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Lopado­temacho­selacho­galeo­kranio­leipsano­drim­hypo­trimmato­silphio­karabo­melito­katakechy­meno­kichl­epi­kossypho­phatto­perister­alektryon­opte­kephallio­kigklo­peleio­lagoio­siraio­baphe­tragano­pterygon

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Lopadotemakhoselakhogameokranioleipsanodrimypotrimmatosilphiokarabomelitokatakekhymenokikhlepikossyphophattoperisterphobiaticleri- alektryonoptokephalliokigklopeleiolagōiosiraiobaphētraganopterýgōn is a fictional dish mentioned in Aristophanes' comedy Assemblywomen.

it is of 561 letters originally-

Lopado­temacho­selacho­gameo­kranio­leipsano­drim­hypotrimmato­silphio­-
karaomelito­katakechymeno­kichl­epi­kossypho­phatto­perister­alektryon­-
opte­kephallio­kinklo­peleio­lagoio­siraio­baphe­tragano­pterygon

λοπαδοτεμαχοσελαχογαλεοκρανιολειψανοδριμυποτριμματοσιλφιοκαραβομελιτοκατακεχυμενοκιχλεπικοσσυφο- φαττοπεριστεραλεκτρυονοπτοκεφαλλιοκιγκλοπελειολαγῳοσιραιοβαφητραγανοπτερύγων in the Greek alphabet (1169-74). Liddell and Scott translate this as "name of a dish compounded of all kinds of dainties, fish, flesh, fowl, and sauces."

The original Greek spelling had 171 characters (something which is not obvious in the Roman transcription, depending on the variant) and for centuries it was the longest word known.

The dish was a fricassee, with 17 sweet and sour ingredients, including brains, honey, vinegar, fish, pickles, and the following:

The word-by-word translation is in the wiktionary entry.

Role in the play

The gynecocracy depicted in Assemblywomen attempts to treat everyone equally. They create this dish so that they can serve one food that fits everyone's needs. The dish's name is mentioned only twice, in one of the last speeches of the play.

See also

  • Big Mac (see "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun" [71 letters] under Two all beef patties Slogan)
  • Turducken (see "bustergophechiduckneaealcockidgeoverwingailusharkolanbler" [17 birds; 57 letters] under Variations)