Published since January 1, 1846

Philologus

Zeitschrift für antike Literatur und ihre Rezeption / A Journal for Ancient Literature and its Reception

ISSN: 2196-7008

Edited by: Sotera Fornaro, Tobias Reinhardt, Christoph Schubert, Jan R. Stenger

About this journal

Philologus, founded in 1846, is one of the oldest and most respected periodicals in the field of Classics. It publishes articles on Greek and Latin literature, historiography, philosophy, history of religion, linguistics, reception, and the history of scholarship. The journal aims to contribute to our understanding of Greco-Roman culture and its lasting influence on European civilization.

The journal Philologus, conceived as a forum for discussion among different methodological approaches to the study of ancient texts and their reception, publishes original scholarly contributions with a strong international focus. Publications languages are: German, English, Italian, French.

As of 2014 the publication of supplementary volumes will be resumed. The series Philologus. Supplemente / Philologus. Supplementary Volumes will publish monographs and edited volumes pertaining to all aspects of the study of ancient literature and its reception, with a special focus on topics concerning literary theory, philosophy and the history of scholarship from an interdisciplinary perspective.

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Supplementary Materials

Topics

Volume 166 Issue 1

July 2022

Publicly Available July 21, 2022

Frontmatter

Page range: I-IV

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Aufsätze

May 11, 2022

A Note on the Platonist Boethus: In Light of New Evidence from the Syriac Tradition

Tianqin Ge

Page range: 1-12

Abstract

This article re-examines the identity and chronology of the lexicographer Boethus, by analyzing three pieces of evidence. It is argued that the lexicographer Boethus is a Middle Platonist flourishing in the late first or early second century, who believed in the transmigration of souls and was engaged in exegesis of Plato. In particular, this article draws attention to a testimony on Boethus from a newly discovered treatise preserved in Syriac, which is identified as Porphyry’s On Principles and Matter .

July 21, 2022

Galeno sulla lunghezza di un’epitome da Didimo: De indolentia 24 a BJP (= 121–122 KS). ἐν ἑξακισχιλίοις στίχοις versus ἐν ἓξ βιβλίοις

Lorenzo Perilli

Page range: 13-21

Abstract

The article proposes a correction of a passage of Galen’s De indolentia , alternative to the one accepted so far. The correction ἐν ἓξ βιβλίοις (“in six books”) is proposed, as alternative to the text hitherto accepted, itself due to a conjectural intervention, ἐν ἑξακισχιλίοις στίχοις (“in six thousand lines”): the manuscript Vlatadon 14 bears an impossible ἐν ἑξακισχιλίοις βιβλίοις (“in six thousand books”). At issue is the length of the epitome made by Galen of the lexicographical works of Didymus on the terminology of ancient comedy. The paper argues that the error of the manuscript could be due to the habit of writing numerals as a single letter accompanied by an apex (here probably a digamma, or perhaps a stigma), and that, when referring to his own works, Galen normally uses the book as his unit of measurement. Finally, it is hypothesized that a length of six thousand stichoi might have been too short for an epitome of the work of Didymus.

Open Access July 21, 2022

Homerus sceptra potitus (Lucr. 3,1037–1038). De rerum natura als Hinführung zur Homerlektüre?

Dorothea Weber

Page range: 22-44

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Abstract

De rerum natura displays a particular closeness to the Homeric epics on various levels: in language, in arguments, and in the selection of examples. This closeness clearly goes beyond similarities arising from the affinity as determined by genre. Further, a couple of passages are veritable translations from the Iliad resp. the Odyssey . There, the attitude towards the pretext becomes especially clear. It ranges from acknowledgement to rejection and in some instances is brought about through the use of allegory. This attitude of criticism and affinity at the same time can be observed in two passages of De rerum natura that are prominent due to their position: the beginning and the end allude to the plot of the Iliad . This should be read as an indication that Lucretius understood his didactic poem as an invitation to read the Homeric epics philosophically.

July 21, 2022

Ein überflüssiger und ein nur ansatzweise richtiger Eingriff in den überlieferten Text von Ciceros Schrift De fato

Hermann Weidemann

Page range: 45-62

Abstract

In the present article, proposed corrections to two passages of Cicero’s treatise De fato are examined. It is shown that, on the one hand, a widely accepted correction for §27 that replaces the well attested reading vera fuerunt instantia ... vera erunt instantia with vera fuerit instantia ... vera erit instantia is unnecessary, and that, on the other hand, my recently suggested correction for §48, which replaces the obviously false reading Nam si atomis ... , illud quoque ... with Aut num, si atomis ..., illud quoque ...? , is deficient and should be improved to Nam si atomis ..., num illud quoque ...?

July 21, 2022

Tra gli Inferi e le stelle: un problema testuale nel mito di Orfeo in Virgilio (georg. 4,509) e il Leitmotiv astronomico nelle catabasi da Omero a Dante (con echi di Apollonio Rodio)

Francesca Boldrer

Page range: 63-84

Abstract

The article treats the presence of stars in terrestrial landscapes, in opposition to the Underworld and in connection to the topos of katabasis , above all in order to pursue in more depth a textual problem in the fabula Orphei of Vergil’s Georgics (4,509 astris / antris ). The philological question is approached both on the basis of context and in relation to the descent into Hades of Aeneas, as well as in diachronic comparison with the earlier Homeric katabasis of Odysseus and the later otherworldly voyage of Dante in the Commedia . This internal and intertextual investigation reveals multiple functions of the celestial bodies in similar stories, as well as analogies between Homer, Vergil and Dante, linked by interests in nature and astronomy and by reciprocal influences. In fact, the Greek model and the Italian emulator seem to help clarify the contested passage in the Vergilian katabasis of Orpheus, while the Latin poet and Dante (who also share echoes of Apollonius Rhodius) rework a celestial detail already present in the νέκυια of Homer. Finally, both these classical authors, as well as Ovid, are subtly present at the ends of the three parts of the Commedia , each of which closes with the suggestive and symbolic image of “stars”, which evokes and renews an ancient tradition.

Open Access July 21, 2022

Doctus Amyclas. I presagi della tempesta in Luc. 5.539‒560 tra epica, poesia didascalica e retorica

Nicolò Campodonico

Page range: 85-98

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Abstract

In response to Caesar, who intends to reach Antonius in Italy, the boatman Amyclas sets out the celestial and terrestrial signs that foretell a storm and advises against putting out to sea (Luc. 5.539‒560). In this speech Lucan draws on the treatment of such phenomena in the didactic poems of Aratus and Vergil, but the allusions are remodelled in epic language and adapted to the narrative context of the episode. Further, in the story of Amyclas Lucan develops dramatic ideas mentioned in the specific passages in which Aratus and Vergil reflect on the utility of their teachings. Thus the boatman’s meteorological doctrina is highlighted, though he is unable to gain any advantage from it. In fact, in contrast to Palinurus with Aeneas in Aen. 5 and to the rector ratis with Pompey in Luc. 8, Amyclas does not try to dissuade Caesar from the voyage and agrees to accompany him. His speech shows affinities with declamations on the theme of sailing and the presence of adverse omens; however, the speech of Amyclas sounds like a suasoria that has been interrupted. This aspect focuses the impossibility of communication between the two characters: Amyclas, powerlessly external to the civil wars, can only appeal to the force of nature, which Caesar impiously defies.

July 21, 2022

A New Emendation for matavitatau in Petronius’ Satyricon

Tiziano Boggio

Page range: 99-117

Abstract

In this paper I propose an emendation for a long-standing textual problem in the Satyricon. In the Cena Trimalchionis one of the freedmen, Niceros, recounts a bizarre story, culminating in a frightening encounter between him and a werewolf. In a desperate attempt to escape peril, Niceros draws his sword to repel horrific shadows and utters a sequence of eleven letters which has puzzled scholars for more than a century: matavitatau (Petron. Sat. 62.2). I propose a correction which hypothesizes the presence of a verb and an interjection, namely gladium strinxi et matavi – tatae! – umbras cecidi. I support my proposal by analyzing the intersections between literary genres and poetic texts in the Satyricon. After analyzing the meanings and nuances of tatae, I argue that the presence of such an exclamation is perfectly suitable for the situation of fear and danger that Niceros is experiencing. I suggest that Homer’s Odyssey and Vergil’s Aeneid offer decisive indications to make the presence of an interjection plausible. Niceros’ dreadful encounter with the werewolf recalls epic models, namely the descent of Odysseus and Aeneas into the Underworld. Finally, I suggest that Petronius portrays Niceros as a mythomaniac narrator who fails to appropriate the conventions of Latin and Greek epic poetry.

May 25, 2022

Pater Vulkan: Martial als Vergil-Interpret in Epigramm 5,7

Delila Jordan

Page range: 118-133

Abstract

The paper presented here treats a hitherto unnoticed intertextual allusion in Mart. 5,7,7 to Verg. Aen . 8,394. Both lines contain two jokes at the expense of the smith-god Vulcan, by recalling the affairs of his wife Venus. First, the epic/epigrammatic speaker points to the well-known passage in Hom. Od . 8,266–363 in which Demodocus recounts the unpleasant – and for the other gods highly amusing – situation when Hephaestus caught his wife Aphrodite and her lover Ares in adultery with the help of invisible fetters. The second ironic jab is presented by the epithet pater for Vulcan, who was – with his wife – childless; this term is often used of other male divinities, but not of Vulcan. The parallels to other authors, above all Homer and Ovid, have been widely discussed in research, but the intertextual play with Vergil has so far not been given the attention it deserves. The remarks offered here aim to show that Vergil intentionally constructed Aen . 8,394 to be comic. Martial correctly understood the comedy, picked it up and adopted it in his Epigram 5,7, thereby giving a parodic note to the panegyric of Domitian in the first half of the poem.

Open Access July 21, 2022

Schulübungen oder Kalenderblätter? Zur Interpretation einer Gruppe spätantiker Kulthymnen in der Appendix Claudianea

Martin M. Bauer

Page range: 134-149

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Abstract

Until now, the short cult hymns to Liber, Mars and Juno in the Appendix Claudianea have mostly been seen as rhetorical school exercises. Yet a philological-historical analysis shows that they could be remains of occasional poetry from everyday life. The hymns are structured according to the Roman festival calendar and, on the basis of language and content, should probably be dated to the final phase of public non-Christian cult practice in the fourth century. The anonymous poet was familiar with classical Greek and Latin poetry, but reveals weaknesses in Latin prosody and metre. It can therefore be supposed that he should be identified as one of the many Graeco-Egyptian ‘wandering poets’, but probably not as Claudian himself.

Miszellen

April 20, 2022

A Brief Note on religio and the Ending of De Rerum Natura

Michael Pope

Page range: 150-155

Open Access May 18, 2022

Una nota testuale a Ciris 90

Włodzimierz Olszaniec

Page range: 156-158

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Ahead of Print / Just Accepted

Ahead of Print / Just Accepted

Volume 166 (2022)

Volume 165 (2021)

Volume 164 (2020)

Volume 163 (2019)

Volume 162 (2018)

Volume 161 (2017)

Volume 160 (2016)

Volume 159 (2015)

Volume 158 (2014)

Volume 157 (2013)

Volume 156 (2012)

Volume 155 (2011)

Volume 154 (2010)

Volume 153 (2009)

Volume 152 (2008)

Volume 151 (2007)

Volume 5 (2007)

Volume 150 (2006)

Volume 149 (2005)

Volume 148 (2004)

Volume 147 (2003)

Volume 146 (2002)

Volume 145 (2001)

Volume 144 (2000)

Volume 143 (1999)

Volume 142 (1998)

Volume 141 (1997)

Volume 140 (1996)

Volume 139 (1995)

Volume 138 (1994)

Volume 137 (1993)

Volume 136 (1992)

Volume 135 (1991)

Volume 124 (1980)

Volume 123 (1979)

Issue 1-2

Volume 122 (1978)

Volume 121 (1977)

Volume 120 (1976)

Issue 1

Volume 119 (1975)

Issue 1-2

Volume 118 (1974)

Volume 117 (1973)

Issue 1-2

Volume 116 (1972)

Issue 1-2

Volume 115 (1971)

Issue 1-4

Volume 114 (1970)

Issue 1-2

Volume 113 (1969)

Issue 1-2

Volume 112 (1968)

Issue 1-2

Volume 111 (1967)

Issue 1-2

Volume 110 (1966)

Issue 1-2

Volume 109 (1965)

Issue 1-4

Volume 108 (1964)

Volume 107 (1963)

Issue 1-2

Volume 106 (1962)

Issue 1-2

Volume 105 (1961)

Issue 1-2

Volume 104 (1960)

Issue 1-2

Volume 103 (1959)

Issue 1-2

Volume 102 (1958)

Issue 1-2

Volume 101 (1957)

Issue 1-2

Volume 100 (1956)

Issue 1-2

Volume 99 (1955)

Issue 1-2

Volume 98 (1954)

Issue 1-2

Volume 97 (1948)

Issue 1

Volume 96 (1944)

Issue 1-2

Volume 95 (1943)

Issue 1-4

Volume 94 (1941)

Issue 1-4

Volume 93 (1938)

Issue 1

Volume 92 (1937)

Issue 1-4

Volume 91 (1936)

Issue 1-4

Volume 90 (1935)

Issue 1-2

Volume 89 (1934)

Issue 1-4

Volume 88 (1933)

Issue 1-4

Volume 87 (1932)

Volume 86 (1931)

Issue 1-4

Volume 85 (1929)

Issue 1-4

Volume 84 (1928)

Issue 1-4

Volume 83 (1928)

Issue 1-4

Volume 82 (1927)

Issue 1-4

Volume 81 (1926)

Issue 1-4

Volume 80 (1924)

Volume 79 (1923)

Volume 78 (1922)

Volume 77 (1921)

Issue 1-4

Volume 76 (1920)

Issue 1-4

Volume 75 (1918)

Issue 1-4

Volume 74 (1917)

Issue 1-4

Volume 73 (1916)

Issue 1-4

Volume 72 (1913)

Issue 1-4

Volume 71 (1912)

Issue 1-4

Volume 70 (1911)

Issue 1-4

Volume 69 (1910)

Volume 68 (1909)

Volume 67 (1908)

Issue 1-4

Volume 66 (1907)

Issue 1-4

Volume 65 (1906)

Issue 1-4

Volume 64 (1905)

Issue 1-4

Volume 63 (1904)

Issue 1

Volume 62 (1903)

Issue 1

Volume 61 (1902)

Issue 1

Volume 60 (1901)

Issue 1-4

Volume 59 (1900)

Issue 1

Volume 58 (1899)

Issue 1-4

Volume 57 (1898)

Issue 1

Volume 56 (1897)

Issue 1

Volume 55 (1896)

Issue 1-4

Volume 54 (1895)

Issue 1-4

Volume 53 (1894)

Issue 1-4

Volume 52 (1894)

Issue 1-4

Volume 51 (1892)

Issue 1

Volume 50 (1891)

Issue 1-4

Volume 49 (1890)

Issue 1

Volume 48 (1889)

Issue 1-4

Volume 47 (1888)

Issue 1-4

Volume 46 (1887)

Issue 1-4

Volume 45 (1886)

Volume 44 (1885)

Volume 43 (1884)

Volume 42 (1884)

Volume 41 (1882)

Issue 1-4

Volume 40 (1881)

Volume 39 (1880)

Issue 1-4

Volume 38 (1879)

Issue 1-4

Volume 37 (1877)

Issue 1-4

Volume 36 (1877)

Issue 1-4

Volume 35 (1876)

Issue 1-4

Volume 34 (1875)

Issue 1-4

Volume 33 (1874)

Issue 1-4

Volume 32 (1873)

Volume 31 (1872)

Issue 1-4

Volume 30 (1870)

Issue 1-6

Volume 29 (1869)

Issue 1-4

Volume 28 (1869)

Issue 1-4

Volume 27 (1868)

Volume 26 (1867)

Issue 1-4

Volume 25 (1867)

Issue 1-4

Volume 23 (1866)

Issue 1-4

Volume 24 (1866)

Issue 1-4

Volume 22 (1865)

Issue 1-4

Volume 21 (1864)

Issue 1-4

Volume 19 (1863)

Issue 1-4

Volume 20 (1863)

Issue 1-4

Volume 18 (1862)

Volume 17 (1861)

Volume 15 (1860)

Issue 1-3

Volume 16 (1860)

Volume 14 (1859)

Issue 1-4

Volume 13 (1858)

Issue 1-4

Volume 12 (1857)

Issue 1-4

Volume 11 (1856)

Issue 4

Volume 10 (1855)

Issue 1-4

Volume 9 (1854)

Issue 1-4

Volume 8 (1853)

Volume 7 (1852)

Issue 1-4

Volume 6 (1851)

Issue 1-4

Volume 4 (1849)

Issue 1-4

Volume 3 (1848)

Issue 1-4

Volume 2 (1847)

Volume 1 (1846)

Issue 1

CiteScore	0.2
European Reference Index for the Humanities
Journal Citation Indicator	0.70
SCImago Journal Rank	0.176
Source Normalized Impact per Paper	0.169

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Philologus has received a new online submission system. Please submit your article via https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/philologus. Please also consider the "Instructions for Authors" that you find above under the menu item "Supplementary Information".

Editorial

Editors:

Maria Sotera Fornaro (Sassari), Tobias Reinhardt (Oxford), Christoph Schubert (Erlangen-Nürnberg), Jan Stenger (Würzburg)

Editors in Chief:

Christoph Schubert (Erlangen-Nürnberg) und Jan Stenger (Würzburg)

Advisory Board:

Markus Asper (HU Berlin), Krystyna Bartol (Poznán), Therese Fuhrer (München), John Hamilton (Harvard), Gavin Kelly (Edinburgh), Peter E. Knox (Cleveland, OH), Danielle van Mal-Maeder (Lausanne), Enrico Medda (Pisa), Christof Rapp (LMU München), Alison Sharrock (Mancester), Ineke Sluiter (Leiden), Martin Vöhler (Thessaloniki)

Editorial Office:

E-Mail: philologus@fau.de
Editorial Office Gräzistik: c/o Institut für Klassische Philologie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Residenzplatz 2, Tor A, 97070 Würzburg
Editorial Office Latinistik: c/o Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Philosophische Fakultät, Institut für Alte Sprachen, Kochstraße 4/2, 91054 Erlangen

(Deutsch)

Online ISSN: 2196-7008
Print ISSN: 0031-7985
Type: Journal
Language: Multiple languages
Publisher: De Gruyter (A)
First published: January 1, 1846
Publication Frequency: 2 Issues per Year