Archaic and Classical Greek Epigram

This book explores dialogue between Archaic and Classical Greek epigrams and their readers, and argues for their often-unacknowledged literary and aesthetic achievement.

Manuel Baumbach (Edited by), Andrej Petrovic (Edited by), Ivana Petrovic (Edited by)

9780521118057, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 December 2010

454 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2.5 cm, 0.85 kg

'All in all, the interdisciplinary approach of this collection of essays will make it useful for those working in a wide range of fields, from archaeology to epigraphy, from ancient history to literature.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

With contributions written by leading experts in the field, this volume explores the dialogue between Archaic and Classical Greek epigrams and their readers. The authors examine questions surrounding the identity of the speakers and the addressees. They also discuss the spatial, religious, historical and political contexts of epigram, as well as aspects of intertextuality, poetic variation and the creation of epigrammatic sub-genres. Collectively the volume demonstrates that the dominant view of epigram as a genre that became literary and artistic only in the Hellenistic period has to be revised. Archaic and Classical Greek epigrams did not simply serve the objects they describe but also demonstrate a high degree of aesthetic and literary achievement. This volume breaks new ground in the study of the genre and is important for scholars of classics, archaeology, epigraphy and papyrology.

Introduction Manuel Baumbach, Andrej Petrovic and Ivana Petrovic
Part I. Contextualisation
Section 1. Speaking and Reading: The Dialogue between Epigram and Passerby: 1. Speaker and addressee in early Greek epigram and lyric Thomas A. Schmitz
2. The passerby in Archaic and Classical epigram Michael A. Tueller
3. Voice in sepulchral epigrams: some remarks on the use of first and second person in sepulchral epigrams and a comparison with lyric poetry Gert Vestrheim
Section 2. Art and Viewing: The Spatial Context: 4. Epigrams in Archaic art: the 'Chest of Kypselos' Barbara E. Borg
5. The Callimachus monument on the Athenian Acropolis (CEG 256) and Athenian commemoration of the Persian Wars Catherine M. Keesling
6. 'Dialectics at a Standstill': Archaic kouroi-cum-epigram as I-Box Katharina Lorenz
Section 3. Epigram and Performance: The Religious Context: 7. Life in a line. A reading of dedicatory epigrams from the Archaic and Classical periods William D. Furley
8. Observations on the dedicatory and sepulchral epigrams and their early history Catherine Trümpy
Section 4. Propaganda and Memorial: The Historical and Political Context: 9. Epigrams on the Persian Wars: monuments, memory and politics Carolyn Higbie
10. True lies of public epigrams Andrej Petrovic
Section 5. Generic and Literary Contexts: The Rise and Reception of Epigramatic Subgenera: 11. Heroic epitaphs of the Classical age. The Aristotelian Peplos and beyond Kathryn Gutzwiller
12. The origin of epigrams on 'Speaking Objects' Rudolf Wachter
Part II. Literarization – From Stone to Book
Section 1. Losing Context: Intertextuality and Poetic Variation: 13. Language and interpretation in Greek epigram Richard Hunter
14. Typologies of variation on a theme in Archaic and Classical metrical inscriptions Marco Fantuzzi
Section 2. Inventing Contexts: Ecphrasis and Narration: 15. Epigram as narration Ewen Bowie
16. Ecphrasis in fits and starts? Down to 300 BC Jon Steffen Bruss
Bibliography
Indices.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]