Lykophron: Alexandra

Oxford University Press

2015

617 p.

9780199576708

1. poem; this introduction -- 2. Kassandra myth in literature and art -- 3. Sources of and influences on the Alexandra -- (a). Introduction -- (b). Homer -- (c). Epic Cycle -- (d). Hesiodic Catalogue of Women and some other poems of `Hesiod' or Hesiod -- (e). Stesichoros and some other archaic lyric poets -- (f). Classical drama: tragedy; comedy; satyr plays -- (g). Epinikian poetry: Pindar and Bacchylides -- (h). Timotheos and Antimachos -- (i).mythographers: Hellanikos and Pherekydes -- (j). Herodotus and other classical historians (mainly Thucydides and Ephoros) -- (k). Timaios -- (l). Hieronymos of Kardia -- (m). Eratosthenes, Philostephanos, and Androkles -- (n). Other Hellenistic poets -- (i). Kallimachos -- (ii). Apollonios Rhodios -- (iii). Theokritos -- (iv). Euphorion -- (v). Minor Hellenistic poets (esp. Moschos, Nikandros, Dosiadas, epigrammatists) -- (vi). Conclusion -- (o). Sibylline oracles -- 4. Date of the poem; the Alexandra and Rome; the Dasii of Arpi -- 5. Authorship; regional links to S. Italy? -- 6. Performance? -- 7. Authorship again: an author from S. Italian Lokroi? -- 8. Narrative structure and other literary aspects -- (a). Internal geometry: the significance of line numbers -- (b). Other structural features -- (c). Narrative features and narrative voice -- 9. Language -- 10. Foundation myths, myths of origin, and similar traditions in the Alexandra -- 11. Lykophron and epigraphy: the value and function of cult epithets in the Alexandra -- (i). Introduction -- (ii). Cult epithets in modern work -- (iii). Vocabulary: epithet, epiklesis, and other terms -- (iv). Divine polyonymy -- (v). Lykophron's cult epithets: first mentions and literary function -- (vi).evidence of epigraphy -- (vii).sources of the cultic information in poem and scholia -- (viii). Local and panhellenic religion -- (ix). Conclusion -- 12. Metamorphoses in the Alexandra -- 13. Cults of women (heroines) in the Alexandra, including the double (Spartan; Daunian), cult of Kassandra herself -- 14. Cults and rituals practised by women -- 15. Later poetic treatments possibly indebted to Lykophron (Ennius; Virgil outside the Aeneid) -- 16. History of the text (by the late P.M. Fraser, with updating by S.H. in square brackets) -- A.history of the text -- (1). Papyri -- (2). Manuscripts -- (3). Scholia etc. -- (a).two paraphrases -- (b).scholia (i) scholia vetera (ii) those used by Tzetzes -- (c). Tzetzes -- Scheer's interpretation of the Tzetzean commentary -- B. Modern editions -- 17. text and translation provided in this book -- ANNEX: the Antiochos III thesis -- Synopsis of the Alexandra -- Sigla -- Text and translation of the Alexandra, with commentary.

The Alexandra attributed to Lykophron is a minor poetic masterpiece. At 1474 lines, it is one of the most important and notoriously difficult Greek poems dating from the Hellenistic period (most likely the early second century BC). Most of the poem purports to be a prophecy by the mythical Trojan princess, Kassandra, the most beautiful of the daughters of King Priam, and her prophecy ranges from the Trojan War to the historical Roman conquest of Greece, which took place in the poet's own time. The poem's importance arises from the light which it sheds on Greek religion (in particular the role of women), on foundation myths and myths of colonial identity, and on local - especially Italian - cults and cult places. The difficulty of the poem stems from its unusual vocabulary - many words of ancient Greek are found only in this poem - and the riddling and meandering way in which most of the many mythological characters are referenced. As well as providing the Greek text in full and its English translation, this volume provides the first ever full-length commentary in English on the poem.

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