Antiquity Studies

Series | Antiquity Studies
Edited book | ΦΑΙΔΙΜΟΣ ΕΚΤΩΡ
Chapter | Athenaeus and Hellenistic Epigram

Athenaeus and Hellenistic Epigram

Abstract

I explore the distribution of Athenaeus’ citations of Hellenistic epigrams, in what sort of texts he found them, and whether he knew Meleager’s Garland. Listing poems cited, I note as absent Asclepiades, Dioscorides, Leonidas, and Meleager. I suggest Athenaeus knew either single-author books or a collection of all or many of some poets’ epigrams. Reviewing hypotheses about such a collection (probably of Poseidippus, Asclepiades and Hedylus), I propose that Athenaeus spotted Hedylus on encountering the three-author collection, then turned to single-author editions of two of these poets, Poseidippus and Hedylus, citing poems either that Meleager chanced not to select or that he knew not to be in his Garland.


Open access

Submitted: May 17, 2021 | Accepted: June 23, 2021 | Published Dec. 16, 2021 | Language: en

Keywords HellenisticPoseidippusBookAsclepiadesCallimachusEpigramAthenaeusHedylusGarlandCollection


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