3. Posidippus Old and New David Sider, New York University A review of Posidippo premilanese is clearly in order if we are ever to see him whole. This presents an interesting challenge, because old and new Posidippi are not the easiest of fits. I have, moreover, taken it as my task to point out, if not exaggerate, these differences. We begin with a brief review of… Read more
2. Posidippus On Papyri Then and Now Dirk Obbink, University of Oxford In order to contextualize the new epigrams of Posidippus, [1] I must take you from the Fayum—the large agricultural oasis south of Cairo where the Milan roll was found—across the desert to the Northeast to Saqqara, just south of the pyramids at Giza. From there comes the painted limestone… Read more
1. The Manuscript: [1] Posidippus on Papyrus Susan Stephens, Stanford University Dirk Obbink, University of Oxford Posidippus is no stranger to papyrus. The mentions of Posidippus in finds of Hellenistic epigrams exceed that of all other epigrammatists, the majority of whom are known from Roman papyri that reflect the ordering of Meleager’s Garland. Apart from P.Mil.Vogl. VIII 309, [… Read more
Introduction Shut not your doors to me proud libraries,For that which was lacking on all your well-fill’d shelves, yet needed most,I bring,Forth from the war emerging, a book I have made,The words of my book nothing, the drift of it every thing,A book separate, not link’d with the rest nor felt by the intellect,But you ye untold latencies will thrill to… Read more
Editors’ Note In reproducing the text(s) of the new epigrams preserved by P.Mil.Vogl. VIII 309 the editors have chosen to retain the lunate sigma and iota adscript of the papyrus. Given that the text(s) of these epigrams is still undergoing substantial revision through new reading and supplementation at the time this volume goes to press, we felt it best to represent the poems on the printed page as… Read more
Abbreviations AB = Austin, C. and Bastianini, G., eds. Posidippi Pellaei Quae Supersunt Omnia. Milan, 2002. AP = Palatine Anthology. APl = Planudean Anthology. BG = Bastianini, G. and Gallazzi, C. (eds.), con la collaborazione di C. Austin, Posidippo di Pella: Epigrammi (P.Mil.Vogl. VIII 309). Papiri dell’ Università degli Studi di Milano, 8. Milan,… Read more
For the Directors and Fellows of the CHS 2001–2002 with gratitude and affection. Preface Gregory Nagy Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies, located in the city of Washington, D.C., brings together a variety of research and teaching interests centering on Hellenic civilization in the widest sense of the term “Hellenic,” encompassing the evolution of the Greek language and its culture as a central… Read more
Bibliography Abrahams, R. 1962. “Playing the Dozens.” Journal of American Folklore 75:209–20. Alexiou, M. 1974. The Ritual Lament in Greek Tradition. Cambridge. Allen, T. W., ed. 1912. Homeri Opera 5 (Hymns, Cycle fragments, etc). 2nd edition. Oxford. ———, ed. 1917. Homeri Opera 3 and 4 (Odyssey). 2nd edition. Oxford. ———. Read more
Appendix II. The Discourse of Disputation: Three Comparative Typologies Formalized speech events involving insult and games of verbal dueling reproduce in microcosm the social and cultural values that give them meaning. In order to elucidate those meanings, however, the “internal” and “external” frames of the game need to be kept especially clear. The external frame comprises the rules of social (viz. polite) discourse and interaction that must… Read more
Appendix I. Ritual ΑΙΣΧΡΟΛΟΓΙΑ There are numerous ritual contexts in ancient Greece that call for joking and abuse, generally termed αἰσχρολογία ‘obscenity’. We may think immediately here of ἴαμβος ‘iambic verse’, but this category of joking must be extended to include several terms that are not altogether clearly distinguishable in meaning (the translations are therefore approximate): χλεύη ‘jest’, σκῶμμα ‘joke’, λοιδορία ‘offensive abuse’, γεφυρισμός ‘abuse’, τωθασμός ‘scoffing’,… Read more
