Dionysius: The Epic Fragments
Dionysius: The Epic Fragments
The epic poet Dionysius, who probably flourished in the first century CE, is a key transitional figure in the history of Greek poetry, sharing stylistic and thematic tendencies with both the learned Hellenistic tradition and the monumental epic poetry of the later Roman period. His Bassarica is the earliest known poem on the conquest of India by the god Dionysus and was an important model of Nonnus' Dionysiaca. His Gigantias related the battle of the giants against the Olympian gods and legends surrounding it, with particular focus on the figure of Heracles. This is the most comprehensive edition to date of his poetry, expanding the number of fragments available and providing a more reliable text based on a fresh inspection of the papyri. The volume includes a substantial introduction contextualising the poetry, a facing English translation of the text, and a detailed linguistic and literary commentary.
- A comprehensive and accessible edition of Dionysius' poetic fragments, our most crucial evidence for the development of Greek epic poetry in the early imperial period
- Includes new fragments and takes into account recent re-evaluation of the papyri, resulting in a substantially improved and more reliable text
- Provides a facing-page English translation with a detailed commentary on linguistic and literary aspects of individual fragments
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Table of Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1. Dionysius' date
- 2. Ancient fortunes
- 3. Modern (mis)fortunes
- 4. Dionysius' Bassarica and Stephanus of Byzantium
- 5. Dionysius' Bassarica and Nonnus' Dionysiaca
- 6. Dionysus in India
- 7. Language and epic style
- 8. Metrical profile
- 9. Manuscripts
- Remarks on editorial conventions and the presentation of the fragments
- Sigla
- The fragments of the Bassarica: text, critical apparatus, translation
- 1. Testimonia
- 2. Fragmenta geographica
- 3. Fragmenta papyracea
- 4. Fragmenta incerti carminis
- 5. Fragmenta dubia
- Commentary
- Appendix: the fragments of the Gigantias
- Concordance of fragments
- Bibliography:
- 1. List of abbreviations
- 2. Works cited
- Indexes:
- 1. Index of Greek words
- 2. Index locorum
- 3. Index of subjects.
