Sources and Models of the Zoological Excursus in George of Pisidia’s Hexaemeron. Part 1: Aithyia, Ibis, Spider

Authors

  • Vsevolod V. Zeltchenko Mesrop Mashtots Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran), 53, pr. Mashtots, Yerevan, 0009, Armenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu20.2024.108

Abstract

This article opens a series devoted to investigating the sources of the ample zoological excursus (vv. 916–1223) in the Hexaemeron by George of Pisidia, a 7th-century Byzantine poet. Since the two attempts to find a general formula for George of Pisidia’s treatment of his models have led to directly opposite results (according to Max Wellmann, the poet distanced himself from pagan zoologists; according to Luigi Tartaglia, on the contrary, he drew material from them, favouring Aelian), it seems that the question of the poem’s sources should be addressed by a step-by-step examination of passages, paying attention to such evidence as the coincidence of minor details or words. In v. 1116 the unusual metaphor “aithyia, bending its winged cloud” (in the sense of “spreading its wings”) makes one think of an (unconscious?) association with Arat. Phaen. 918–920, where “a stretching cloud” is mentioned in the catalogue of storm’s signs in immediate juxtaposition to the flapping of the wings of seabirds. In vv. 1117–1124 (the self-cleansing of the ibis) the reference to Galen is not a mere metonymy (= “the most skillful physician”), as interpreters have hitherto thought, but points to the poet’s source: in the Galenic corpus this story is attested three times, and the passage closest to George of Pisidia’s account is [Galen.] Introd. 1.2. In vv. 1154–1159 (the structure of the web) the confused sequence of the stages of the spider’s work (first concentric circles, then radial threads), that contradicts both reality and (which is more important) the ancient tradition going back to Book IX of Historia animalium, seems to betray the influence of John Philoponus (De opif. mundi, p. 257, 24 sqq. Reinhardt). In Philoponus’ text this sequence is justified by the fact that his rhetorical passage describes, strictly speaking, not the web itself, but a drawing of it made by a “diligent geometer”.

Keywords:

George of Pisidia, Hexaemeron, ancient and Byzantine zoology, Aratus, Galen, John Philoponus

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Published

2024-10-10

How to Cite

Zeltchenko, V. V. (2024). Sources and Models of the Zoological Excursus in George of Pisidia’s Hexaemeron. Part 1: Aithyia, Ibis, Spider. Philologia Classica, 19(1), 121–133. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu20.2024.108

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Antiquitas perennis

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Articles of "Philologia Classica" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.