A comic (fr. adesp. fr.33 Kock) allusion to the fact that voting in Athenian ostracisms used pieces of broken pot, ostraka; see omicron 716.
This fragment is also in Photius and Hesychius, but the latter overinterpets it by asserting (absurdly) that the victims of ostracism were literally whipped and tortured. The citizens of classical Athens enjoyed legal protection from torture under any circumstances; and in ostracism (as opposed to exile: see omicron 717) particular care was taken to preserve the dignity and status of those involved, e.g. by safeguarding their property.