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OXFORDCLASSICALMONOGRAPHS PublishedunderthesupervisionofaCommittee oftheFacultyofClassicsintheUniversityofOxford
TheaimoftheOxfordClassicalMonographsseries(whichreplaces theOxfordClassicalandPhilosophicalMonographs)istopublish booksbasedonthebestthesesonGreekandLatinliterature,ancient history,andancientphilosophyexaminedbytheFacultyBoardof Classics.
GreekPraisePoetry andtheRhetoric ofDivinity FELIXJ.MEISTER GreatClarendonStreet,Oxford,OX26DP, UnitedKingdom
OxfordUniversityPressisadepartmentoftheUniversityofOxford. ItfurtherstheUniversity’sobjectiveofexcellenceinresearch,scholarship, andeducationbypublishingworldwide.Oxfordisaregisteredtrademarkof OxfordUniversityPressintheUKandincertainothercountries
©FelixJ.Meister2020
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MeinenEltern Preface ThisbookisarevisedandexpandedversionofmyD.Phil.dissertation entitled ‘Momentaryimmortality:Greekpraisepoetryandrhetoricof theextraordinary’,whichwassubmittedanddefendedattheUniversityofOxfordin2015.Thetitleofthisbookisanattemptattoning downtheapparentparadoxintheoriginaltitle.
Inthecourseofwritingthedissertationandrewritingitforpublicationasamonograph,Iwasprivilegedtoreceivethehelpof distinguishedscholars,towhomIwouldliketoexpressmyappreciationandgratitude.GregoryHutchinson,whosupervisedbothmy M.St.andmyD.Phil.studiesatOxford,providedmewithcomprehensiveguidanceandsupport.Hegavemostgenerouslyofhisknowledge,time,andpatience,notonlywhileIwasinOxford,butalso afterImovedtoGermanyforapositionattheUniversityofCologne in2014.BrunoCurrie,whosupervisedthe firstyearofmyD.Phil., offeredvaluablehelpinlayingthefoundationsofmydissertation. ScottScullion,ArmandD’Angour,andWilliamAllanassessedearly versionsofchaptersforthetransferandconfirmationofstatus.Their criticismpreventedmefrompursuingmanyablindalley.InCologne, Jan-FelixGaertnergenerouslyaccommodatedthecompletionofmy degree.Thetwoexaminersofmythesis,FelixBudelmannand AndreaRodighiero,gaveinvaluableadviceforthetransitionofthe dissertationintoabook,asdidtheanonymousreaderappointedby thepress.ArmandD’Angoursupervisedthetransitionprocesswith greatpatienceandexpertise.AsIwasapproachingthe finishingline, Cologne’semeritusRudolfKasselkindlyagreedtoreadthemanuscript.Hisrigorousmethodandunerringeyehelpedmecorrect variousoversights.
IwouldalsoliketothanktheFacultyofClassicsattheUniversity ofOxfordandWolfsonCollegeforfundingmyD.Phil.studies,and WolfsonandExeterCollegeforprovidingthemoststimulatingof environments.MyworkinColognehasbenefittedimmenselyfrom thethought-provokingdiscussionsatthe Doktoranden-Kolloquium convenedbyRudolfKasselandJürgenHammerstaedt,andfrom accesstotheexcellentfacultylibrary.
Preface Themostpatientandconstantsourceofsupporthasbeenoffered tomebymywifeVeronica.Shenotonlyprovidedencouragement andstimulatingconversationbutalsoreadeachandeverydraftof everychapterofthedissertationaswellasthe finalmanuscriptofthe book,redpeninhand.Icannotexpresswithwordstheextentofmy indebtednesstoher.
Thelastwordofthanksisowedtomyparentsfortheirloveand support.
Cologne April2018
F.J.M.
ListofIllustrations 2.1.PeleusandThetisduringtheirweddingprocession.Hydriaby Lysippides, 550500 BC;Florence,Mus.Arch.3790. 60
2.2. AdmetusandAlcestisduringtheirweddingprocession. Loutrophorusfr.bytheMethysePainter,47525 BC;Athens, Acrop. Mus.NA1957Aa757. 61
2.3.HeraclesandHebeduringtheirweddingprocession. HydriabyLysippides,550500 BC;NewYork, Met. Mus.14.105.10.
62
2.4.DionysusandAriadne.Calyxcraterfr.bytheGroupof Polygnotus,47525 BC;Tübingen,EberhardKarlsUnivers., Arch. Inst.5439. 63
2.5.Mulecartsattheweddingprocession.LecythusbyAmasis, 57525 BC;NewYork,Met.Mus.56.11.1.
2.6. Hades’ abductionofPersephoneonaLocrianpinax (2/24ZancaniMontuoro).
2.7.Simpleabductionofthebrideduringtheweddingprocession onaLocrianpinax(2/5ZancaniMontuoro).
65
68
69
2.8.AbductionofthebridewithHadesstandingbyonaLocrian pinax(2/30ZancaniMontuoro). 69
2.9.Abductionofthebridewithcock, flowers,andwingedhorses onaLocrianpinax(2/13ZancaniMontuoro).
70
3.1.EastandwestpedimentofthetempleofZeus,Olympia.93
3.2.WestandeastmetopesofthetempleofZeus,Olympia. 94
3.3.HeracleswrestlingwiththeCeryneianHindonthewest metopesofthetempleofZeus,Olympia. 95
3.4.HeracleshavingdefeatedtheNemeanLiononthewest metopesofthetempleofZeus,Olympia. 96
3.5.Lapith fightingacentauronthewestpedimentofthetemple ofZeus,Olympia. 96
4.1.CassandrasupplicatingastatueofAthenaandAjax.Hydria (calpistype)byCleophrades,48075 BC;Naples, Museo Nazionale81699. 136
Texts,Translations,Abbreviations Forthesakeofconvenience,referencestofragmentsofHesiodareby defaultfromtheeditionofReinholdMerkelbachandMartinWest (Oxford 31970),thosetothefragmentsofSapphofromEva-Maria Voigt(Amsterdam1971),thosetothefragmentsofPindarfromBruno SnellandHerwigMaehler(Leipzig1989),thosetothefragmentsof AeschylusfromStephanRadt(TragicorumGraecorumfragmenta 3, Göttingen1985),thosetothefragmentsofSophoclesfromStephan Radt(TragicorumGraecorumfragmenta 4,Göttingen1977),thoseto thefragmentsofEuripidesfromRichardKannicht(TragicorumGraecorumfragmenta 5,2vols,Göttingen2004).
Translationsofancientpassagesaremyown.Abbreviationsof GreekandLatinauthorsandworksfollowthelistsof AGreekEnglishLexicon (ed.H.G.Liddell,R.Scott,rev.H.S.Jones,Oxford 91940)andthe OxfordLatinDictionary (ed.P.G.W.Glare,Oxford 22012)respectively,withtheexceptionofPlutarch’ s Moralia,where essaysareabbreviatedindividually,andEuripides’ Heracles,whichis abbreviatednotas HF butas Her.Abbreviationsofmodernjournals followthelistof l’annéephilologique whereavailable.Inothercases, journalnamesaregiveninfull.
Inaddition,editors,editions,andcollectionsarereferredtowith thefollowingabbreviations:
ABFH J. Boardman, AthenianBlackFigureVases: AHandbook (London1974).
ABV J.D.Beazley, AtticBlackFigureVasePainters (Oxford1956).
Ahlberg G.Ahlberg, ProthesisandEkphorainGreek GeometricArt (Göteborg1971).
ARFH J.Boardman, AthenianRedFigureVases, TheArchaicPeriod:AHandbook (London1975). Arrighetti Epicuro:Opere,ed.G.Arrighetti(Turin1960).
ARV 2
J.D.Beazley, AtticRedFigureVasePainters (Oxford 21963).
BAPDBeazleyArchivePotteryDatabase (www.beazley.ox. ac.uk)
xiv Texts, Translations,Abbreviations
Blomfield
AeschyliAgamemnon,ed.C.J.Blomfield(London 31826).
Boardman ‘Paintedfuneraryplaquesandsomeremarkson prothesis’ , BSA 1(1955):5166.
Bothe
Buecheler
Calame
Camper
CannatàFera
CCSL
Christ
CIL
CollardMorwood
Colonna
Euripidisdramata,ed.F.H.Bothe,2vols(Leipzig 1825/6).
CarminaLatinaepigraphica,ed.F.Buecheler,2vols (Leipzig1895/7).
Alcman:Fragmenta,ed.C.Calame(Rome1983).
EuripidisElectra,ed.P.Camper(Leiden1931).
Pindarus:Threnorumfragmenta,ed.M.Cannatà Fera(Rome1990).
Corpuschristianorum:SeriesLatina,201vols (Turnhout1953).
Pindaricarminaprolegomenisetcommentariis instructa,ed.W.Christ(Leipzig1896).
CorpusinscriptionumLatinarum,20vols(Berlin 18621959).
Euripides:IphigeniaatAulis,ed.C.Collardand J.Moorwoord2vols(Liverpool2017).
Himeriideclamationesetorationescum deperditarumfragmentis,ed.A.Colonna(Rome 1955);and Sophoclisfabulae,ed.id.,3vols(Turin 197583).
Courtney TheFragmentaryLatinPoets,ed.E.Courtney (Oxford1993).
CSEL
CorpusscriptorumecclesiasticorumLatinorum, 100vols(1864).
Davies PoetarummelicorumGraecorumfragmenta,ed. M.Davies(Oxford1991).
Dawe Sophoclistragoediae,ed.R.D.Dawe,2vols (Stuttgart 31996).
Diehl2
AnthologialyricaGraeca,ed.E.Diehl,2vols (Leipzig 21936/42).
Diggle Euripides:Fabulae,ed.J.Diggle,3vols(Oxford 198194).
W.Dindorf
Euripidistragoediaesuperstitesetdeperditarum fragmenta,ed.K.W.Dindorf,3vols(Oxford 183240);and PoetarumscenicorumGraecorum Aeschyli,Sophoclis,EuripidisetAristophanisfabulae etperditarumfragmenta,ed.id.(Oxford 51869).
Drachmann ScholiaveterainPindaricarmina,ed. A.B.Drachmann,3vols(Leipzig190327).
FGrH
Texts,Translations,Abbreviations xv
DieFragmentedergriechischenHistoriker,ed. F.Jacobyetal.,18vols(Leiden1923).
Fink F.Fink, Hochzeitsszenenaufattischenschwarzund rotfigurigenVasen (Vienna1974).
Fraenkel Aeschylus:Agamemnon,ed.E.Fraenkel,3vols (Oxford1950).
Fränkel DeSimiaRhodio,ed.H.Fränkel(Göttingen1915).
GowPage TheGreekAnthology:HellenisticEpigrams,ed. A.S.F.GowandD.L.Page,2vols(Cambridge 1965);and TheGreekAnthology:TheGarlandof Philip,ed.eid.,2vols(Cambridge1968).
Günther Euripides:IphigeniaAulidensis,ed.H.C.Günther (Leipzig1988).
GVI
GriechischeVersinschriften1:Grabepigramme,ed. W.Peek(Berlin1955).
Hall ClaudiiClaudianicarmina,ed.J.B.Hall(Leipzig (1985).
Hartung Euripides’ IphigeniainAulis,ed.J.A.Hartung (Leipzig1852).
Hermann EuripidisIphigeniainAulide,ed.G.Hermann (Leipzig1831);and Aeschylitragoediae,ed.id., 2vols(Leipzig1852).
Heyne3 Pindaricarmina,ed.C.G.Heyne,3vols(Leipzig 31817).
Heyworth SextiPropertielegi,ed.S.Heyworth(Oxford2007).
Hollis Callimachus:Hecale,ed.A.S.Hollis(Oxford1990); and FragmentsofRomanPoetry,ed.id.(Oxford 2007).
KasselAustin PoetaecomiciGraeci,ed.R.KasselandC.Austin, 8vols(BerlinandNewYork1983).
KühnerGerth AusführlicheGrammatikdergriechischenSprache2: Satzlehre,ed.R.Kühner,rev.B.Gerth,2vols (HanoverandLeipzig 31898).
KühnerStegmann AusführlicheGrammatikderlateinischenSprache2: Satzlehre,ed.R.Kühner,rev.C.Stegmann,2vols (Hanover 21877/9).
Lachmann Q.ValeriiCatulliVeronensisliber,ed.K.Lachmann (Berlin1829).
LfgrELexikondesfrühgriechischenEpos,ed.B.Snelletal., 4vols(Göttingen19552010).
LloydJonesParsons SupplementumHellenisticum,ed.H.LloydJones andP.Parsons(Berlin1983).
xvi Texts, Translations,Abbreviations
LloydJonesWilson
LobelPage
LSJ
Sophoclisfabulae,ed.H.LloydJonesand N.G.Wilson(Oxford 21992).
PoetarumLesbiorumfragmenta,ed.E.Lobeland D.L.Page(Oxford1966).
AGreekEnglishLexicon,ed.H.G.Liddelland R.Scott,rev.H.S.Jones(Oxford 91940), Revised Supplement (Oxford1996).
Macleod Lucianiopera,ed.M.D.Macleod,4vols(Oxford 197287).
Markland
MorelBüchner
EuripidisSupplicesetIphigeniainAulideetin Tauris,ed.J.Markland(Leipzig1822).
Blänsdorf FragmentapoetarumLatinorumepicorumet lyricorumpraeterEnniumetLucilium,ed.W.Morel (Leipzig1927),rev.K.Büchner(Leipzig 21982),rev. J.Blänsdorf(Stuttgart 31995,Berlin 42011).
Murray Euripidisfabulae,ed.G.Murray,3vols(Oxford 190213).
Nauck
Euripidistragoediae,ed.A.Nauck,3vols(Leipzig 318845).
OEDTheOxfordEnglishDictionary,ed.J.Simpsonand E.Weiner,20vols(Oxford 21989).
OLDOxfordLatinDictionary,ed.P.G.W.Glare(Oxford 22012).
Page PoetaemeliciGraeci,ed.D.L.Page(Oxford1962); and TheEpigramsofRufinus,ed.id.(Cambridge 1978).
Pearson
Sophoclisfabulae,ed.A.C.Pearson(Oxford1924).
Pfeiffer Callimachus,ed.R.Pfeiffer,2vols(Oxford 1949/53).
PGPatrologiaecursuscompletus:SeriesGraecae,ed. J.P.Migne,161vols(Paris185766).
PL J.D.Beazley, Paralipomena:AdditionstoAttic BlackFigureVasePaintersandtoAtticRedFigure VasePainters(SecondEdition) (Oxford 21989).
Poltera Simonideslyricus,ed.O.Poltera(Basel2008).
Powell CollectaneaAlexandrina,ed.J.U.Powell (Oxford1925).
PrücknerH.Prückner, DielokrischenTonreliefs:EinBeitrag zurKulturgeschichte (Mainz1968).
Radt
Texts,Translations,Abbreviations xvii
StrabonsGeographika,ed.S.Radt,10vols (Göttingen200211);NB:pagenumbersfollowthe editionofI.Casaubon(Geneva1587)withline numbersaddedbyRadt.
Rodighiero Sofocle:EdipoaColono,ed.A.Rodighiero(Venice 1998).
RussellWilson MenanderRhetor:Epideiktikon,ed.D.A.Russell andN.G.Wilson(Oxford1981);NB:pagenumbers andlinenumbersfollowL.Spengel, RhetoresGraeci 3 (Leipzig1856).
Rutherford Pindar’sPaeans,ed.I.C.Rutherford(Oxford2001).
SchauerManuwald TragicorumRomanorumfragmenta,ed.M.Schauer andG.Manuwald,2vols(Göttingen2012).
Schneider GrammaticiGraeci2,ed.R.Schneider,3vols (Leipzig18781919).
SnellMaehler Pindaricarminacumfragmentis,ed.B.Snelland H.Maehler,2vols(Leipzig 61980/9).
Stockert Euripides:IphigenieinAulis,ed.W.Stockert,2vols (Vienna1992).
SVFStoicorumveterumfragmenta,ed.H.v.Arnim, 3vols(Leipzig19035);vol.4(indices)ed.M.Adler (Leipzig1924).
Thomson TheOresteiaofAeschylus,ed.G.Thomson,2vols (Cambridge1938).
TLLThesauruslinguaeLatinae,11vols(Leipzig1900).
Usener Epicurea,ed.H.Usener(Leipzig1887).
UsenerRadermacher DionysiiHalicarnaseiopuscula,ed.H.Usenerand L.Radermacher,2vols(Leipzig1899/1929).
Voigt SapphoetAlcaeus,ed.E.M.Voigt(Amsterdam 1971).
VS DieFragmentederVorsokratiker,ed.H.Dielsand W.Kranz,3vols(Berlin 619502).
Wachsmuth IoannisStobaeianthologiilibriduopriores,ed. C.Wachsmuth,2vols(Berlin1884).
Wecklein Aeschylifabulae,ed.N.Wecklein,2vols(Berlin 1885/93);and EuripidisIphigeniaAulidensis,ed.id. (Leipzig1899).
Weil Aeschylus:Agamemno,ed.H.Weil(Leipzig1858). West IambietelegiGraecianteAlexandrumcantati,ed. M.L.West,2vols(Oxford 2198992).
Wilamowitz Aeschylitragoediae,ed.U.v.Wilamowitz Moellendorff(Berlin1914).
xviii Texts, Translations,Abbreviations
Wilson Herodotihistoriae,ed.N.G.Wilson,2vols (Oxford2015).
ZancaniMontuoroP.ZancaniMontuoro, ‘Notesuisoggetiesulla technicadelletabellediLocri’ , ASMG 1(1954): 71106.
ZschietzschmannW.Zschietzschmann, ‘DieDarstellungderProthesis indergriechischenKunst’ , MDAI (A)(1928)53: 1747.
Introduction:ApproachingDivinity N OTIONSOFDIVINITYINARCHAIC ANDCLASSICALLITERATURE ThequestionofhowandwhenarchaicandclassicalGreekpoetry maypresenthumanindividualsasleavingbehindtheirhumanityand approachingthesphereofthegodsiscentraltothisbook.Theanswer tothisquestiondependslargelyonhowdivinityisperceivedduring theseperiods.Generalizationsarenotwithoutdifficulties.Cultural developmentsduringtheeighthtothe fifthcenturies BC mayhave resultedinchangingreligiousattitudes.Differentgenresofpoetry maydictatedifferentvisionsoftheworld.Individualauthorsmay pursuespecificagendas.Forinstance,Xenophanes’ notionofasingular,abstract,omnipotent,andomniscientdeityatthebeginning ofthe fifthcentury BC couldnotseemfurtherfromthevarietyof anthropomorphic,passionate,biased,attimesevenirrationalgodsof the Iliad andthe Odyssey,whichXenophanesexplicitlycriticizes.1 However,specificdifferencesaside,eventhesetwoseeminglyextreme notionsarebasedonsimilargeneralassumptionsaboutwhatit meanstobeadeityandliveadivinelife.Thesefundamentalassumptions,whicharelikelytopreserveaninheritedIndo-Europeanvision ofthegodsandpervadeGreekthinkingaboutdivinity,arethefocus ofthissurvey.
Throughoutarchaicandclassicalwriting,oneofthemostfundamentalattributesofthegodsisimmortality.Theterm ἀθάνατοϲ, whichetymologicallydenotessomethingorsomeonenotsubjectto
1 Cf.Xenoph. VS 21F236;forcriticismofHomer,cf.alsoF1112.Onthe influenceofepicpoetryonarchaicandclassicalreligion,seeBurkert(1977)1919. OncriticismontheHomericgodsingeneral,seeDreyer(1970)204.
GreekPraisePoetryandtheRhetoricofDivinity.FelixJ.Meister,OxfordUniversity Press(2020).©FelixJ.Meister.
DOI:10/1093/OSO/9780198847687.001.0001
2 Introduction:ApproachingDivinity death,isusedtorefertothegodsandtheparticularformofexistence enjoyedbythemfromitsearliestattestationsinepiconwards.2 As anadjective, ἀθάνατοϲ isastockepithetofthegods.Asanoun, οἱ ἀθάνατοι canserveasasynonymfor οἱ θεοί. 3 Theimportanceof referringtothegodsas οἱἀθάνατοι isillustratedbythefactthatepic conventionmakesaconsciousefforttoaccommodatethisterm.
Though ἀθανατ-involvesshortsyllablesinthreeconsecutiveplaces, theoriginallyshortinitialalphaislengthenedinepicinordertoallow usingtheterm.4 Divineimmortalityalsoconstitutesthemostbasic contrastwithhumans.Termslike βροτόϲ and θνητόϲ,bothofwhich originallydenoteastateofbeingsubjectedtodeath,are,asadjectives, combinedwith ἄνθρωποϲ or ἀνήρ and,asnouns,serveassynonyms forthem.5 SimilarobservationscanbemadeinLatin(immortalis and mortalis)6 aswellasinVedicandotherIndo-Europeanlanguages, whichsuggestsacommoninheritednotion.7
Closelyconnectedtodeathlessnessisagelessness.Inepic,theattribute ἀγήραοϲ isformulaicallycombinedwith ἀθάνατοϲ,andeither ἤματαπάντα, ‘foralldays’ ,or αἰεί, ‘always’,torefertotheimmortal lifeofthegods.8 ParallelsinVedicliteratureagainindicateanIndoEuropeannotion.9
Additionally,divinelifeischaracterizedinarchaicandclassical poetrybytheabsenceofotherfactorsthatimpedethelivesof humans.Thisisreflectedbyaconsiderablenumberofprivative adjectivesappliedtothegods.10 Thus,divinelifeis ἀκηδήϲ, ‘without
2 See LfgrE s.v. ἀθάνατος,196.710.
3 See LfgrE s.v. ἀθάνατος,197.29200.2,200.3204.62.
4 SeeK.Meister(1921)378,Chantraine(1942/53)1.989.
5 See LfgrE s.v. βροτός,101.1421,s.v. θνητός,1049.3347.
6 For immortalis asanepithetfor deus,see TLL s.v. immortalis,492.31 40,s.v. deus, 906.318.For immortalis asanoun,see TLL s.v. immortalis,492.61 6.For mortalis asan adjective,meaning ‘human’ ,see TLL s.v. mortalis,1510.3 34.For mortales asanoun, meaning ‘thehumans’ ,see TLL s.v. mortalis,1510.42 1511.6.
7 SeeWest(2007)1278withexamplesandfurtherliterature.
8 Cf. Il.2.447,8.539,12.323,17.444, Od.5.136,218,7.94,257,23.336,Hes. Th.277, 305,949,955,frr.25.28,229.78, h.Ap. 151, h.Cer. 242,260, h.Ven.214.Cf.alsoS. OC 6079.SeealsoWest(1966a)246onHes. Th.277.Theimportanceofthecombinationof deathlessnessandagelessnessisexpressedinthemythoftheeternalageingofTithonus, cf.e.g.Mimn.fr.4West, h.Ven.218 38,andnowSapph.fr.58with P.Köln XI 429.
9 SeeWest(2007)128.
10 ALatinparallelfortheseadjectivesis securus, ‘withoutworry’,andthenoun securitas,whichareoftenassociatedwithdivinity,cf.e.g.Lucr.5.82,6.58,Hor. S 1.5.101,Cic. Amic. 47.
Introduction:ApproachingDivinity worries’ ; ἄνο(υ)ϲοϲ, ‘withoutdisease’ ; ἀπήμων or ἀπήμαντοϲ, ‘without harm’ ; ἄπονοϲ, ‘withouttoil’;andgenerally ἄπειροϲ withgenitivesof somethingnegative, ‘withoutsufferingsomethingnegative.’11 Frequently,theseattributesarecombinedtoproducetheemphaticeffect ofanaphoraofinitial ἀ-. 12 Aparadigmaticexampleisencounteredin Pindar’sfr.143,whichdescribesthelifeofthegods:
Fortheyarewithoutdiseaseandwithoutoldage,withoutexperienceoftrials, havingforeverescapedtheheavysoundingpassageacrosstheAcheron.
(Pi.fr.143)
AsimilarlistofattributesisfoundinSimonides:
Fornoteventhosewholivedlongago,demigodsandsonsofmightygods, arrivedatoldagehavingcompletedalifewithouttrial,withoutdying, withoutdanger.
(Simon.fr.523Page=245Poltera)
SinceSimonidesdeniestheseattributestomortals,eventothedemigodsofmythicaltimes,itisunderstoodthattheyarefundamental prerogativesofthegods.
11 ἀκηδήϲ: Il.24.526,Hes. Th.61,489, Op.112,170,fr.229.7. ἄνο(υ)ϲοϲ:Pi.fr.143.1. ἀπήμων/ἀπήμαντοϲ:Hes. Th.955,perhapsalsofr.229.7(conj.),A. A.5534. ἄπονοϲ: A. Supp.1003,S. OC 1585;cf.alsoXenoph. VS 21F25 ἀπάνευθεπόνοιο. ἄπειροϲ:Pi. fr.143.2.
12 SeeWest(2007)1089,128.
13 ThetextprintedhereisthatofStob.4.34.14withthecorrectionofline2 proposedbyWilamowitz(1879)170=(1962)8forthetransmitted θεῶν ἐξ ἀνάκτων ἐγένοντουἷεϲ ἡμίθεοι.Polteraprintsasubstantiallyalteredtext,butsomesuggestions failtoconvince.Inline3,heprints ἄφθονον insteadof ἄφθιτον,developing ἀφθόνητον suggestedbyWilamowitz(1879)170=(1962)8.However,thepassivesenseofeither adjective(‘unenvied’)isruledout,sincealifewithouttoilanddangerisevidently enviable.Theactivesense(‘withoutfeelingenvy’)isunlikely,sinceeventhegods,who areimplicitlyreferredtointheselines,feel φθόνοϲ,asisoftenexpressede.g.inPindar. Inline4,Polteradeletes τελέϲαντεϲ andposesalacunabefore ἐϲγῆραϲ,sincehe perceives,perhapsoverlycritically,aninconsistencybetweenarrivingatoldageand completingone’slife.
Introduction:ApproachingDivinity
Solon’sfamouscharacterizationoftruehappinessinresponse toCroesus’ questionofwhetherheknowssomeoneveryfortunate (ὀλβιώτατον,Hdt.1.30.2)issimilar:
He(sc.thehappyman)maynotbeequallyabletosupportdisasteror desireastheother(sc.therichman),buthisluckkeepsthesethings awayfromhim,andheiswithoutharm,withoutdisease,without sufferingofevil,ofgoodchildrenandgoodappearance....Fora humantoacquireallofthesethingsisimpossible,butjustasnoland isselfsufficientandprovideseverythingherself,onehassomethings andlacksothers.
(Hdt.1.32.68)
Here,too,aseriesofprivativeadjectivesdefinesidealhappiness,and thefactthatthisstateisdeniedtohumansindicatesthatthishappinessis, firstandforemost,aprivilegeofthegods.
Unhinderedbyharm,toil,worry,disease,age,ordeath,divinelife isperceivedasastateofendlesssupremeandunsurpassableease andhappiness.Hence,thegodsaredescribedas ‘livingeasily’ (ῥεῖα ζώοντεϲ)inepic.17 Forthesamereason,theyarecalled ‘blessed’ (μάκαρ inGreek, beatus inLatin)throughoutantiquity.18
Thisbriefsurveyofthecommonattributesofdivinelifeoffersa firstindicationoftheaspectsofthislifetowhichhumanindividuals ofarchaicandclassicaltimesmay,incertaincircumstances,approximate.Immortality,asacombinationofdeathlessnessandagelessness, whichfundamentallydistinguishesgodsfrommortals,isnotusually
14 Thisisthetextofthemss.Powell(1949)2.687changes ἄπηροϲδέ ἐϲτι, ἄνουϲοϲ to ἄπειροϲδέ ἐϲτινούϲων,andWilsonprintsthisconjecture.Giventheextremerarityof ἄπηροϲ,whichis,outsidethelexicaandetymologica,onlyfoundin AP 7.110.3(D.L.), thisisanattractiveconjecture.
15 SupplementedbyPowell(1949)2.687.
16 ChangedbyPowell(1949)2.687fortransmitted ἑωυτῆι.
17 For θεοὶῥεῖαζώοντεϲ,cf. Il.6.138, Od.4.805,5.122,Aristid. Or.45.3.
18 On μάκαρ,itsmeaning,anditspointofreferenceinthedivinesphere,see LfgrE s.v. μάκαρ,10.2011.15,DeHeer(1969)411,esp.6;seealsoKeyssner(1932)50,69, 133,West(1978)1867onHes. Op.141,ibid.1934onHes. Op.171.On beatus asan attributeofthegods,see TLL s.v. beo,1913.2547,s.v. deus,905.52.Theadjective felix candescribedivinelifeinasimilarway,see TLL s.v. felix,439.1648.
availabletohumans.Theremaybemythicalexamplesofmortalswho arewelcomedatOlympus,likeHeracles,ortransportedtotheIsles oftheBlessedortheElysianFieldsinordertoenjoyeternallife.19 The majorityofmortals,however,evenofthemythicalagedidnot entertainanyprospectofacquiringthiskindofimmortality.20
Amorerealisticprospect,atleastforexceptionalhumans,isthe transcendenceofdeathbytwoothermeans,which,nevertheless,presupposephysicaldeath.The firstistheepicnotionof ‘undyingfame’ (κλέοϲ ἄφθιτον),whereremarkabledeedsmayoutlivetheheroperformingthem.21 ThechoiceofferedtoAchillesbyThetis,eithertowithdraw frombattleandfaceoblivionortodieawarriorandliveoninthe memoriesofmen(Il.9.412–14),isthemostfamousexpressionofthis notion.Thelyricpoets,andaboveallPindar,frequentlyrefertothis notioninordertohighlightthecommemorativepowersoftheirpoetry.22
Thesecondmeansisworshipinherocult,whereindividualmortalscontinuetoexercisesomeformofpowerbeyondtheirdeath.This kindofworship,bothformythical figuresanddeceasedhistorical persons,gainsincreasingsignificanceoverthearchaicandclassical periods.23 Thoughthisformofimmortalitymaybemore ‘literal’ than thepreservationoffameinsong,24 itsdistancefromthelivesofthe godsisconsiderable.Therecipientofsuchcultisnormallydead,25 andhisposthumousconsciousnessandpowersdependentirelyon beingsummonedbytheliving.26
19 ForHeracles,cf.e.g.Hes. Th.9505.FortheIslesoftheBlessed,cf.e.g.Hes. Op 1703.FortheElysianFields,cf.e.g. Od.4.5619,Verg. A.6.63778.
20 SignificantexceptionsareCroesus’ transportationtotheHyperboreansat B.3.5862,whichseemstoentailimmortallife(seebelow,p.121),andHarmodius’ lifeontheIslesoftheBlessedat Carm.Conv.fr.894Page.
21 SeeRedfieldap.Nagy(1979)x,Nagy(1979)174210,Nagy(1990)2445, Griffin(1980)95,RosalindThomas(1995)11314,Currie(2005)7184,West (2007)396410.
22 ForPindar,seeCurrie(2005)712andbelow,p.83.Cf.alsoSapph.fr.44.4.
23 Ingeneral,seeBurkert(1977)31219,Antonaccio(1995)19,R.Parker(1996) 339,R.Parker(2005)44551,Boehringer(2001)2546,Bremmer(2006)1520, Ekroth(2007)1036.
24 Onherocultasaformif ‘literalimmortality’,asopposedto ‘metaphorical immortality’,seeCurrie(2005)748.
25 Ondeathasapreconditionforcult,cf.e.g.S. OC 6212 ἵ
, ‘Sothatonedaymy sleepingandburiedcoldcorpsewilldrinktheirwarmblood.’ See,however,Currie (2005)79.
26 SeeEkroth(2007)11112. Introduction:ApproachingDivinity
Immortalityinsongandimmortalityinheroicworshipareboth inferiorversionsofthelivesofthegods.Inthisway,theyconstitute mereapproximationstodivinity.Theseapproximationsarerestricted tothequantitative,temporalaspectofdivinelife.However,since immortalityisnottheonlycharacteristicofdivinity,otherformsof approximationareconceivableaswell.Onprinciple,itwouldalso seempossibletocompareexceptionalqualitiesofindividualhumans tothesupremeattributesofthegods,evenifthesehumanspossess thesequalitiesonlyforalimitedperiod.Thus,extraordinaryhappinessexperiencedbyahumanindividualinacertainmomentmaybe characterizedwithareferencetodivinebliss,withoutanyimplication thatthisindividualwouldbecapable,likeadeity,ofprolongingthis experienceindefinitely.Suchreferenceswouldconstituteapproximationstothequalitativeaspectsofdivinelife.
Whereaseternalfameinsongandheroicworshiphavebeen treatedcopiouslyinthescholarshipofthelastdecades,thisapproximationtothequalitativeaspectsofdivinityhasreceivedlittleattentioninthestudiesofindividualauthorsandvirtuallynosystematic analysisatall.27 Suchananalysis,however,seemsimportantasitmay leadtoadeeperunderstandingoftheconceptionofdivinelifeandof thepreciserelationshipbetweenthehumanandthedivineinarchaic andclassicalliteratureand,withduecaution,alsoperhapsinthe historicalrealitiesoftheeighthto fifthcenturies BC.Thisbookaimsto fillinthisgap.
APPROXIMATIONSTODIVINITYAFTER
THEFIFTHCENTURY
InHellenisticandImperialGreekliteratureandinRomanliterature generally,approximationstodivinityarefoundinaspecificrangeof contextstoconveyspecificnotions.Asurveyofthesecontextsand notionsmayofferagoodvantagepointfortheanalysisofarchaicand classicalliterature.
27 AnexceptionisRoloff(1970),who,however,isonlyconcernedwithexplicit comparisons,andhereomitsasubstantialamountofpassages,particularlyfrom tragedy.
Introduction:ApproachingDivinity Incomparisonsbetweenindividualhumansandgods,oneofthe predominantunderlyingnotionsisconcernedwithextraordinary happiness,joy,andpleasure.Asystematicequationofperfecthappinessanddivinelife,andthepossibilityofapproximatingtoit,is foundinHellenisticmoralphilosophyanditslegacyinRome.28 EpicureanandStoicethicsareunitedintheirefforttoguidetheir followerstoastateof εὐδαιμονία or uitabeata.Inthisway,both schoolsappropriatenotionsthatareoriginallyassociatedwithdivine life.Thequestionofhowtheidealphilosopher,whohasattainedthis kindoflife,differsfromthegodsemerges,andtheanswersadvanced byindividualwritersarehighlyrelevantforthepresentpurposes.
Epicurus,forinstance,definesdivinityasacombinationofimmortalityandperfecthappiness.29 Immortalityisunattainabletothe mortalphilosopher.30 However,sincehappinessisderivedfrom pleasure,andpleasurefromfulfillingtheneedsofthebody,perfect divinehappinesscanbeachievediftheseneedsarecompletely satisfied:
28 IomitthePlatonicnotionof ‘approximationtogod’ , ὁ
ῶι,developed e.g.at Tht.176band R.10613b.Thisnotionisbasedondivineperfectvirtueand thereforenotderivedfromcommonconceptionsofthegodsasoutlinedabove;see alsoRoloff(1970)2006.
29 Cf.e.g.Epicur. Ep. 3.123=4.123Arrighetti
, ‘First,considerthedeity animperishableandblessedbeing,justasthecommonnotionofgodsuggests,and attachtoitnothingthatisalientoimperishabilityorincompatiblewithbliss.’ Cf.also Epicur. Ep.1.76=2.76Arrighetti,Lucr.5.117582,Cic. N.D. 1.445,Sen. Ep.92.27, S.E. M. 9.447.
30 Cf.e.g.Cotta’scriticismofVelleius’ EpicureandoctrineatCic. N.D. 1.96 ergo hocterationondocebit,cumpraestantissimanaturaquaeratureaquebeataet aeterna,quaesoladiuinanaturast,utimmortalitateuincamurabeanaturasic animipraestantiauinci,atqueutanimiitemcorporis?, ‘Hence,sinceweare searchingfortheperfectnatureandonethatishappyandeternal,whichalone isthedivinenature,willreasonnotteachyouthatweareinferiortothisnature notonlywithregardstoimmortality,butalsowithregardstoperfection,bothof themindandthebody?’
31 ⟨Διὶ⟩ issupplementedbyHartelap.Usener(1888)193=(1912)316,basedon Epicur.fr.602Usener.Thesupplementisprintedbymosteditors.Bollack(1975) 46970attemptstodefendthems.reading καὶὑπὲρεὐδαιμονίαϲμαχέϲαιτο,buthis interpretation(‘onpeutlutterpourlafélicitéaussi’)isobscureandleaves καί aswellas theoptativeunexplained.
8 Introduction:ApproachingDivinity
Thevoiceofthe fleshbidsyounottobehungry,nottobethirsty,notto feelcold.Forsomeonewhohasthesethingsandcanhopetohavethem inthefuturemayrivalevenZeusforhappiness.(Epicur. Sent.Vat. 33)
Thehighestofthegodsofthepopularpantheon,Zeushererepresents the highestconceivabledegreeofhappiness,whichthephilosopher mayattainwithinthetemporalconfinesofhismortality.32 This argumentisoftenechoedinEpicureanphilosophy.33
Despiteadifferentdefinitionofhappiness,Stoicphilosophy reachesasimilarconclusion.Here,too,divinityischaracterizedasa combinationofimmortalityandperfecthappinessand,whilemortals cannotbecomeimmortal,34 divinehappinessmaybereachedbythe idealphilosopherthroughstrictadherencetorationalvirtue:
Therefore,thevirtuousamongmenarealwayshappyineveryrespect andthebasefareill.Andthehappinessoftheformerdoesnotdiffer fromdivinehappinessnordoes,accordingtoChrysippus,momentary happinessdifferfromthatofZeusandinnorespectisthehappinessof Zeusmoredesirableormorebeautifulormorereverendthanthatofthe wisemen. (Stob.2.7.11g=Chrysipp. SVF 3p.14.813)
32 Ontheidealphilosopherlivinglikeagodamongmortals,cf.alsoEpicur. Ep. 3.135=4.135Arrighetti,Plu. Nonposse 71091bc.LongandSedley(1987)2.148 suggestthatthesepassagesmightindicateafullscaledeificationofindividualphilo sophers,butthatisnotsupportedbytheevidence.
33 Cf.alsoEpicur.fr.602Usener,Lucr.3.322,Cic. Fin.1.63,2.40,88, N.D. 1.96, Sen. Ep.25.4(cf.also119.7).ThesamesentimentisexpressedintheproposalofZago (2017)11213toalterHor. Epist.1.1.106from sapiensunominorestIove, ‘Thewise manisinferiortoJupiteralone’ to sapiensnilominorestIove, ‘Thewisemanisinferior tonoJupiter.’
34 Cf.e.g.Cic. N.D. 2.153 quaecontuensanimusaccipitcognitionemdeorum,equa oriturpietas,cuiconiunctaiustitiaestreliquaequeuirtutes,equibusuitabeataexistit paretsimilisdeorum,nullaaliarenisiimmortalite,quaenihiladbeneuiuendum pertinet,cedenscaelestibus, ‘Whenthemindconsidersthesethings,itreceivesknow ledgeofthegods,fromwhicharisespiety,withwhichisconnectedjusticeandthe remainingvirtues,fromwhichemergesahappylifeequalandsimilartothatofthe gods,inferiortothegodsinnothingbutimmortality,whichmakesnodifferencefor ahappylife.’
35 SupplementbyUsenerap.Wachsmuth. 36 SupplementbyWachsmuth.
Thisargument,too,pervadesStoicdoctrineafterChrysippus.37
EpicureanandStoicethicaldoctrinescontinuethepopularnotion ofdivinitypursuedintheprevioussectionbyconsideringimmortalityandperfecthappinessasitsmaincharacteristics.Theterminology ofbothschoolsdistinguishesrigorouslybetweenthesetwoaspects, namelybetween εὐδαιμονία, μακαριότηϲ,or uitabeata38 ontheone hand,and ἀθαναϲία, ἀφθαρϲία or immortalitas ontheother.Thisstrict distinctionisimportant,asitfacilitatestheargument,employedby bothschools,that,whereasthephilosopherisexcludedfromthe aspectofimmortality,hemay findtheaspectofhappinessbyobservingtherespectiveprecepts.
Outsideofphilosophicaldebates,comparisonswithdivinelifeare alsomadeonthegroundsofhappiness.Here,however,theterminologicaldistinctionsbetweendivinelifeandimmortalityarenotalways observed.Agoodexamplefortheblurringofthetwoaspectsisfound inoneofCicero’sletterstohisbrother:
quodscribisteaCaesarecottidieplusdiligi,immortalitergaudeo. I amimmortallypleasedthatyouwritethatCaesarappreciatesyou moreeveryday. (Cic. QF 3.1.9)
Theremarkableexpression immortalitergaudeo hereconveysthejoy thatCicerofeltonreceivinggoodnewsfromQuintus.Onthesurface, thereappearstobeaparadoxicaldiscrepancybetweenthemomentarynatureofthisjoyandtheinfinitedurationapparentlyconveyedin immortaliter.SincetheLatinterm immortalis may,liketheGreek term ἀθάνατοϲ,beusedasasynonymforthegods, immortaliter refers nottoeternallifebuttodivinelifeingeneralandtoitscharacteristic blissinparticular.39 Thoughtheexpression immortalitergaudere is withoutexactparallelsinextantLatin,40 itsformationandcasual usageinCiceromightsuggestamodelincolloquialLatin.
37 Cf.theotherpassagesassembledatChrysipp. SVF 3no.54,aswellasCic. N.D. 2.153,Sen. Dial.1.1.5,2.8.2, Ep.53.1112,73.13,Plu. Stoic.Rep. 21033cd,256 1046ce, Comm.Not. 311075c.
38 Amongthenounsderivedfrom beatus,both beatitas and beatitudo appear tobecoined firstatCic. N.D. 1.95,perhapsinordertomockEpicureanparlance; see TLL s.v. beatitas,1794.36,s.v. beatitudo,1794.61,Pease(1955/8)1.458onCic. N.D. 1.95.
39 See OLD s.v. immortalis 3.
40 See TLL s.v. immortalis,495.601.TheadverbisnotattestedbeforeCicero.
AsimilarexpressionisfoundinCicero’sspeech AgainstPiso:
unusillediesmihiquidemimmortalitatisinstarfuitquoinpatriam redii, cumsenatumegressumuidipopulumqueRomanumuniuersum, cummihiipsaRomapropeconuolsasedibussuisadcomplectendum conseruatoremsuumprogrediuisaest.
Forme,thatonesingleday,whenIreturnedhome,waslikeimmortal ity,whenIsawthesenateandthepeopleofRomegatheredoutside, whenRomeherselfseemedtometobedislodgedfromherseatandto approachmeinordertoembracehersaviour. (Cic. Pis.52)
AsinthelettertoQuintus,thereferenceto immortalitas referstoa specificexperienceinCicero’slife.Here,thetemporarynatureofthis experienceisstressedwiththeemphaticexpression unusilledies. Again,anysupposedparadoxbetweenthistemporaryexperienceand theterm immortalitas disappears,ifacolloquialequationofdivinity andimmortalityisassumed.
Similarequationsarefoundinanotherlargerliterarycontextin whichapproximationstodivinityareconventionallyemployed.This isthecontextofloveanddesire.InNewComedy,forinstance,itisa stockmotifthatthemaleprotagonistlikenshimselftoanunspecified deityoreventoJupiter.41 Inotherpassages,theprotagonistalso attributes immortalitas tohimself.42 Asopposedtothephilosophical contextexaminedabove,thereappearstobenofundamentaldistinctionbetweendivinelifeandimmortality.Allofthesereferencesoccur eitheratthe firstentryofthebelovedor,lateronintheplays,on realizingthatmarriageispossibleafterall.43 Thesereferencesare madeonthegroundsofhappiness,becausethelovercompareshis ownexperienceinthesesituationswiththesublimeblissthatcharacterizesdivinelife.Itisunderstoodthatthisapproximationtodivinity isonlytemporaryandboundtoendasthe firstrushofexcitement abates.44 Occasionalreferencesto immortalitas arethereforeinformed
41 Cf.Plaut. Cur.167 8(deus), Pers.99 100(Iuppiter), Ps.1257(dei),Ter. An.959 (deorumuita), Hau.693(deorumuita), Hec. 843(deus).Ingeneral,seealsoWebster (1953)203,Shipp(1960)196onTer. An.95960.Ontheproverbialcharacterofthese andsimilarutterances,seeOtto(1890)s.v. deus 5,Häussler(1968)s.v. deus 5.
42 Cf.Plaut. Mer. 603 4(immortalitas), Poen.275 8(immortalis),Ter. An.9601 (immortalitas).
43 Firstentry:Plaut. Cur.1678, Pers.99 100, Poen.2758.Realization:Plaut. Mer. 6034, Ps.1257,Ter. An.95961, Hau.693, Hec. 843.
44 Significantly,itisanothermotifoflovepoetrythatloversrejecteternallifeifit weretobespentwithoutthebeloved,cf.Tib.2.3.312, CIL 4.1928tab.22.7=2.2.937
