Symphosius The Aenigmata

An Introduction, Text and Commentary

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, Ancient & Classical, Nonfiction, History, Ancient History
Cover of the book Symphosius The Aenigmata by T. J. Leary, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: T. J. Leary ISBN: 9781472506726
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: March 27, 2014
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic Language: English
Author: T. J. Leary
ISBN: 9781472506726
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: March 27, 2014
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Language: English

The post-classical compilation known to modern scholarship as the Latin Anthology contains a collection of a hundred riddles, each consisting of three hexameters and preceded by a lemma. It would seem from the preface to this collection that they were composed extempore at a dinner to celebrate the Roman Saturnalia. The work was to have a defining influence on later collections of riddles; yet its title (probably the Aenigmata) has been debated, and almost nothing is known about its author: questions have even been asked about his name (Symphosius?) and date (4th-5th centuruy AD?).

In this edition of the riddles, the Introducion discusses the work's title and its author's identity: as well as his name and date, it considers his national origin (North African?) and intellectual background (a professional grammarian?), and argues that he was not Christian, as has been suggested. It examines the Saturnalian background to the work, setting it in its sociological context, and discusses the author's literary debts – especially to Martial. The Introduction also explores the author's ordering and arrangement of the riddles, discusses his literary style, Latinity and metre, and comments briefly on his Nachleben. It concludes with a survey of the textual tradition. The commentary on each riddle includes a translation, general notes on the object it describes (with reference, as necessary, to museums and artefacts), and discussion of how it fits into the ordering of the collection, of variant readings and, with suitable illustration, of literary, stylistic and metrical considerations. Other areas, such as history and mythology, are also covered where relevant.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The post-classical compilation known to modern scholarship as the Latin Anthology contains a collection of a hundred riddles, each consisting of three hexameters and preceded by a lemma. It would seem from the preface to this collection that they were composed extempore at a dinner to celebrate the Roman Saturnalia. The work was to have a defining influence on later collections of riddles; yet its title (probably the Aenigmata) has been debated, and almost nothing is known about its author: questions have even been asked about his name (Symphosius?) and date (4th-5th centuruy AD?).

In this edition of the riddles, the Introducion discusses the work's title and its author's identity: as well as his name and date, it considers his national origin (North African?) and intellectual background (a professional grammarian?), and argues that he was not Christian, as has been suggested. It examines the Saturnalian background to the work, setting it in its sociological context, and discusses the author's literary debts – especially to Martial. The Introduction also explores the author's ordering and arrangement of the riddles, discusses his literary style, Latinity and metre, and comments briefly on his Nachleben. It concludes with a survey of the textual tradition. The commentary on each riddle includes a translation, general notes on the object it describes (with reference, as necessary, to museums and artefacts), and discussion of how it fits into the ordering of the collection, of variant readings and, with suitable illustration, of literary, stylistic and metrical considerations. Other areas, such as history and mythology, are also covered where relevant.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book Trams and Trolleybuses by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book The Emergence of EU Criminal Law by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Modelling a Waffen-SS Figure SS-Scharführer, 1st SS-Panzer-Division 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler', Normandy, 1944 by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book The Horseman by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Exposed by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Japanese Pacific Island Defenses 1941–45 by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Leonardo and the Last Supper by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Beswick Pottery by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book The Political Dialogue of Nature and Grace by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Animal Comics by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Laetitia Rodd and the Case of the Wandering Scholar by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Film and Television Genres of the Late Soviet Era by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Thinking in Film by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Shadows on the Gulf by T. J. Leary
Cover of the book Stretching for Racquet Sports by T. J. Leary
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy