179-205

Lucretius as imitator of Homer

Μελέτες-Articles

• Νικολαΐδης, Αναστάσιος Γ.

According to the ancient principles of successful literary imitation, set mostly by Longinus, Lucretius is an ideal imitator not only of Epicurus, whom he imitates as far as content is concerned, but also of Homer, whom he imitates as regards the form. After arguing that Lucretius has not been influenced by Hesiod, the father of didactic poetry, we proceed to discuss the ways with which our poet appropriates and transforms the Homeric epos so that it may fit his own contexts and serve his own purposes. Lucretius’ Homeric loans are of three kinds: simple words or phrases (formulae), whole lines, whole passages. Exemplifying these imitations, we observe that Lucretius, apart from few cases where he simply translates or paraphrases his source, brings several changes, both quantitative (by way of condensing or expanding) and qualitative (different contexts, meaning, emphasis, wording, imagery, similes etc.), to his model. Occasionally, he also combines elements belonging to different passages, and even to different poems. However, we deny the view according to which Lucretius’ differentiations and divergences from Homer are meant as a criticism or parody of his poetry. Lucretius’ poetical genius consists in his ability to incorporate his borrowings in a completely new literary setting which, without suppressing its ultimate source, highlights and serves only our poet’s aims.

• Languages and Literature
• History and Archaeology

• Λογοτεχνία

αρχαία ελληνική επική ποίηση

Το παρόν μελέτημα προέκυψε από την ομότιτλη ανακοίνωση του Αναστάσιου Γ. Νικολαΐδη στο Ε' Πανελλήνιο Συμπόσιο Λατινικών Σπουδών, Αθήνα, 5-7/11, 1993