Techné kai Logos: Kallistratos Narkissos-víziója

Abstract

In his longest ekphrasis (5), Callistratus (fl. probably in 4th century AD) uses enargeia and phantasia to depict vividly Narcissus’ marble sculpture and to evoke the tragic fate of the young boy. On the basis of the surviving works of art, it is wellknown that the representations of Narcissus were widespread in the Roman world from the 1st century AD. Therefore, there is no reason to suppose that it would have been a difficult task for Callistratus to get inspiration from the statues of Narcissus exhibited in the horti of Roman villas, public parks and baths, or from the large number of wall-paintings and mosaics depicting the young mythological figure. Besides publishing my Hungarian translation of the Narcissus’ ekphrasis, I will explore the crucial elements originating from both the Graeco-Roman visual culture and literature that may have influenced this description, and the art criticism occurring in the text as well.