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[German version] A. Definition SL is a genre of prose literature containing a report of a symposion (Latin convivium, symposium, see Banquet), sometimes also of the preceding dinner (δεῖπνον/ deîpnon , Latin cena ). The main narrative current consists of the conversations of the participants, which can also contain complete speeches or lectures. SL can also be seen as a special case of the literary dialogue [4]. A deîpnon literature can be distinguished from a SL [8] (see below [D5]). However, these strands converged from the Hellenistic period, esp. among Roman authors. Görgemanns, He…

I. Greek [German version] A. Definition The dedication of a literary work is the naming of a person from the author's surroundings with the intent of expressing an honour or gratitude to this person by association with the publication. (Occasionally the recipient was promised immortality [1. 25 f.]). Works which discuss the named person as a subject do not fall under this definition (e.g.,   enkṓmion ). It is apparent in works such as the ‘Epinician Odes’ of  Pindar that the author is aware of his role as a mediator of fame. A specia…

[German version] A. Concept Diatribe is a modern concept which owes its existence to the fact that, based on Wilamowitz's [3] formal description of the Cynic  Teles' popular-philosophical ‘sermons’ (3rd cent.BC), Usener [1. LXIX] and Wendland [2] introduced for these ‘diatribe’ as a generic term. It has stood the test of time, as long as it is taken as a kind of ancient dialexis (first in [4]); originally as a synonym of dialogos, dialexis referred to any kind of conversation, but in the usage of philosophers and rhetors, it then came to mean a didactic, but also ent…

[German version] I. Definition and Origin Protreptics here refers to a literary genre which attempts to persuade the reader of the value of a subject of study and seeks to enthuse him and convince him to 'turn' to it (προτρέπειν/ protrépein, 'to turn towards something'). Generally philosophy is meant, but secondarily also other subjects (see II below). The or…

I. Ancient Orient and Egypt [German version] A. General Points Translation by means of an interpreter (Akkadian targumannu; Ugaritic targumiānu; Hittite tarkummija- ('to translate'); Aramaic ta/urgmānā; Arabic tu/arǧumān; Italian turcimanno; cf. dragoman) played an important role in the cultures of the Ancient Orient in their contact…

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[German version] I. Ancient Orient A heterogeneous group of texts exists in the Ancient Orient which are supposed, on the basis of the categories of form (1st person sin…

(τέχνη/ téchnē, Latin ars). [German version] I. Term and areas of usage Techne or ars refers to any kind of professional knowledge and skill (art I), and in the larger sense, intelligence, cunning and a clever course of action in general. A…

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[German version] A. Definition Dialogue is defined as a prose genre, in which a conversation between several participants is recorded in direct speech. In Greek and Latin literature, this form of representation is mostly used for theoretical debates, particularly philosophical ones. Somewhat lesser developed were the entertaining humorous scenes (see below for Lucian: E. Roman Period), which were close in genre to the  mimos. The most important author of dialogues is Plato; he has been seen througho…

[German version] (Βῶλος; Bôlos) of Mendes (in the Nile Delta). Greek writer c. 200 BC. His essential themes were occult powers, sympathy and antipathy between people, animals, plants, stones and metals (Fr.: 68 B 300 and 78 DK). He gave important impetus to the spread of the theory of sympathy [1], later also to the development of  Alchemy [5]. Many of B.'s writings circulated under the name of Democritus [1], and it is a matter for discussion whether the extensive pseudo-Democritean literature [6] pursuing similar lines of thought may be substantially …

I. Greek [German version] A. Definition and prehistory Biography as a literary genre is the account of the life events of an individual human being; it gives voice to the tendency to respect lifetime achievements and personal individuality as a meaningful unity. Biography has existed in this mould in Greek literature since Hellenism; the term for that is bíos (βίος; βιογραφία, biographía is first used in Damascius, Vita Isidori = Phot. Bibl. Cod. 242, § 8, as nomen actionis: ‘biographical writing’, then Phot. Bibl. Cod. 181 for the text itself). The search for its origins leads fur…

[German version] A. Term This term is mainly applied to literary letters; however, the transition from private letters ( Epistle) to literary ones is fluid, because even in private, correspondents aimed for a cultivated form of expression, which was also suitable for public consumption. A stylistically well-written letter was seen as a gift to its recipient (Demetrius [41], Perí Hermēneías 224). Such letters were shared within the recipient's circle of friends, they were shared with acquaintances, enjoyed and praised (Synes. Epist. 101; Lib. Ep. 1583 W…

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[English version] I. Alter Orient …

[English version] A. Begriff D. ist ein moderner Begriff, der seine Entstehung der Tatsache verdankt, daß Usener [1. LXIX] und Wendland [2], ausgehend von Wilamowitzens [3] Beschreibung der Redeform der popularphilos. ‘Predigten des Kynikers Teles (3. Jh.v. Chr.), für diese den Gattungsbegriff D. einführten. Er hat sich bewährt, sofern man ihn (wie erstmals [4]) als eine Art ant. dialexis auffaßt, die urspr. synonym mit dialogos jede Form eines Gesprächs meinte, dann aber im Sprachgebrauch der Philosophen und Rhetoren jenen Lehr-, aber auch unterhaltenden Vortrag, in dem dialogische Elemente wie vom Redner fingierte, also nicht in der Redesituation durch das Publikum selbst eingebrachte Zwischenfragen und Einwände ( fictivus interlocutor) als Formelement auftreten. D. bedeutet dann popularphilos. …

[English version] A. Begriff, Terminologie, Ursprünge Ein Brief ist eine schriftliche Mitteilung an einen Abwesenden. Griech. epistolḗ (ἐπιστολή) ist Verbalsubstantiv zu ἐπιστέλλειν, “(einem Boten) eine Mitteilung auftragen” …

[English version] A. Definition Der Begriff εἰσαγωγή ( eisagōgḗ, “Einführung”) ist in Buchtiteln zuerst bei den Stoikern belegt (Chrysippos, Περὶ τῆς εἰς τὰς ἀμφιβολίας εἰσαγωγῆς/‘Über die Einführung in die Mehrdeutigkeiten u.a. logische Themen, SVF II S. 6, 28; 30; S. 7, 15; …

[English version] A. Definition Unter D. ist eine Gattung der Prosalit. zu verstehen, welche in direkter Rede ein Gespräch zwischen mehreren Personen wiedergibt. Diese Darstellungsform wird in griech. und lat. Literatur vor allem für theoretische, speziell philos. Erörterungen verwendet. Ein weniger entwickeltes Gebiet sind die unterhaltsamen humoristischen Szenen (s.u. zu Lukian: E. Römische Zeit), welche der Gattung Mimos nahestehen. Der wichtigste Autor von D. ist Platon; er galt stets als Klassiker der Gattung. Dabei steht…

[English version] I. Definition und Entstehung Unter “P.” wird hier eine Lit.-Gattung verstanden, die den Leser vom Wert eines Fachgebietes zu überzeugen sucht, ihn begeistern und bewegen will, sich diesem “zuzuwenden” (προτρέπειν, protrépein, “hinwenden zu etwas”). Es geht meistens um die Philos.…