The Epigrams Ascribed to Theocritus: A Method of ApproachThis book is the first full-scale commentary on the epigrams ascribed to Theocritus since Gow's commented edition of 1950 and the first to methodically approach epigram as a literary genre attempting to bridge the gap between epigraphy and philological studies. The introductory chapters trace the history of the various epigrammatic genres and typologies within which the Theocritean epigrams can be inserted, focusing on both the literary and epigraphic conventions followed and respected by the epigrammatists. The commentary discusses in detail the text (recently established by Gallavotti, with some slight variations), with an emphasis on the dual contribution of literary and epigraphic evidence for a correct understanding of the questions related to content and the linguistic problems presented by the poems. The final chapters deal with the question of the authenticity of the epigrams and try to reconstruct how and when they were collected in the 'book' transmitted by the bucolic manuscripts and then entered the anthology. |
Common terms and phrases
according Aeschylus already ancient animals anonymous Anthology appears Archilochus ascribed Athens attested authenticity beginning bucolic Callimachus century B.C. characteristic cited clear collection commentary completely composed composition concerning connection considered context contrast Daphnis dead death dedication defined defunct demonstrated elements epigram epigrammatic epigrammatists epigraphic epitaph epithet especially evidence example expression fact figure final funerary genre Gow-Page grams Greek hand Hellenistic Homer idyll ii-iii A.D. indicate infra inscriptions interpretation later Leonidas less literary meaning mentioned metrical monument Moreover motif nature Nevertheless noted offered origin parallel particular perhaps period person poem poet poetic poetry possible precisely presence probably proposed reading reference respect seems shepherd specific statue supra term Theocritean Theocritus tion tomb tradition usually various verb votive wet nurse whereas καὶ