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(ζήτημα; zḗtēma), plur. zētḗmata (ζητήματα), 'search', 'investigation', 'research questions'. [German version] I. Definition A widespread Greek term for a philosophical-exegetical method of questioning and the subject of an investigation, as well as for the kinds of texts that deal with such questions. The verb ζητεῖν ( zēteîn, generally 'to search') and its derivatives ζήτησις ( zḗtēsis, 'search') and zḗtēma were directed either to a state of affairs (Eur. Bacch. 1218-1221: Cadmus brings the body of Pentheus, which Agave has torn apart, "after he had …

Name of a Roman plebeian family probably deriving from the Italic praenomen Pompo, tracing back, like the Aemilii, Calpurnii and Pinarii, to one of the sons of Numa Pompilius (Plut. Numa 21,2; cf. Nep. Att. 1,1). In the 3rd century BC the Mathones (cf. P. [I 7-9]) achieved consulship, but later the family was insignificant. The most prominent member was a friend of Cicero, T. P. [I 5] Atticus. I. Republican Period [German version] [I 1] P., Cn. People's tribune in 90 BC People's tribune in 90 BC, killed in the Civil War in 82; Cicero quite often heard him in his youth; his j…

(Τιμοσθένης/ Timosthénēs). [German version] [1] Of Euboea, c. 300 BC Son of Demophanes from Carystus [1] in Euboea. After his homeland had joined the anti-Macedonian alliance, he was actively involved in fighting in the Lamian War. In 306/5 BC he was honoured in Athens for his services (Syll.3 327). A commendation of his grandson as late as the year 229/28 recalls his commitment (Syll.3 496,23-24). Beck, Hans (Cologne) [German version] [2] From Rhodes, naval commander and geographical author, 3rd cent. BC T. from Rhodes, naval commander of Ptolemaeus [3] II, author of a wor…

(Φιλήμων; Philḗmōn). [German version] [1] Husband of Baukis Husband of Baucis. Junk, Tim (Kiel) [German version] [2] Writer of the Attic New Comedy, c. 300 BC Son of Damon of Syracuse [1. test. 1, 11], became (before 307/6 BC; cf. [1. test. 15]) an Athenian citizen [1. test. 2-12. 15]. Important writer of Attic New Comedy with his stage debut several years before Menander [4] (before 328: [1. test. 2]); it is uncertain whether this somewhat earlier chronology or the different nature of his plays led to P. once being call…

[German version] (Ἀναγνωστικοί; anagnōstikoí). Aristotle mentions (Rhet. 3,1413b 12-14) the poets  Chaeremon and  Licymnius as ἀναγνωστικοί, ‘suitable for reciting’. At Rh. 3,1413b 2-1414a 28, he allocates to the style of expression which is influenced by contention, and whose unrefined style has the most need for a histrionic presentation (ἀγωνιστικὴ δὲ ἡ ὑποκριτικωτάτη, 3,1413b 9), the judicial oration and the public speech, especially the latter with its large audience (3,1414a8-17). By contrast…

[German version] (σπουδογέλοιον/ spoudogéloion, epigraphically also σπουδαιογέλοιον/ spoudaiogéloion). Compound of 'serious' ( spoudaîon) and 'laughable' ( geloîon). These two contradictory modes of interpretation and presentation are often combined in ancient literature, as in Aristoph. Ran. 391 f., Phaedr. 4,2,1-4; in Pl. Symp. 222 Socrates requires that the same person should be able to compose both tragedies and comedies. There is critical reflection on the relationship between s poudaîon and geloîon: Pl. Leg. 816d-e, Aristot. Eth. Nic. 1176b 27-1177a 6 and …

[German version] (Στρατόνικος/ Stratónikos) from Athens, 4th cent. BC [1], kithara teacher. Tradition claims that he was the first to play on multiple strings, to teach music theory to his students and to compose a table of modes (διάγραμμα/ diágramma) [3; 4. 367 f.]; “he was also a brilliant master of witticisms ( geloîon)” (Ath. 8,352d). In fact, S. was famous for his clever speech ( eutrápeloi lógoi; Ath. 8,348c) and the ready wit of his answers ( eustochía; ibid. 8,352d). A collection of his jokes can be found in Ath. 8,40-46, pp. 347f-352d (for other jokes, see [3]). …

(Σκύμνος; Skýmnos). [German version] [1] Author of a periegesis of Asia and Europe, 2nd cent. BC Probably a son of Apelles from Chios, who in 185/4 BC became a Delphic próxenos ( Proxenía ; Syll.4 585, 86) [1. 661]. In conjunction with Hecataeus [3] [1. 671 f.] he wrote a periegesis ( Periēgḗtēs ) of Asia and of Europe with the Outer Sea in many books. The nine surviving fragments [1. 664-671] also show an interest in history, i.e. in the foundings of cities (fr. 3 and 8) and sanctuaries (fr. 1), in mythology (fr. 5) and vegetation (fr. 9 on Britain after Pytheas [4] [1. 670]). Gärtner, Hans Ar…

(Ἀντίγονος; Antígonos). [German version] [1] Monophthalmus Diadoch (‘The One-eyed’), 382-301 BC.  Hetairos of  Philippus and  Alexander [4], married to  Stratonice, was the father of  Demetrius. During Alexander's invasion of Asia, commander of the Greek hoplites, satrap of Greater Phrygia from 333 until Alexander's death [323]. He defeated rebels and remnants of Persian troops, he gained Lycaonia and in 331 he received in addition the administration of Lycia-Pamphylia. In Priene he was honoured for an achievement, the nature of which is unknown. (IPriene 2). After Alexander's…

(Ζῆνις/ Zênis). [German version] [1] Sub-satrap of Pharnabazus [2], 5th cent. BC Z. from Dardanus [4], sub-satrap of Pharnabazus [2] in the Troad (in Xen. Hell. 3,1,10: Aeolis); after his death, his wife Mania [3], with the assent of Pharnabazus, took over power and ruled successfully until her assassination shortly before the arrival of Dercylidas in 411 BC (Xen. Hell. 3,1,14; 3,1,16). Eder, Walter (Berlin) [German version] [2] From Chios, author of a work on his homeland, 4th cent. BC? (also Ζηνεύς/ Zēneús). Writer from Chios, possibly 4th cent. BC; he wrote 'about his hom…

[German version] (Τιμάγητος/ Timágētos). Author of a work Περὶ λιμένων/ Perí liménōn ('On Harbours') of at least two books surviving in seven frr., probably from the first half of the 4th cent. BC (FHG 4, 519 f.): six frr. in scholia ad Apoll. Rhod. 1,224-226a W. (otherwise FGrH 42, F 3); Apoll. Rhod. 2,1031b; 4,257-262b; 4,282-291b; 4,303-306b; 4,323-326a, one fr. in Steph. Byz. s. v. Ἀκτή/ Aktḗ (here with the name: Δημάγητος/ Dēmágētos). In these frr., no harbour is mentioned; five of them provide mythical narrative on the voyage of the Argonauts. Frr. 1-3 (FHG…

(Πρωταγόρας; Prōtagóras). [German version] [1] Of Abdera, the first sophist, 5th cent. BC P. of Abdera. The first sophist, 5th cent. BC, originator of the homo-mensura doctrine, known only from Plato's dialogue of the same name and from Diogenes Laertius. Narcy, Michel (Paris) [German version] A. Life P.' date of birth and death are obscure. In Plato's dialogue Protagoras (Pl. Prt. 317c = 80 A 5 DK) - named after him - he says that he could be the father of all those present. That would include Socrates (born 469/8 BC), so P. must have been born no la…

(Ἀφορισμός; aphorismós). [German version] A. Definition Today the aphorism is an independent literary genre (on the difference from the  apophthegma [3. 29-33]); its formal distinguishing features are: the restriction with regard to the connection, the arbitrariness of the sequence of numerous aphorisms, the tight, also pointed formulation, the astute, critical, even unconventional and provocative interpretation of human conditions [4. 773 and (examples) 774-781; 6]. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) [German version] B. Significance in antiquity Greek ἀφορισμός means…

(Λέων; Léōn). Cf. also Leo. Byzantine emperor Leo [4-9]. Sicilian place name L. [13]. [German version] [1] Spartan king, 6th cent. BC Spartan king, Agiad ( Agiads), grandfather of Cleomenes [3] I (Hdt. 5,39); is said to have been successful in war together with his fellow king Agasicles in the early 6th cent. BC, but to have been defeated by Tegea (Hdt. 1,65). Sparta is said to have already achieved eunomía (‘good order’) before his time [1. 45ff.]. Welwei, Karl-Wilhelm (Bochum) Bibliography 1 M. Meier, Aristokraten und Damoden, 1998. [German version] [2] Tyrant of Phlius, 6th cent. BC Tyran…

(Ξεναγόρας/ Xenagóras). [German version] [1] Greek historian and geographer, probably in the 3rd cent. BC Greek historian and geographer probably in the 3rd cent. BC (X. FGrH 240), mentioned by Dion. Hal. Ant. Rom. 1,72,5 after Callias [10] [1. 912 f.]. It is unclear whether he was identical to X. from Heraclea [7], the father of Nymphis [1. 913; 2. 1410 f.]. He wrote a chronicle that included Egypt (F 1) and the west, esp. Sicily (F 12; 14; 15; 17; 18), probably Italy i.e. Rome as well (if F 29 is a part of the chronicle) in at least 4 bks. (title: Χρόνοι/ Chrónoi , FGrH 240 F 1). It cove…

(ἐπιτομή; epitomḗ, Lat. epitoma and epitome) [German version] A. Definition Epitomḗ (from ἐπιτέμνειν; epitómnein, ‘abbreviate’, ‘cut to size’, Aristot. Soph. el. 174b 29; Theophr. Hist. pl. 6,6,6): as an ideal type, it is a form of reduced written text [10] somewhere between an excerpt and a paraphrase, generally of prose works (exception i.a. the lost Virgil epitomes [2]), and themselves written in prose (exception: Ausonius' Caesares). Extreme brevity is the declared aim of an epitome: decorative features of the original, such as speeches, or digressions, …

[German version] I. Greek (Μαρῖνος; Marînos). [German version] [I 1] M. of Tyre Greek geographer, 2nd cent. AD Greek geographer, known only through his immediate successor Claudius Ptolemaeus, who mentions M. as a source in his ‘Introduction to the Representation of the Earth (γεωγραφικὴ ὑφήγησις/ geōgraphikḗ hyphḗgēsis, = ‘G.). Arabic texts which mention M. all trace back to the ‘G. [8. 189]. Place names used by M. allow his work to be dated to between AD 107 and 114/5; cities are mentioned with the name of Trajan refering to his Dacian Wars (ended AD 107…

[German version] (Μανδρόβουλος; Mandróboulos). The theophoric name is derived from ‘Mandrus, a - deduced - god of Asia Minor. A drama by Cleophon and a dialogue by Speusippus are named after M. The proverb ἐπὶ τὰ Μανδροβούλου χωρεῖ τὸ πρᾶγμα was already no longer understood in antiquity; the ancient Paroimiographoi offered conjectures with regard to its explanation - as in Suda ε 2659, 2716 - presuming that it related to turns for the worse. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) Bibliography W. Kroll, s.v. Mandroboulos, RE 14, 1039f.

[German version] A. Definition Greek ἀκροστιχίς ( akrostichís; Dion. Hal. Ant. Rom. 4,62,6), ἀκροστίχιον ( akrostíchion; Or. Sib. 11, 17 and 23) and plur. τὰ ἀκρόστιχα ( tà akrósticha; as a heading: Anth. Pal. 9,385). Letters, syllables or words that start consecutive verses or especially lines of verse (ὁ στίχος, ho stíchos; verse, lines of prose), or strophes and form a meaningful connection. As a result of this feature the whole poem also came to be known as acrostich. If a vertical row of letters, highlighted i. a. by spacing, formed the acrostich, this was termed παραστιχίς ( parastichí…

[German version] Latin author, identified as G. Pisanus ([4], a different view in [6]); c. 1119 he wrote an encyclopaedic compilation De variis historiis (‘On various historical matters’) in 6 books. For the sections Geographica and Descriptio totius maris he excerpted the  Geographus Ravennas, following him very closely. In the Geographica he copied the latter's personal reference to Ravenna as his hometown (Geographica 20,20), but apart from that, as evidence of his education, he displays his knowledge of Classical writers and historians, as …