or small shark's head
generally sharp-tasting dish of several ingredients grated and pounded together
silphion "laserwort", apparently a kind of giant fennel
a kind of crab, shrimp, or crayfish
honey poured down
wrasse (or thrush)
a kind of sea fish or blackbird as topping
wood pigeon
domestic pigeon
rooster
roasted head of dabchick
hare, which could be a kind of bird or a kind of sea hare
new wine boiled down
wing and/or fin

Context

The term is used in the ultimate chorus of the play, when Blepyrus (and the audience) are summoned to the first feast laid on by the new system.

[1167] And you others, let your light steps too keep time.
[1168] Very soon we'll be eating
[1170] lepadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygon. [sic]
[1175] Come, quickly, seize hold of a plate, snatch up a cup, and let's run to secure a place at table. The rest will have their jaws at work by this time.^[1]

In English translations

In English prose translation by Leo Strauss (1966), this Greek word is rendered as "oysters-saltfish-skate-sharks'-heads-left-over-vinegar-dressing-laserpitium-leek-with-honey-sauce-thrush-blackbird-pigeon-dove-roast-cock's-brains-wagtail-cushat-hare-stewed-in-new-wine-gristle-of-veal-pullet's-wings".^[5]

English verse translation by Benjamin Bickley Rogers (1902) follows the original meter and the original way of composition:

"Plattero-filleto-mulleto-turboto-
-Cranio-morselo-pickleo-acido-
-Silphio-honeyo-pouredonthe-topothe-
-Ouzelo-throstleo-cushato-culvero-
-Cutleto-roastingo-marowo-dippero-
-Leveret-syrupu-gibleto-wings."^[6]

Older English verse translation by Rev. Rowland Smith (1833) destroys the original composed word and breaks it in several verses:

"All sorts of good cheer;
Limpets, oysters, salt fish,
And a skate too a dish,
Lampreys, with the remains
Of sharp sauce and birds' brains,
With honey so luscious,
Plump blackbirds and thrushes,
Cocks' combs and ring doves,
Which each epicure loves,
Also wood-pigeons blue,
With juicy snipes too,
And to close all, O rare!
The wings of jugged hare!

The newest translation by O'Neill, quoted above, does not translate this word and uses only a transliteration.

References