Lexis Supplements Lexis Studies in Greek and Latin Literature | Lexis Ancient Philosophy |
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Series | Lexis Supplements
Edited book | METra 1
Chapter | Il bucato di Nausicaa

Il bucato di Nausicaa

Una nuova lettura di Sofocle, fr. 439 R. (Ναυσικάα ἢ Πλύντριαι)

Abstract

The article starts by reviewing the main evidence concerning Homeric influence on Sophocles’ poetry, with the goal of creating an effective background for the analysis of the presumably most Homeric of his plays, the lost Ναυσικάα ἢ Πλύντριαι (Nausicaa or The Washerwomen). This play demonstrably dramatized the meeting between the castaway Odysseus and the Phaeacian princess as told in Odyssey VI; only three fragments survive (439-441 R.). The article suggests a Homeric hypotext taken from an early scene of that book – the laundry of Nausicaa’s maidens – for fr. 439 R., borne out by a new reading of the much-discussed verb of the line.


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: March 14, 2022 | Accepted: June 10, 2022 | Published Dec. 14, 2022 | Language: it

Keywords LaundrySophoclesHomerNausicaa or The WasherwomenOdyssey


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