Sapiens ubique civis

The Eunomia of Solon

Clemens Wurzinger — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The so-called Eunomia of Solon is one of the most famous elegies of early Greek poetry. Too often, however, the actual aim of the elegy as a means of persuasion seems to be forgotten; Solon does not want to present a political theory here, but to convince the Athenian citizens. With the help of the theories of Performativity (Fischer-Lichte) and Emotion Studies (Winko and Hillebrandt), the elegy is examined in a close reading for persuasive elements that are intended to draw the Athenian citizens to Solon’s side. The results show a clear structure with a focus on emotionalizing the problems of the city and Solon’s opponents with a simultaneous rationalization of his position and legislation.

(Re)negotiating colonial identity: Corinth, Corcyra and the Phaeacians

Armin Unfricht — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This article examines the relationship between Corcyra and its mother city Corinth – from the settlement of the former in the second half of the eighth century BC up until the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War – from three different yet interlocking angles: politics, religion, mythology. Consequently, the text is divided into three parts, whereby each part represents one of the abovementioned aspects: The first part provides a brief account of the political history of Corcyra and its relations with Corinth. Part two analyses the religious dimension of the connection between Corinth and Corcyra, especially in regard to the shared rituals and festivals mentioned by Thucydides. The third part deals with the association of Corcyra with the Homeric Phaeacians and their mythical homeland Scheria, and the Corcyraeans adoption of said myth as a new identity, which was independent from the previous ‘colonial identity’ tying them to Corinth as their metropolis.

Was Kos a member of the Second Athenian Naval Confederacy?

Attila Sebők — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

After the defeat she suffered in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), Athens worked on the restoration of her pre-war position in the diplomatic scenery of Hellas. One major portion of this process was the creation of the Second Athenian Confederacy. Possibly the most important conflict in the history of the Confederacy was the so-called Social War between 357 and 355 BC. In this conflict, some members of the Confederacy (namely Rhodes, Chios, Byzantium, and possibly Kos) waged war against Athens in order to leave the Confederacy. The participation of Kos as a rebel is argued against by Sherwin-White and some other scholars, assuming that only Rodes, Chios, and Byzantion revolted, but there is the possibility that there could have been more rebels, supported by Buckler, who collected the names of twelve states and could have revolted. In my study, I present an examination of the question of Kos and possible other rebels.

Channelling His Inner Semiramis: Alexander and His Quest to Overcome the Assyrian Queen

Libor Pruša — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Alexander the Great desired to outdo all the great generals in history and one of them was the famed Queen Semiramis. The episodes from their lives were occasionally put in comparison, and both gained legendary status among the ancient rulers. Alexander eventually surpassed Semiramis, but why was she so important to Alexander? The life of Semiramis was for the first time described by Ctesias in his Persica. The problem is that he died several decades before the rule of Alexander. Therefore, he did not record the striking similarities between her life and the episodes from Alexander’s conquest. Ctesias’ original account was adapted by later authors who altered some elements of the story in the wake of Alexander’s expedition. In this article, we will focus on the similarities in the episodes from the lives of two conquerors, how Alexander fared compared to the Assyrian queen, and who was responsible for putting the tales in comparison, whether it was Ctesias, Diodorus, or someone else.

Water colder than boreal snow: an analysis of the motif of drinking cold water in the epigrams of Leonidas of Tarentum

Ewa Orłowska — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this paper I analyse the motif of drinking cold water in the poems of Leonidas of Tarentum, showing the relation of his epigrams to the works of Anyte and of other Hellenistic poets, focusing on metaphorical and programmatic meaning. Epigrams 16 and 18 GP of Anyte are interpreted as opening poems of a collection. The famous metaphor of drinking from the sacred fountain, instead of a polluted river, comes from Callimachus Hymn 2, 108–112, which is similar to the opposition in Leonidas’ 86 GP. The ecphrasis of a cup represents poetic work in Theocritus Idyll 1. By comparing these texts, I argue that epigrams of Leonidas are related not only with Anyte’s poems, but also with the works of other Hellenistic authors and the drinking motif should be read metaphorically, as referring to poetic activity, not as a simple bucolic scene.

Qui finis erit discordiarum?(1)

Fanni Jancsovics — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

(1) Liv. 3, 67, 10.

The usage of inserted rhetorical speeches is a crucial point of ancient historiography. After an introduction to the basic arguments of the evaluation of ancient historiography and its connection with theatricality, supplemented by the ‘accusation’ of tragic history I move over to the examination of two speeches found in Livy’s narrative. In order to understand the style of Livy more and more precisely his practice of editing and inserting speeches into the narrative this paper will give a closer look at the initial moment of this particular part of his editorial work. The two speeches in question are from Quinctius Capitolinus and Gaius Canuleius.

Plato’s Influence on Pseudo-Longinus’ Περὶ Ὕψους

Eötvös Loránd University — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Pseudo-Longinus’ On the Sublime or Περì Ὕψους has long been considered as one of the most influential texts from antiquity, which – through its impact on Boileau, Edmund Burke and Immanuel Kant – defined the aesthetic and literary discussions of early modern times and beyond. Yet, since the exact origin of the tractate has remained unknown, much less can be established with utmost certainty regarding the exact philosophical and literary context of the anonymous author himself. The objective of this study is to provide an overview with regard to the reception history of this work and to give an update on recent research, while examining the different philosophical and cultural influences on Pseudo-Longinus’ theory. Finally, I would like to investigate one special source of influence observable in the text: Platonism. By building upon the works of Robert Doran and James I. Porter in particular, I intend to examine which elements of the ancient treatise may have had Platonic precursors, and why this connection is vital in understanding the significance of this tractate.

Qasr al-Bint Temple “Sanctuary of the Nabataeans”

Laura H. Tashman — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Qasr al-Bint Temple is one of the best-preserved freestanding structures in Petra beside it is the main temple of the ancient city. The Nabataeans built this Temple at about the same time as the famous Al-Khazneh (Treasury) was built, in the second half of the reign of King Aretas IV (ruled 9 BC–40 AD). I can surely say that this Temple is an outstanding and unique example of the fusion of Greco-Roman and Eastern elements in Nabataean architecture, which motivates scholars to study and write about it. The Nabataean’s architecture, culture and religion still fascinate every scholar whenever they discover something new about them. Unfortunately, the Nabataeans did not leave many inscriptions that reveal all details of their life, but they left the most amazing archeological remains that will always be impressive and provide the motivation to learn and dig more to reveal more about their mysteries. In this paper, I will write in general about the Nabataeans origin, their settlement and location and their temples. Then I will write in detail about Qasr al-Bint Temple which I will focus on in my paper, regarding its location, most important features and function.

“I Know That I Hung, on a Windy Tree”

Branislav Živković — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The god who dies but rebirths is an often-reappearing legend in many religions. Amongst the numerous deities sharing these features, it seems that the self-sacrifice narrative regarding the Germanic Odin and Celtic Esus gives perhaps the most valuable insight into the Indo-European belief system. According to the data, human victims offered to both deities were hung on a tree and stabbed by a spear. This paper investigates whether were first Christians inspired by these polytheistic teachings, presumably incorporating non-Semitic ideas into the Parables of Jesus Christ. Especially the remarkable resemblance between the name of Jesus and Esus, and by examining connected linguistic and archaeological hints, an overall conclusion will be proposed.

Eating With The Eyes

Sofia Foskolou — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

That visual imagery and food are salient components of Roman verse satire is evident, but the interaction between food and the eyes is rather elusive. The factors which determine that a food-item be included in a satiric meal are, oddly enough, superfluous to the proper reason for cooking and eating: colour, shape, size, portion – not the basic criteria by which one normally assesses a food – dominate most of the dishes in Horace’s cena Nasidieni and Juvenal’s cena Virronis, whereas more relevant properties, such as smell and flavour, seem to have been relegated to a secondary position. This article examines the visual dynamics of the food described in Horace’s cena Nasidieni and Juvenal’s cena Virronis, aiming to: i) explain how and why the eyes usurp the place of the nose and/or the mouth; ii) argue that the eyes’ prominent role accords with the satirists’ self-appointed mission to observe the world around them.

“Bull in the Boat” – A New Interpretation for One of the Depictions of Mithraic Iconography

Attila Simon — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

For more than a century, the history of Mithras mysteries has been a his topic in religious history research. Countless works have been written on this subject since Franz Cumont. Numerous monographs have also been written on the subject of Mithras iconography, but there are elements that have not really come into the studies. Most of these works deal with the motif of tauroctony, the astronomical significance of which has been authentically proven by several excellent researchers. Among the iconographic elements that have survived in fewer numbers, there are several for which no acceptable interpretation has been found so far. One of these is the depiction of a bull in a moon-shaped boat, which occurred mainly in the Danube regions. In my presentation, I undertake to demonstrate the prevalence of this motif in the field of Mithraic representations and to try to give a new interpretation to this iconographic element that has so far been little studied.

Legitimization strategies of Gordian III

Matthias Scholler — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Paper seeks to highlight the legitimisation-strategies of Gordian III by exploring the situation leading up to his reign and his self-representation thereafter. A focal point of this study will be Gordians engagement with his predecessors, mainly his grandfather and uncle Gordian I and Gordian II as well as his former co-rulers Pupienus and Balbinus, additionally we will see how Gordian’s strategy evolved during his comparably long rule for third-century standards. Therefore, two key issues represent the focus of this paper: Firstly, the use of divine ancestry to legitimise Gordian’s rule, essentially represented by epigraphical material mentioning Gordian I and Gordian II who had been divinised by the senate after their death at the hands of the Numidian legate Capelianus. Secondly, Gordian’s propagation of the Persian war in Rome by ritualistic means. The key premise underpinning this study is a break in the continuity of imperial rule after Maximinus Thrax had violently ended the Severan dynasty, and by extension the Antonine monarchy, with the murder of Alexander Severus in 235 AD. As a consequence of this and the chaotic situation of 238 subsequent emperors had to explore new strategies to legitimise their rule, leading to experimentation and reform. Gordian III perfectly exemplifies the issue that divine ancestry alone was not enough to legitimise one’s position as emperor, rather it became increasingly necessary to combine ancestry with competence, personal deeds and virtue to make a convincing case for one’s rule.

Hippomenes, Pelops and Hercules

Lisa Longoni — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The motif of bloody trials that suitors must endure to win the hand of a princess as a prize is widespread in Latin literature. Ovid, in epist. 16, lists in sequence the exempla of Hippomenes, Pelops and Heracles, three heroes who, unlike Paris, had the opportunity to obtain their beloved in marriage as the prize of a contest. The Ovidian sequence will continue its fortune in Late Antiquity, in the verses of Claudian and Sidonius Apollinaris. Claudian employed the sequence in his Laus Serenae with two political purposes, a clear one and a hidden one. Sidonius, while reusing the sequence, borrows from Claudian the political context in which the examples are inserted and adapts it to his own needs. The aim of the paper is to analyse the different functions of this mythological sequence, Claudian’s role in the acquisition of a new political meaning, and Sidonius’ intertextual mechanisms.

Managing Intertextuality in Ennodius’ Corpus

Martina Cofano — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

‘There is too much literature between reality and him’, said Labriolle: this seems such an adequate statement for Ennodius‘ corpus, since it is normal to stumble upon references or quotations by other authors, either pagan or Christian ones. This paper takes into account Ennodius 1V. (= dict. 1H.) as a case study and aims at examining in detail which works and authors Ennodius uses in order to arrange one dedication. The declamation has been divided in five thematic sections; each shows a different percentage of intertextual categories such as clear reference, self-quotation, altered reference and word collocation. Through statistical evidence, the author of this paper has thought back on Ennodius‘ overall technique in making rhetorics: a good way of paying homage to the summi and the minores, or the easiest way to bundle up quotes and so to earn an entire piece of literature?

Amor est passio: The Authorship and Dating of De amore by Andreas Capellanus

Dominika Havas-Kovács — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Andreas Capellanus’ treatise on love, De amore has been interpreted in many different ways. Scholars agree on only one thing: this work presents a scholastic understanding of love in a rigorous and structured way. We are not sure of the identity of the author from the surviving documents, but he wrote in Latin in a French context sometime in the 12th century. In my study, I will explore who Andreas Capellanus might have been, as well as the supposed date of the work.

On the Representation of the Corpse in Lothar of Segni’s (Pope Innocent III.’s) de miseria humanae conditionis 3, 4

Nora Kohlhofer — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The incarnation of the soul is, especially in Christian culture, often regarded as the origin of all sin. In combination with an increasing interest in the body, death and dying, which is particularly apparent in the early Middle Ages, the aspects of vanity of human beings and sinfulness frequently appear in literature. The writing de miseria humanae conditionis, written by the later Pope Innocent III (1161–1216) during his time as a cardinal, addresses in three books the hopelessness and sinfulness of human life from conception until and beyond death. Following this, the origin of all sin is found in the contamination that occurs when the soul enters the body at conception. De miseria humanae conditionis, and especially the biblical quotations contained therein, have only been discussed briefly until now. This paper aims to close that gap a little by analysing and interpreting one chapter at example. For this purpose, the passage on the decomposition of the corpse was chosen, which is also associated with the calamity of human life. The research is based on the text, which will be examined in a close reading. The primary focus will be on the depiction of the corpse; furthermore, it will be investigated how the biblical quotations are instrumentalised and to what extent the quotes influence the passage. To offer an intermedia view of this motif in the Middle Ages in addition, representations of the corpse from contemporary medieval literature and art are contrasted using the method of wide reading and New Historicism.

'A Life Locked by Ink' or Variations on a Theme

Máté Majoros — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The life of Erasmus is very well known to us, among others from his own autobiographical letters in quite detail.1 We have three autobiographical-like texts from him in total: there is one letter from 1516, remaining in a 1529 edition, addressed to a certain Lambertus Grunnius2 (Lambert Grunt), a papal scribe. There is another one from 1524, which is known as Compendium Vitae. Moreover, there is a third one from 1524, addressed to Gerard Geldenhauer. 3 This paper is about the first one from 1516 and the second one, titled Compendium Vitae in four main parts: the first part is a brief argument about Erasmus' autobiographical letters in general. The second part is about the parentage of Erasmus, and the third one is about Erasmus' brother and their relationship according to Erasmus' own description. Last but not least the final part contains some conclusions drawn from the comparison of the autobiographical texts with each other.

Pindarising in 16th-century Württemberg – Johannes Kepler’s Melos Hymeneium Pindaricum (1591) in the Light of the Epithalamia of Paulus Melissus

Enno Friedrich — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The paper presents a Pindarising Neo-Latin epithalamium, that the astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) wrote for his friend Gregor Glarean in 1591, and compares it to similar poems by Paulus Melissus Schede (1539–1602). While earlier critics have compared Kepler’s epithalamium mainly to Pindar’s epinicians, I focus on the poem’s relationship with the Pindarising epithalamia of Paulus Melissus Schede, who was a popular Neo-Latin poet at the time. The comparison reveals that Kepler’s epithalamium takes up developments already present in Schede Melissus’ epithalamia, such as the separation of the Pindaric form from epinician content and individual variations in tune with the respective addressee in the epithalamium. At the same time, Kepler maintains an independent stance towards both Schede and Pindar. The paper is complemented by an English translation and a chart of the positions of the planets at the time of the wedding.

Plautus’ Miles Gloriosus

Katrin Iakimova-Zheleva — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The paper regards Plautus’ Miles Gloriosus in terms of comedy type and methods used for achieving comic effect. For this purpose, we consider two episodes from the plot, both containing a repetitive motif – an idea that is continuously reiterated by the characters throughout the respective act. These occurrences are subjected to analysis to determine the essence of humor contained within them – apart from their repetitiveness. After exploring some specific examples in the original, we then compare them to their counterparts in the Bulgarian translation from 1978 made by the Bulgarian translator Alexander Nichev. The aim of the study is to outline the techniques for creating humor within those repetitive parts in the original mainly with regard to the language style and the way humor is transferred in Bulgarian language – what strategies and/or procedures are applied and has the comic effect been achieved.

The Trojan Women by Jan Klata

Olga Śmiechowicz — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

(1) I discussed this production in my monograph, Trojanki Jana Klaty (Kraków 2019) and in
the article: Dramaturg pod Troją – praca nad tekstem „Trojanek” w reżyserii Jana Klaty. Meander
75 (2020) 219–230.

In my paper I talk about my/our work on The Trojan Women directed by Jan Klata in Wybrzeże Theatre in Gdańsk (date of premiere 8th September 2018). I worked as the dramaturge of the play. The show was acclaimed by theatre critics as the best show of the season. It depicts all that Homer did not tell us in his Iliad: what the first morning after the seizure of Troy looked like. In our play, we preserve the poetic style and imagery of the ancient text written by Euripides. In our show we do not present white, classical marble sculpture-like characters: the show depicts the Greeks as cruel barbarians, who could not even make good use of their own victory. In my paper I describe our work on that show, familiarize the reader with our decisions and problems that we had found during our work.

Science Communication in the Humanities

Julia Leitold — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Science communication is an important topic in Natural Sciences and is also on the rise in the Humanities. For researchers there are different ways of science communication. It can be done face-to-face or even through new media. This includes the internet, with its various platforms. The internet offers a way for quick knowledge exchange, networking, and science communication. Science communication often seems to be a burden, as concepts and target groups have to be well thought through and this often has to be done beside the actual research work. However, it also has many advantages for researchers in the Humanities. In addition to a brief introduction to science communication and concept development, this article aims to present different platforms and successful examples of science communication from the Humanities.

The Relationship Between Mater Matuta and Aurora

Anna Janovics — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Matralia, an event attended only by women to worship Mater Matuta or Mother Matuta, was annually held in Italy on 11th of June. The celebration was bound to start in the morning at the first sight of prima lux—probably this is why Mother Matuta is often identified with several goddesses whose origins and mythology are tied to the celestial sphere. One of these figures known to the Romans was Aurora, the goddess of dawn. In various scriptures, these two female figures are mentioned together with their identities intertwined. This paper aims to further explore these points of connection.