Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)

The so-called Libraries or " library Apollodorus " is a probably dating from the 1st century AD, wrote in Greek extensive compilation of ancient myths. It represents a valuable source to Greek Mythology

Emergence time and author

As is mentioned by Rhodes as the author of the Chronicles in the traditional text Kastor, this narrated in 20 fragments chronicle to the year 61/60 BC and it extends further no reason to believe is, that a post inserted at a later date was thus the earliest possible date the emergence of the Libraries is given. Generally, a formation in the 1st or 2nd century AD, is believed today. A plausible Latest date of origin can not be specified, since the first datable citation is found in the Bibliotheca of Photius Byzantine from the 9th century. References to the Libraries in the Homer scholia are not datable.

The Libraries has been ascribed by the grammarian Apollodorus of Athens Photios. Photius quotes the title of the work as " Büchleinchen Apollodorus, a grammarian ." Since Apollodorus of Athens, however, was already at work late 2nd century BC, he is out of the question as the author. Whether it is in the Libraries a pseudepigraphy or whether a random name similarity (the name Apollodorus was common ) cause of the write-up is or whether, as suspected by Diller, the frequent mention of the "real" Apollodorus in a similar context as the Libraries in the Homer scholia led to confusion, can not be clarified.

Textual tradition

The text of the Libraries is not completely preserved. Originally consisting of four books, the first and second part is completely preserved, the third part ends abruptly with 3.16.2.1 ( Dräger 3218 ), the fourth part was missing originally completely. In the oldest, probably dating from the 14th century manuscript R ( Pari Sinus graecus 2722, Bibliothèque nationale, Paris) are obtained from the original of 29 leaves 17.

By happy coincidence, the young scientist Richard Wagner the Codex Vaticanus was 1885 in the Vatican Library graecus 950 (Handwriting E) as an Epitome (ie an extract ) identify the Libraries, of which 73 printed pages 23 the lost part to the reported Photios cover the work ends. 1891 this text was published by Wagner under the title Epitome Vaticana.

1887 had the Greek scholar Anastasios Papadopoulos Kerameus discovered in 1891, which he edited under the title Fragmenta Sabbaitica text in the reorganization of the library of the monastery of St. Sabbas in Jerusalem, which contained parts of the 3rd and the end of the fourth part of the Libraries (Handwriting S).

Other manuscripts (but which represent copies of R) are kept in the Bodleian Library in Oxford and at the Bavarian State Library in Munich.

Was published in print for the first time the Libraries of Aegius ( Benedetto Aegio of Spoleto ) in Rome in 1555.

Content

The Libraries is roughly divided into three main parts:

• Origin of gods ( Theogony, 1.1.1-1.6.3 )
• Development of human and heroic legends ( 1.7.1 -E2 )
• Events surrounding Troy (E3 - E7)

Within the heroic legends, the content essentially divided genealogically:

• Descendants of Deucalion ( 1.7.1-1.9.28 ) Offspring of Aeolus, ( 1.9.1-1.9.15 )
• Colchians ( Medea, Argonauts, 1.9.16-1.9.28 )

• Descendants of Belus ( Perseus, Heracles, 2.2.1-2.8.5 )
• Descendants of Agenor ( Cadmus, 3.1.1-3.7.7 )
• Descendants of Pelasgos ( Lycaon, 3.8.1-3.9.2 )

• Pleiades (Helena, Dioscuri, 3.10.1-3.11.2 )
• Descendants of Dardanus ( Priam, 3.12.1-3.12.6.3 )

Classification and source value

Disregard and contempt of Libraries has a long tradition, starting with Photius, who describes the Libraries as " Büchleinchen " ( βιβλιδάριον ), it was not useless for those interested in antiquities like. It extends to the present day: In Small Pauly Heinrich Dorrie draws the conclusion: " The compilation ... has little value as sources. "

Especially in the recent research, however, the Libraries will be highly appreciated. Paul Dräger about calls her " a jewel of inestimable value. " With such a different view are probably the following causes a devaluation of the Libraries basis:

Eben This last point established on the other hand, the high estimate of the Libraries as a central source for the Greek mythology. Exact balancing of differences, omissions and additions makes it indeed probable that although the text probably dates from the early Imperial period, which reflects material content of an archaic tradition, which is out in a few fragments nowhere else survived. That is, are represented slightly different because the author of Libraries has not or only poorly remembered, but it seems plausible that about certain episodes of the Odyssey or the Argonautica of Apollonius of Rhodes in the Libraries therefore not missing or relevant parts are missing, because they represent a poetic invention of Homer and Apollonius and therefore do not appear in the sources used by the author of the Libraries.

In this context, an otherwise difficult inexplicable omission heard: The Roman Empire is mentioned at any point, even there is not where it would offer itself, for example in connection with Aeneas or the fabled train of Heracles by Italy. If the source (s ), dated the Libraries, for example, from the 6th century BC, the omission would be only natural, since the Roman Empire at that time simply did not exist.

As a real source of Libraries is therefore assumed " mythographisches manual", which referred his material from the obtained only in fragments works of Pherecydes of Athens and the Acusilaus of Argos. Even Hesiod's Catalogue of Women ( γυναικῶν κατάλογος ) was identified as the source. Since this material in turn is rooted in a pre-Homeric, oral tradition ( epic Kyklos ), the Libraries it therefore provides unique view of an archaic layer of the Greek myth.

Expenditure

• Apollodorus: Libraries. Gods and heroes. Greek and German. Edited, translated and annotated by Paul Dräger. Series Tusculum. Artemis & Winkler, Dusseldorf / Zurich 2005, ISBN 3-7608-1741-6.
• Apollodorus: Gods and Heroes of the Greeks. Eingel. , Ed. and trans. Kai Brodersen. Ancient Library. University Press, Darmstadt 2012, ISBN 978-3-534-25246-6
• James George Frazer ( translator's ): Apollodorus. The library. 2 vols Loeb Classical Library. London / New York 1921. ( Frazer integrated the traditional text with the material from manuscripts E and S to form a coherent text. )
• Richard Wagner ( ed.): Apollodori librarians. In: Mythographi Graeci. Bibliotheca scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana. Vol 1 Teubner, Leipzig, 1926. Reprint 1965. ( Today authoritative edition of the Greek text. )