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NICANDER'S HYMN TO ATTALUS: PERGAMENE PANEGYRIC
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 November 2019
Abstract
This paper looks beyond Ptolemaic Alexandria to consider the literary dynamics of another Hellenistic kingdom, Attalid Pergamon. I offer a detailed study of the fragmentary opening of Nicander's Hymn to Attalus (fr. 104 Gow–Schofield) in three sections. First, I consider its generic status and compare its encomiastic strategies with those of Theocritus’ Encomium of Ptolemy Philadelphus (Idyll 17). Second, I analyse its learned reuse of the literary past and allusive engagement with scholarly debate. And finally, I explore how Nicander polemically strives against the precedent of the Ptolemaic Callimachus. The fragment offers us a rare glimpse into the post-Callimachean, international and agonistic world of Hellenistic poetics.
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- Research Article
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- Copyright
- Copyright © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Cambridge University Press
Footnotes
This paper has benefited greatly from the feedback of audiences in Cambridge, Edinburgh (CA 2016) and San Diego (SCS 2019). I am particularly grateful to Aneurin Ellis-Evans, Brett Evans, Alex Forte, Maria Gaki, Kathryn Gutzwiller, Richard Hunter, Max Leventhal, Stephen A. White and two anonymous referees for their comments and suggestions on earlier versions. Nicander's works are cited from Gow and Schofield (1953); Callimachus’ Aetia from Harder (2012), Hecale from Hollis (2009), and other works from Pfeiffer (1949–53). All translations are my own.
References
Works cited
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Page, D. L. (1981) Further Greek epigram, Cambridge.
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Jacoby, F. (1923–) Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker, Berlin.
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Gow, A. S. F. and A. F. Schofield (1953) Nicander: the poems and poetical fragments, edited with a translation and notes, Cambridge.
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Fränkel, M. (1890–5) Die Inschriften von Pergamon unter Mitwirkung von Ernst Fabricius und Carl Schuchhardt, 2 vols. Volume i: Bis zum Ende der Königszeit. Volume ii: Römische Zeit – Inschriften auf Thon, Altertümer von Pergamon viii, 1–2, Berlin.
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Lightfoot, J. L. (2009) Hellenistic collection: Philitas, Alexander of Aetolia, Hermesianax, Euphorion, Parthenius, Loeb Classical Library 508, Cambridge, MA.
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Merkelbach, R. and M. L. West apud Solmsen, F. (1990) Hesiodi Theogonia, Opera et dies, Scutum: fragmenta selecta ediderunt R. Merkelbach et M. L. West, Oxford.
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Patrologia Graeca = Migne, J.–P. (1857–66) Patrologiae cursus completus, Series Graeca, Paris.
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Powell, I. U.(1925) Collectanea Alexandrina: reliquiae minores poetarum Graecorum aetatis Ptolemaicae, 323–146 AC, epicorum, elegiacorum, lyricorum, ethicorum, Oxford.
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Schneider, O. (1856) Nicandrea, 2 vols. Volume i: Theriaca, Alexipharmaca et fragmenta. Volume ii: Scholia in Theriaca, scholia in Alexipharmaca, Leipzig.
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Lloyd-Jones, H. and P. J. Parsons (1983) Supplementum Hellenisticum, 2 vols., Berlin.
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Dittenberger, G. and F. Hiller von Gärtringen (1915–24) Sylloge inscriptionum Graecarum, 4 vols., 3rd edn, Leipzig.
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Snell, B. and H. Maehler (1987–9) Pindari carmina cum fragmentis, 2 vols., Leipzig.
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Swift, L. A. (2019) Archilochus: the poems. Introduction, text, translation, and commentary, Oxford.
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Snell, B., R. Kannicht S. and Radt (1971–2004) Tragicorum Graecorum fragmenta, 5 vols., Göttingen.
- West
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West, M. L. (2003) Greek epic fragments from the seventh to the fifth centuries BC, Loeb Classical Library 497, Cambridge, MA.
Worthington, I. (ed.) Brill's new Jacoby, online at http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/browse/brill-s-new-jacoby.
Page, D. L. (1981) Further Greek epigram, Cambridge.
Jacoby, F. (1923–) Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker, Berlin.
Gow, A. S. F. and A. F. Schofield (1953) Nicander: the poems and poetical fragments, edited with a translation and notes, Cambridge.
Fränkel, M. (1890–5) Die Inschriften von Pergamon unter Mitwirkung von Ernst Fabricius und Carl Schuchhardt, 2 vols. Volume i: Bis zum Ende der Königszeit. Volume ii: Römische Zeit – Inschriften auf Thon, Altertümer von Pergamon viii, 1–2, Berlin.
Lightfoot, J. L. (2009) Hellenistic collection: Philitas, Alexander of Aetolia, Hermesianax, Euphorion, Parthenius, Loeb Classical Library 508, Cambridge, MA.
Merkelbach, R. and M. L. West apud Solmsen, F. (1990) Hesiodi Theogonia, Opera et dies, Scutum: fragmenta selecta ediderunt R. Merkelbach et M. L. West, Oxford.
Patrologia Graeca = Migne, J.–P. (1857–66) Patrologiae cursus completus, Series Graeca, Paris.
Powell, I. U.(1925) Collectanea Alexandrina: reliquiae minores poetarum Graecorum aetatis Ptolemaicae, 323–146 AC, epicorum, elegiacorum, lyricorum, ethicorum, Oxford.
Schneider, O. (1856) Nicandrea, 2 vols. Volume i: Theriaca, Alexipharmaca et fragmenta. Volume ii: Scholia in Theriaca, scholia in Alexipharmaca, Leipzig.
Lloyd-Jones, H. and P. J. Parsons (1983) Supplementum Hellenisticum, 2 vols., Berlin.
Dittenberger, G. and F. Hiller von Gärtringen (1915–24) Sylloge inscriptionum Graecarum, 4 vols., 3rd edn, Leipzig.
Snell, B. and H. Maehler (1987–9) Pindari carmina cum fragmentis, 2 vols., Leipzig.
Swift, L. A. (2019) Archilochus: the poems. Introduction, text, translation, and commentary, Oxford.
Snell, B., R. Kannicht S. and Radt (1971–2004) Tragicorum Graecorum fragmenta, 5 vols., Göttingen.
West, M. L. (2003) Greek epic fragments from the seventh to the fifth centuries BC, Loeb Classical Library 497, Cambridge, MA.
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