Homer the Rhetorician: Eustathios of Thessalonike on the Composition of the Iliad

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This volume analyses the rhetorical thought of Eustathios of Thessalonike in his monumental Commentary on the Iliad. Van den Berg examines Eustathios' presentation of Homer to an audience of aspiring writers in the Byzantine period. Cover Homer the Rhetorician: Eustathios of Thessalonike on the Composition of the Iliad Copyright Dedication Acknowledgements Contents Note on Editions, Translations, and Abbreviations Introduction Eustathios of Thessalonike and Komnenian Byzantium Homer in Byzantium Homer the Rhetorician Eustathios on the Composition of the Iliad 1: The Proem to the Commentary on the Iliad: Eustathios’ Hermeneutic Programme The Wise Homer and His Erudite Exegete Homer’s Enchantment: Homeric Poetry as the Song of Sirens and an Aural World Wonder Homer’s Authority: The Poet as Ocean and Host Eustathios as Erudite Exegete: The Commentary as Lodging and the Commentator as Cook Homer and Eustathios as Teachers of Rhetoric Rhetoric and Homeric Poetry Eustathios’ Project Eustathios on History, Myth, and Allegory in Homeric Poetry Myth and History in Homeric Poetry Eustathios’ Allegorical Method Conclusion 2: The Skilful Composition of the Iliad Ancient Literary and Rhetorical Theories on Skilful Composition Aristotle on the Poetic Plot The scholia vetera on Homer’s Composition Narrative Arrangement in the Rhetorical Handbooks Eustathios on Homer’s Skilful Selection and Arrangement of Subject Matter Selecting the Subject Matter: The Trojan War and the Honour of Achilles Arranging and Elaborating the Iliad: οἰκονομία and διασκευή Principles and Techniques of Homer’s Skilful Composition Homeric Variation and Additional Episodes Avoiding Monotony and Offsetting Flatness: Historical Narratives Imparting and Displaying Knowledge: Similes Comforting the Pro-GreekListener: Advance Announcements and Advance Presentations Unexpectedness, Surprise, Novelty, and the Spice of Duels Expanding the Poem: Elaborations and Erroneous Questions Eustathios on Homer’s Skilful Composition: The Catalogue of Ships as Case Study Eustathios on Homeric Similes The Place and Function of the Catalogue of Ships The Arrangement of the Catalogue: Greeks, Trojans, Achilles Conclusion 3: The Plausible Composition of the Iliad Plausibility in Ancient Literary Criticism and Rhetorical Theory Aristotle on the Probability and Necessity of the Poetic Plot The Scholia Vetera on Plausibility and Trustworthiness Plausibility of Fable and Narrative in John of Sardis’ Commentary on Aphthonios Hermogenes’ Commentators on Plausibility Eustathios on Homeric Techniques for Establishing Plausibility (1): Plausible Content The Truth-Loving Homer: Plausibility through Correspondence to Reality Beyond Truth: Plausibility through Internal Consistency and Mythical Precedents Plausibility at Risk (1): Homeric Daring Eustathios on Homeric Techniques for Establishing Plausibility (2): Presentation and Formulation Plausible Presentation: The Power of Detail Unambiguous Formulation: Plausibility and Safety Enargeia and the Graphic Quality of Homer’s Style Plausibility at Risk (2): Daring Epiphonemata and Metaphors Eustathios on Homer’s Plausible Composition: Priam’s Visit to Achilles as Case Study Conclusion 4: The Gods and the Composition of the Iliad The Homeric Gods in Ancient and Byzantine Exegesis Homeric Allegoresis in Antiquity: Palaephatus, Cornutus, Heraclitus, Ps.-Plutarch, Porphyry The Scholia Vetera on the Gods in Homer: Poetic Freedom and Allegorical Interpretation Homeric Allegoresis in Byzantium: Psellos, Galenos, Tzetzes Eustathios on the Gods in Bodily Form The Gods of Poetry Divine Plans and the Plausible Course of Events Deliberately Created Difficulties and Divine Interventions The Gods as Allegories of the Poet’s Intellect Zeus as the Mind of the Poet The Muse as the Poet’s Knowledge Athena as the Poet’s Prudence and Skilfulness Hermes as the Poet’s Eloquence The Gods as Anagogical Allegories Allegory and the Plausibility of the Iliad Tzetzes on the Homeric Gods as Natural Allegories Conclusion Epilogue APPENDIX I: The Proem to the Commentary on the Iliad APPENDIX II: Eustathios on Homeric Similes APPENDIX III: Eustathios on Invocations of the Muses References Glossary General Index Index Locorum