Παρὰ προσδοκίαν means "against expectation", "contrary to what is expected", i.e. the unexpected. Footnotes that use this term (e.g. In Lysistrata www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/aristophanes/lysistrata.asp?pg=59" target="_blank">59, www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/aristophanes/lysistrata.asp?pg=64" target="_blank">64, www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/aristophanes/lysistrata.asp?pg=66" target="_blank">66, www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/aristophanes/birds.asp?pg=11" target="_blank">BIRDS 11, www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/aristophanes/birds.asp?pg=86" target="_blank">86, www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-greece/aristophanes/ecclesiazusae.asp?pg=64" target="_blank">ECCLESIAZUSAE 64), are not always clear on what they want to say. They refer to occasions when Aristophanes ends a sentence in unexpected ways. Perhaps having a look at the examples above will let you understand easily how this expression is used. It is not a phrase that you will find in Aristophanes' text itself, but a philological expression describing a literary scheme.

Thanks again

Regards, Alex

Good evening, George.

I'm nearly finished the ebook, and am looking for a way to say 'The End' at the end of each play. The Methuen translation uses 'Exeunt omnes', but this doesn't seem appropriate for Greek plays. Is there a traditional way to say 'The End' for Greek plays?

Regards, Alex

No, there isn't any traditional way to say "the end", but, if your book will be in English, I mean the front cover, etc, you can have this too in English, "The End."

Thanks, George. I appreciate all your help.

Regards, Alex