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[German version] In literary theory a palindrome, corresponding to παλίνδρομος ( palíndromos, 'running backwards'), denotes a sequence of letters - a word, sentence or verse ( versus supinus, recurrens; [2. 278f.] on Mart. 2,86,1-2; cf. Sid. Epist. 9,14,4-6) - that can also be read backwards with the same or a different sense, occasionally resulting also in the same or a different verse. A palindrome in the strict sense corresponds to itself mirror-wise from the middle outwards. Thus in Late Antiquity 'crab verse' (καρκίνος/ karkínos or καρκινωτόν/ karkinōtón) was a familiar for…

(Νυμφόδωρος; Nymphódōros). [German version] [1] Greek author of travel literature from Syracusai, 3rd cent. BC Greek author of travel literature from Syracusae. Towards the end of the 3rd cent. BC, he wrote - presumably as entertainment - Períploi Asías (and Eurṓpēs?) which includes the story of the slave leader Drimacus (FGrH 572 F 4), and, probably separately, Perì tôn en Sikilíai thaumazoménōn (‘Wonders of Sicily). Paradoxographoi; Periplus Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) Bibliography A. Giannini (ed.), Paradoxographorum Graecorum reliquiae, 1966, 112-115  Id., Studi su…

[German version] A. Definition Greek ἀπόφθεγμα ( apóphthegma), Latin facete dictum, also sententia: with reference to a certain situation, often a difficult one, these have a claim to authenticity; they are usually short, often enigmatically formulated expressions -- as already in the earliest apophthegms that have survived from Theramenes (Xen. Hell. 2,3,56), Anaxagoras (Aristot. Metaph. 1009b 26), Pittacus (Aristot. Rh. 1389a 14-16), Stesichorus (Aristot. Rh. 1395a 1-2). In this way the apophthegma differs from the related   chreia , the  aphorism …

[German version] (Μεγακλώ; Megaklṓ). Daughter of the Lesbian king Macar. In a rationalistic interpretation, the Lesbian local historian Myrsilus of Methymna represents her (FGrH 477 F 7, cf. Arnob. 3,37) as the founder of the seven Lesbian Muses: she taught seven slave women to celebrate the deeds of ancient times with lyres, thus softening the grudge the king held against his wife. In gratitude, M. erected bronze statues in their honour in a sanctuary and instituted cult worship. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg)

[German version] I. Concept Greek προοίμιον/ prooímion, (tragedy:) φροίμιον/ phroímion, Latin prooemium, prohoemium: 1) hymn to the gods (as an opening), 2) introductory section of a poem, 3) beginning of a speech, 4) introduction. As was already realized in Antiquity [8. 19], prooímion is etymologically related to οἴμη ( oímē, ‘song’, ‘story’, Hom. Od. 8,74; 8,481; 22,347) and οἶμος ( oȋmos, ‘stripe’, Hom. Il. 11,24; ‘path’ = ‘song’, H. Hom. 4,451 [4. s. v. οἴμη]). Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) [German version] II. Greek literature 1) In Greek poetry, the so-called Homeric Hymns …

[German version] (Οὐστίκα/ Oustíka; also modern Ústica). Small (8·6 km2, 239 m high) originally volcanic island off the northwestern coast of Sicily (Plin. HN 3,92; Ptol. 3,4,17), 57 km to the north of Panormus [3] in the Mare Tyrrhenum, probably identical to the νῆσος Ὀστεώδης/ nêsos Osteṓdēs counted among the Aeoli insulae in Diod. Sic. 5,11,1 (cf. Mela 2,7,120). Archaeological excavations in the area of I Faraglioni (Colombaia): a prehistoric settlement of the middle Bronze Age and graves with Phoenician or Carthaginian grave goods; also m…

[German version] The German term P riamel, neuter, but feminine since Lessing, derives from the Latin adjective praeambulus (first in Mart. Cap.; ThLL s. v. praeambulus), 'preceding'; it has been used in modern literary scholarship for small German poems of the 12th-16th cents. that place exempla in series [2; 7. 8-12]. F. Dornseiff introduced it into the interpretation of Greek and Roman literature [8. 2]. Priamels may have come into existence in many literatures because of the simplicity of their serial structure [8. 1]; in ancient texts they occur as ear…

[German version] (σύγκρισις/ sýnkrisis; Latin comparatio). In ancient literature, synkrisis refers to the comparative juxtaposition of people and things. Through its agonal element, it is related to the genre of debate, both in prose and verse [9]. From the time of Homerus [1], comparisons were used to highlight a person or thing, from which synkrisis developed as a weighted ordering of similarities and differences in all literary genres. In rhetorical theory [6. 330-332, 336-339], the aim of synkrisis included praise (αὔξησις/ aúxēsis, Aristot.  Rh. 1368a 19-29; Encomium)…

[German version] (Θρασυάλκης; Thrasyálkēs). 'One of the old nature philosophers' (τῶν ἀρχαίων δὲ φυσικῶν εἷς οὗτος, Str. 17,1,5; 35 fr. 1 DK; [1. 2343; 2]) from Thasos probably in the 5th cent. BC. T. assigned the winds to either Boreas or Notus, the two main winds (Str. 1,2,21; Posidon. FGrH 87 F 74 with comm., critically explained by [1. 2343 f.]). Th. saw the cause for the Nile floods (Nile) in the summer rains of Nubia which in turn were caused by masses of clouds blown in from the north [2] (or the south(?) [4. 1377 f.]) (Str. 17,1,5; Lydus, Mens. 4,107; Posidon. FGrH 87 F 79 with comm.). …

(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 …

[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…

[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…

(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…

(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…

[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 …

[German version] (Ἀράσπας; Aráspas). Distinguished Median (βασιλέως Χαράσπου on a coin [1]), in Xenophon's Cyropaedia (5,1,1-20; 6,1,31-44; 3,14-20 ; cf. Plut. De prof. in virt. 15, Mor. 84 f.; De curios. 13, Mor. 521 et al) one of the model figures; a faithful, reliable friend of Cyrus, even if he became infatuated with Pantheia, the wife of king Abradates, when she was entrusted to him. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) Bibliography 1 W. Judeich, s. v. A., RE 3, 381 2 W. Knauth, S. Nadjmabadi, Das altiranische Fürstenideal, 1975.

[German version] A. Definition Today one understands an anecdote to be a short oral story, often with one punch line, also including some humorous words, and which has a claim to be factually representative of some specific aspect of personalities or political-social circumstances [3. 641]. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) [German version] B. Antiquity Initially, ἀνέκδοτος ( anékdotos) was the technical designation for unpublished texts (Diod. Sic. 1,4,6; Cic. Att. 14,17,6; Clem. Al. Strom. 1,1,14; Synesius, Ep. 154a Garzya). Certainly Cicero (Att. …

[German version] (παρακλαυσίθυρον/ paraklausíthyron, 'lament at the door <by a lover>'). The Greek word has been handed down in Plutarch's Erōtikós (Plut. Mor. 753a/b); he mentions it in a sequence with a komos (Komast cups) at the door of a beloved, the decoration of her image, and an athletic battle with rivals (cf. Pl. Symp. 183a). Paraklausithyra, which centre on the situation of the spurned lover as one locked out ( exclusus amator) and group the other statements around it, are not found in this form in Greek literature until the Hellenistic period [4]. Its com…

[English version] A. Definition Gr. ἀκροστιχίς (Dion. Hal. ant. 4,62,6), ἀκροστίχιον (or. Sib. 11, 17 u. 23) und plur. τὰ ἀκρόστιχα (als Überschrift: Anth. Pal. 9,385). An der Spitze aufeinander folgender Verse bzw. Zeilen (ὁ στίχος, der Vers, die Prosazeile) oder Strophen stehende Buchstaben, Silben oder Wörter, die einen sinnvollen Zusammenhang ergeben. Von dieser Besonderheit her nannte man auch das ganze Gedicht A. Wenn eine senkrechte Buchstabenreihe, u. a. durch Abstand hervorgehoben, das A. b…

[English version] A. Definition Heute versteht man unter A. eine kurze, oft in einer Pointe - auch mit witzigen Worten - mündende Erzählung, die mit Anspruch auf Faktizität repräsentative Detailaspekte von Persönlichkeiten oder auch polit.- gesellschaftlichen Zuständen bietet [3. 641]. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) [English version] B. Altertum Zunächst war ἀνέκδοτος die technische Bezeichnung für nicht veröffentlichte Texte (Diod. 1,4,6; Cic. Att. 14,17,6; Clem. Al. strom. 1,1,14; Synesios, epist. 154a Garzya). Allerdings nannte Cicero (…

[English version] (Μεγακλώ). Tochter des lesbischen Königs Makar; der lesb. Lokalhistoriker Myrsilos von Methymna stellt sie (FGrH 477 F 7, vgl. Arnob. 3,37) in rationalistischer Deutung als Stifterin der sieben lesbischen Musen dar: Sie lehrte sieben Sklavinnen, die Taten der alten Zeit zur Leier zu besingen; so besänftigten sie den Groll, den der König gegen seine Frau hegte; zum Dank stellte M. eherne Statuen von ihnen in einem Heiligtum auf und ordnete kult. Verehrung an. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg)

[English version] Der Begriff “das P.”, seit Lessing “die P.”, leitet sich vom lat. Adj. praeambulus (zuerst bei Mart. Cap.; ThLL s. v. praeambulus): “vorangehend” ab; er wurde in der mod. Lit.-Wiss. für beispielreihende kleine dt. Gedichte des 12. bis 16. Jh. verwendet [2; 7. 8-12]. In die Interpretation der griech. und röm. Lit. hat ihn F. Dornseiff [8. 2] eingeführt. Die P. konnte wegen der Einfachheit ihres reihenden Aufbaus in vielen Lit. entstehen [8. 1]; in ant. Texten kommt sie schon bei Homeros [1] vor (Hom. Il. 9,379-387 [9. 7-16]) und ist bi…

[English version] (παρακλαυσίθυρον, “Die Klage vor der Tür <der/s Geliebten>”). Das griech. Wort ist in Plutarchs Erōtikós (Plut. mor. 753a/b) überliefert; dort wird das P. in einer Reihe mit einem Komos (Komasten-Gruppe) zur Tür der Geliebten, dem Schmücken ihrer Bildchen und dem sportlichen Kampf gegen Nebenbuhler erwähnt (vgl. Plat. symp. 183a). Paraklausithyra, in deren Zentrum die Situation des verschmähten als eines ausgesperrten Liebenden ( exclusus amator) steht, auf die hin sich die anderen Aussagen ordnen, sind in der griech. Lit. erst in hell. Zeit…

[English version] (Ἀράσπας). Vornehmer Meder (βασιλέως Χαράσπου auf einer Münze [1]), in Xenophons Kyropädie (5,1,1-20; 6,1,31-44; 3,14-20 ; vgl. Plut. de prof. in virt. 15, mor. 84f; de curios. 13, mor. 521f) eine der Mustergestalten, ein treuer, zuverlässiger Freund des Kyros, wenn er auch der Leidenschaft zu der ihm anvertrauten Pantheia, Gemahlin des Königs Abradates, verfiel. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) Bibliography 1 W. Judeich, s. v. A., RE 3, 381 2 W. Knauth, S. Nadjmabadi, Das altiranische Fürstenideal, 1975.

(Ἀφορισμός). [English version] A. Definition Heute ist der A. eine eigenständige lit. Gattung (zur Unterscheidung von Apophthegma [3. 29-33]); seine formalen Kennzeichen sind: die Abgrenzung gegenüber dem Zusammenhang, die Beliebigkeit der Reihenfolge mehrerer A., die straffe, auch pointierte Formulierung, die scharfsinnigen, kritischen, auch eigenwillig-provozierenden Deutungen menschlicher Verhältnisse [4. 773 und (Beispiele) 774-781; 6]. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) [English version] B. Bedeutung im Altertum Griech. ἀφορισμός bedeutet die “Abgrenzu…

[English version] (Μανδρόβουλος). Der theophore Name ist von dem eines - erschlossenen - kleinasiatischen Gottes “Mandros” abgeleitet. Nach M. ist ein Drama des Kleophon und ein Dialog des Speusippos benannt. Das Sprichwort ἐπὶ τὰ Μανδροβούλου χωρεῖ τὸ πρᾶγμα wurde schon im Alt. nicht mehr verstanden; zu seiner Erklärung boten die ant. Paroimiographen Vermutungen, so Suda ε 2659, 2716, es bezöge sich auf Wendungen zum Schlechteren. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) Bibliography W. Kroll, s.v. Mandroboulos, RE 14, 1039f.

[English version] I. Begriff Griech. προοίμιον, (Trag.:) φροίμιον (= p.), lat. prooemium, prohoemium (= pm.): 1) Götterhymnus (als Eröffnung), 2) Eingangsteil eines Gedichts, 3) Anfang einer Rede, 4) Einleitung. Etym. wird prooímion (schon in der Ant. [8. 19]) zu οἴμη ( oímē, “Gesang, Erzählung”, Hom. Od. 8,74; 8,481; 22,347) und zu οἶμος ( oímos, “Streifen”, Hom. Il. 11,24; “Weg” = “Gesang”, Hom. h. 4,451) gestellt [4. s. v. οἴμη]. Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) [English version] II. Griechische Literatur 1) In der griech. Dichtung kennt man die hexametrischen sog. ‘H…

[English version] A. Definition Gr. ἀπόφθεγμα, lat. facete dictum, auch sententia, der in einer bestimmten, oft schwierigen Situation treffend, meist kurz, manchmal rätselhaft formulierte Ausspruch - so schon bei den frühesten überlieferten A.en des Theramenes (Xen. hell. 2,3,56), Anaxagoras (Aristot. metaph. 1009b 26), Pittakos (Aristot. rhet. 1389a 14-16), Stesichoros (Aristot. rhet. 1395a 1-2) -, der Anspruch auf Authentizität erhebt. Dadurch unterscheidet sich das A. von den verwandten Formen der Chrie, des Aphorismos und der (begrifflich weiteren) Gnome. Gärtner, Ha…

[English version] (Μαρκιανός). Geograph aus Herakleia [7] zw. 200 (er benutzt den Geographen Protagoras) und 530 n.Chr. (er wird von Steph. Byz. häufig zitiert), evtl. nach 400 (GGM 1, CXXX; [2. 272; 3. 997; 6. 156f.]) oder noch näher an Steph. Byz. [1. 46]. Nachrichten über seine Person sind nicht vorhanden. Von seiner Epitomḗ der elf Bücher der Geōgraphía des Artemidoros [3] von Ephesos sind nur 21 Zitate bei Steph. Byz. und eines als Schol. Apoll. Rhod. 3,859 (GGM 1, 574-576) überl., ausführlichere Exzerpte dagegen aus seinem ‘Periplus des äußer…

[English version] (Ἀναγνωστικοί). Aristoteles erwähnt (rhet. 3,1413b 12-14) die Dichter Chairemon und Likymnios als ἀναγνωστικοί, “zum Vorlesen geeignet”. Er weist rhet. 3,1413b 2-1414a 28 der vom Streit bestimmten Ausdrucksweise, deren unausgefeilter Stil am stärksten der schauspielerischen Darstellung bedarf (ἀγωνιστικὴ δὲ ἡ ὑποκριτικωτάτη, 3,1413b 9), die Gerichts- und die Volksrede, bes. letztere mit ihrem großen Publikum, zu (3,1414a8-17). Dagegen ordnet er der von der Schriftlichkeit bestimm…

(Νυμφόδωρος). [English version] [1] griech. Reiseschriftsteller aus Syrakusai, 3. Jh. v. Chr. Griech. Reiseschriftsteller aus Syrakusai, verfaßte gegen E. des 3. Jh.v.Chr. eher zur Unterhaltung Períploi Asías (und Eurṓpēs?) - darin die Gesch. vom Sklavenführer Drimakos (FGrH 572 F 4) - und wohl gesondert Perí tōn en Sikilíai thaumazoménōn (‘Wunderbares auf Sicilia). Paradoxographoi; Periplus Gärtner, Hans Armin (Heidelberg) Bibliography A. Giannini (ed.), Paradoxographorum Graecorum reliquiae, 1966, 112-115  Ders., Studi sulla paradossografia greca, Teil 2, in…

[English version] Man bezeichnet in der Lit.-wiss. mit P. nach griech. παλίνδρομος ( palíndromos, “rückläufig”) eine Buchstabenfolge - ein Wort, einen Satz bzw. Vers ( versus supinus, recurrens; [2. 278f.] zu Mart. 2,86,1-2; vgl. Sidon. epist. 9,14,4-6) -, die auch rückwärts gelesen denselben oder einen anderen Sinn, u.U. auch denselben oder einen anderen Vers ergibt. Ein P. in strengem Sinne entspricht sich von seiner jeweiligen Mitte an spiegelbildlich. So kannte man in der Spätant. den “Krebsvers” (καρκίνος oder καρκινωτόν) [4. 133]. Überl. sind solche P. in der Anthologia Pl…

[1] Literary history I. Greek [German version] A. Meaning of the word As a nomen actionis the noun γνώμη (not found in Homer or Hesiod), with its originally extraordinary comprehensive range of meaning must be considered together with the verb γιγνώσκω ( gignṓskō) [11; 37. 491; 27. 32 (also with regard to etymology)]. The verb with its meanings ‘to recognize’, ‘to form an opinion’, ‘to decide’ and ‘to judge’ falls between two poles: ‘the ability to recognize a state of affairs’ and ‘the consequences of this recognition’ [40. 20-39, esp.…

(Σκύλαξ; Skýlax). [German version] [1] From Caryanda, explorer 519/18 BC S. from Caryanda. Discoverer of shipping routes and geographer, in 519/512 BC [5. 78] in the service of Darius [1], he sailed  down the Indus [1] from Caspapyrus to the Indian coast, then - rounding the Arabian peninsula for the first time - through the Erythra Thalatta [1] to modern Suez (Hdt. 4,44) in 30 months [1. vol. 1, 33, 52 f.; 1. vol. 2, 14 f.; 2. 622 f.]. S. wrote about Heraclides of Mylasa (Suda s.v. Σ.), and therefore died after 480 BC ([2. 634 f.]). Seven fragments on India (FGrH 709) are ascribed to his Pe…

[German version] I. Definition a) A riddle is an encrypted formulation, related to the figurative speech of metaphor and posing a question; its answer (= solution) requires - indeed, provokes - the memory and imagination of the person addressed; an analogical inference is generally helpful to finding the answer [1. 261]. The person who poses the riddle has superior knowledge; hence the addressee concedes expertise to that person or authority (e.g., the seer or oracle); at the same time, the guesser …

(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…

(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…

(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…

(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, …

[English version] I. Definition a) R. nennt man eine verschlüsselte, der uneigentlichen Rede der Metapher verwandte Formulierung, die eine Frage darstellt; sie setzt zu ihrer Beantwortung (= Lösung) Erinnerung und Phantasie der Angesprochenen voraus, ja provoziert diese Fähigkeiten; meist hilft dabei ein Analogieschluß [1. 261]. Wer das Rätsel stellt, ist im Wissen überlegen; so kann der Person bzw. Instanz, die das R. stellt (z. B. dem Seher oder dem Orakel), von den Angesprochenen Autorität zugest…

(ἐπιτομή, lat. epitoma und epitome) [English version] A. Definition Epitomḗ (zu ἐπιτέμνειν, “kürzen”, “zurechtstutzen”, Aristot. soph. el. 174b 29; Theophr. h. plant. 6,6,6): idealtypisch zw. Exzerpt und Paraphrase stehende Reduktionsform [10] schriftlicher Texte, meistens von Prosawerken (Ausnahmen u.a. nicht erh. Vergil-E. [2]), die ihrerseits in Prosa abgefaßt werden (Ausnahme: Ausonius' Caesares). Erklärtes Ziel der E. ist äußerste Kürze: Schmückende Merkmale in der Vorlage wie Reden oder Exkurse und große Textpassagen werden weggelassen o…

[1] Literaturgeschichtlich I. Griechisch [English version] A. Wortbedeutung Das Substantiv γνώμη (nicht bei Homer und Hesiod) mit seinem urspr. außerordentlich umfassenden Bedeutungsbereich ist als Nomen actionis zum Verbum γιγνώσκω ( gignṓskō) zu stellen [11; 37. 491; 27. 32 (auch zur Etym.)]; das Verbum liegt mit seinen Bedeutungen: “erkennen”, “sich eine Meinung bilden”, “beschließen” und “urteilen” zwischen den Polen: “Fähigkeit zum Erkennen eines Sachverhaltes” und “Resultat dieser Erkenntnis” [40. 20-39, bes. 32f.] und…

(Πρωταγόρας). [English version] [1] von Abdera, der erste Sophist, 5. Jh. v. Chr. P. von Abdera. Der erste Sophist, 5. Jh. v. Chr., Begründer des Homo-mensura-Satzes, nur aus Platons gleichnamigem Dialog und aus Diogenes Laertios bekannt. Narcy, Michel (Paris) [English version] A. Leben Die Lebensdaten des P. sind unsicher: Platon läßt ihn in dem nach ihm benannten Dialog ‘P. (Plat. Prot. 317c = 80 A 5 DK) sagen, er könne der Vater aller Anwesenden sein, also auch des Sokrates (* 469/8 v. Chr.); demnach müßte P. spätestens 490 v. Chr. g…

[German version] A. Definition Greek κέντρων ( kéntrōn) and Latin cento -- the linguistic historical relationship between the words is a matter of contention [20. 11-13] -- have in common, even though their meanings do not quite cover the same fields, the fact that they describe a quilt made of remnants of used material sewn together, and then in the figurative sense a text that was assembled of disparate verse parts (up to one and a half verses) from well-known poets to form a new continuous meaningful …

(Οὐράνιος/ Ouránios). [German version] [0] Usurper, mid 3rd cent. L. Iulius Aurelius Sulpicius Severus U. Antoninus, usurper, who had coins minted in Emesa in 253/4; very likely identical with the priest of Aphrodite Sampsigeramus (Ioh. Mal. 12 p. 296 f.) who warded off an attack on Emesa by the Persian army in 253, in the course of which their leader (in the text Sapor [1] I himself) was killed. It may be that Or. Sib. 13,158-171 and IGLS 1799-1801 also refer to these events. When with Valerianus' [2] d…