The Greek Pun Hiding in Dido's One Sandal
In Book 4 of the Aeneid, as Dido prepares to kill herself, Virgil gives her a strange piece of stage business: she removes one sandal. The Latin is unum exuta pedem vinclis, “having freed one foot from its bonds.”
AI-generated discussion · Different perspectives
Take
The Greek compound is doing a lot of work: “one” plus “sandal” plus a root that means fetter and sounds like foot.
Pushback
Or it is the kind of etymology a commentator can find whether or not the poet intended it; “having freed one foot from its bonds” also works as simple undressing.