Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T12:25:16.452Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An epigram of Erinna

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2009

Giuseppe Giangrande
Affiliation:
University of London, Birkbeck College

Abstract

Image of the first page of this content. For PDF version, please use the ‘Save PDF’ preceeding this image.'
Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1969

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

page 1 note 1 I retain γοερ⋯μ with Dübner (for the periphrasis θρ⋯νων φθ⋯γμα cf. θρ⋯νων ᾠδ⋯ς Soph. El. 88). Reiske proposed γοερ⋯ν but the emendation is unnecessary. It is true that concinnitas would require γοερ⋯ν (γ⋯μων μολπαῖον ⋯οιδ⋯ν) (θρ⋯νων γοερ⋯ν φθ⋯γμα), but adjectival inconcinnitas was frequently aimed at by the Alexandrians (for Callimachus cf. Lapp, De Callim. tropis …, diss. Bonn, 1965, pp. 125 ff.; on Erinna's date cf. Gow–Page ii, pp. 281 f.). Against cases like Pind. Pyth. 4. 350 (198) βροντ⋯ς αἴσιον φθ⋯γμα, Soph. El. 18 ⋯ῷα φθ⋯γματ' ⋯ρν⋯θων (where the epithet agrees with φθ⋯γμα) one could quote cases like Callim. Hymn. 5. 94 γοερ⋯ν οἶτον ⋯ηδον⋯δων. Meleager's imitation of Corinna's epigram (A.P. 7. 182) is ‘free’ (Gow–Page, on 1796 and 4684 ff.): in his line there is no genitive accompanying φθ⋯γμα, so that the adjective γοερ⋯ς could not but agree with φθ⋯γμα. All in all, since we do not know nearly enough of Erinna's usus scribendi, it is safest to leave the lectio tradita θρ⋯νων γοερ⋯ν φθ⋯γμα untouched.

page 2 note 1 Descriptive imperfects like ἥδετο and ἔφλεγε are common in the genre, cf. Gow–Page 1243 and also 1193.

page 2 note 2 Asclepiades' ὅσης and Philodemus' μεγ⋯λης seem to indicate that πυρκαϊ⋯ simply meant ‘incendium’, ‘fire’, without any implication of size: cf. Plut. Vit. 144 E, πυρκαϊ⋯ν τοσα⋯την, 749 B πυρκαϊ⋯ς τηλικα⋯της.

page 2 note 3 For such jeux d'esprit, aimed at achieving effect through the use of contextually unexepected meanings, cf., for example, C.R. lxxxi (1967), p. 130Google Scholar (Meleager'suse of ἱκ⋯της)or Eranos 1967, loc. cit. (Asclepiades' use of π⋯τασος).

page 2 note 4 Cf., for example, Peek, 1800. 8, and Kaibel, Index, s.v. πυρκαϊ⋯

page 2 note 5 Cf. πολλ⋯ν φλ⋯γα Xen. Cyr. vii. 5. 23, Arist. Nub. 1492, Plut. Vit. 475 E; φλ⋯γα πε⋯κης Eur. Bacch. 146.

page 3 note 1 The great blaze was needed for lighting purposes; from the Thesaurus (s.v.: ‘de congerie taedarum’) down to Bailly ‘amas de matières combustibles, faisceau de torches’) and L.S.J. (‘mass of burning torches’) the same mistake has been perpetuated, as if λαμπ⋯δες, used for purposes of illumination, would be burnt in one bonfire, inside a σκην⋯!

page 3 note 2 Cf. Gow–Page ad loc., for the question.

page 3 note 3 Similar tmesis in Gow-Page 1654 (= A.P. vii. 229. 4): παῖδ' ⋯π⋯ πυρκαϊ⋯ν … τιθε⋯ς.