Part 5

The Contest of Homer and Hesiod

This curious work dates in its present form from the lifetime or shortly after the death of Hadrian, but seems to be based in part on an earlier version by the sophist Alcidamas (c. 400 B.C.). Plutarch (Conviv. Sept. Sap., 40) uses an earlier (or at least a shorter) version than that which we possess 1118. The extant Contest, however, has clearly combined with the original document much other ill-digested matter on the life and descent of Homer, probably drawing on the same general sources as does the Herodotean Life of Homer. Its scope is as follows: (1) the descent (as variously reported) and relative dates of Homer and Hesiod; (2) their poetical contest at Chalcis; (3) the death of Hesiod; (4) the wanderings and fortunes of Homer, with brief notices of the circumstances under which his reputed works were composed, down to the time of his death.

The whole tract is, of course, mere romance; its only values are (1) the insight it give into ancient speculations about Homer; (2) a certain amount of definite information about the Cyclic poems; and (3) the epic fragments included in the stichomythia of the Contest proper, many of which—did we possess the clue—would have to be referred to poems of the Epic Cycle.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

HESIOD.—The classification and numerations of MSS. here followed is that of Rzach (1913). It is only necessary to add that on the whole the recovery of Hesiodic papyri goes to confirm the authority of the mediaeval MSS. At the same time these fragments have produced much that is interesting and valuable, such as the new lines, Works and Days 169 a-d, and the improved readings ib. 278, Theogony 91, 93. Our chief gains from papyri are the numerous and excellent fragments of the Catalogues which have been recovered.

Works and Days:—

S Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1090.

A Vienna, Rainer Papyri L.P. 21-9 (4th cent.).

B Geneva, Naville Papyri Pap. 94 (6th cent.).

C Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2771 (11th cent.).

D Florence, Laur. xxxi 39 (12th cent.).

E Messina, Univ. Lib. Preexistens 11 (12th-13th cent.).

F Rome, Vatican 38 (14th cent.).

G Venice, Marc. ix 6 (14th cent.).

H Florence, Laur. xxxi 37 (14th cent.).

I Florence, Laur. xxxii 16 (13th cent.).

K Florence, Laur. xxxii 2 (14th cent.).

L Milan, Ambros. G 32 sup. (14th cent.).

M Florence, Bibl. Riccardiana 71 (15th cent.).

N Milan, Ambros. J 15 sup. (15th cent.).

O Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2773 (14th cent.).

P Cambridge, Trinity College (Gale MS.), O.9.27 (13th-14th cent.).

Q Rome, Vatican 1332 (14th cent.).

These MSS. are divided by Rzach into the following families, issuing from a common original:—

Ωa = C

Ωb = F, G, H

Ψa = D

Ψb = I ,K, L, M