Quintus of Smyrna's Posthomerica

A Study of Heroic Characterization and Heroism
Erscheinungsjahr 2018
ISBN: 978-90-04-37343-3
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 421, 394 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 239 mm, Gewicht: 703 g

Reihe: Mnemosyne, Supplements / Mnemosyne, Supplements, Late Antique Literature

Quintus of Smyrna’s Posthomerica (3rd century C.E.) is of great literary value to the field of Greek epic. It is a stylistic imitation of Homer and recounts what Iliad and Odyssey have left untold of the Trojan War. Tine Scheijnen offers the first linear study of this still little-known poem. Progressing from book 1 to 14, she focusses on key issues such as Homeric similes and characterization of heroes (especially Achilles and his son Neoptolemus). Ideologically, Quintus engages in a critical way with Homer, but possibly also Vergil, Triphiodorus and tragedy. Scheijnen’s work can be read as a thorough introduction to Quintus’ Posthomerica, while also offering new insights into Homer reception, the conception of heroes and heroism in Greek epic.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Scheijnen, Tine

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Klassische Literaturwissenschaft Klassische Griechische & Byzantinische Literatur

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface
Acknowledgements
Figures and Tables

1 Introduction
1.1 About the Posthomerica
1.2 Focus: Homeric Heroes and Heroism
1.3 Approach: Characters between Tradition and Plot Structure

Part 1 Heroic Characters

2 Penthesilea and Memnon: Two Ways to Fight Achilles
2.1 Penthesilea
Excursus: Thersites
2.2 Parallel Compositions
2.3 Memnon
2.4 Towards Posthomerica 3: a Sealed Fate

3 The Death and Inheritance of Achilles
3.1 Achilles: Iliadic power
3.2 Ajax: Achilleic power
3.3 Odysseus: the Power of Speech
3.4 Towards a Posthomeric Future: Who Will Win?

4 Neoptolemus, a New Aeacid in the Field
4.1 Great Expectations
4.2 Meet the Son of a Father
4.3 Overview: What’s in a Name?
4.4 Towards the Sack … Rival Killed; What’s Next?

Part 2 Heroism and the Sack of Troy

5 Reconsidering Heroic Tactics
5.1 Change of Plan, Recipe for Disaster?
5.2 Heroes, May the Force Be with You
Excursus: Neoptolemus in Triphiodorus
5.3 When a Plan Comes Together

6 Suffering Trojans, Victorious Achaeans
6.1 Terror in the Streets
6.2 The Gift of Mercy
6.3 Why Sack a City?
6.4 Towards Book 14: Unfinished Business

7 Heroic and Divine Power
7.1 The Morning After
7.2 The Holy Father
7.3 Stormy Weather
7.4 The End towards the Odyssey

Conclusion: Worthy of the Aeacids?

Bibliography
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Tine Scheijnen, PhD (2016), Ghent University, is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Literary Studies (Greek section) of that university. She studies the characterization of heroes and the construction of heroism in late antique and medieval literary texts.