In Quintus of Smyrna's Posthomerica, a study of heroic characterization and heroism, Tine Scheijnen offers a thorough introduction to a late antique Greek epic poem notable for its critical Homer reception and creative (re)construction of Trojan War heroes and heroism.
Author(s): Tine Scheijnen
Series: Mnemosyne Supplements 421
Publisher: Brill
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 412
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 11
Acknowledgements......Page 16
Tables......Page 17
1.1.1. Dating Quintus......Page 19
1.1.2. The Epic in a Nutshell......Page 22
1.1.3. The Path of Scholarship......Page 29
1.2.1. Definition?......Page 34
1.2.2. Key Principles......Page 37
1.2.3. One Goal, Different Perspectives......Page 41
1.3.1. Literary Influence......Page 46
1.3.2. Narrative Composition......Page 50
1.3.3. Constructing Characters......Page 53
1.3.4. Homeric Similes......Page 56
Part 1. Heroic Characters......Page 61
Chapter 2. Penthesilea and Memnon: Two Ways to Fight Achilles......Page 63
2.1.1. Arrival......Page 65
2.1.2. Battle......Page 71
2.1.3. Post Mortem......Page 82
Excursus: Thersites......Page 88
2.2. Parallel Compositions......Page 95
2.3.1. Arrival......Page 99
2.3.2. Battle......Page 103
2.3.3. Post Mortem......Page 110
2.4. Towards Posthomerica 3: a Sealed Fate......Page 111
Chapter 3. The Death and Inheritance of Achilles......Page 114
3.1. Achilles: Iliadic Power......Page 115
3.2. Ajax: Achilleic Power......Page 128
3.2.1. Next to Achilles: Homer and Posthomerica 1......Page 129
3.2.2. Over Achilles: Posthomerica 3......Page 131
3.2.3. After Achilles: Posthomerica 4......Page 141
3.3. Odysseus: the Power of Speech......Page 149
3.3.1. Claiming to Be the Best......Page 150
3.3.2. Arguing to Be the Best......Page 156
3.3.3. The Winner Takes All......Page 164
3.4. Towards a Posthomeric Future: Who Will Win?......Page 171
Chapter 4. Neoptolemus, a New Aeacid in the Field......Page 174
4.1.1. Looking Forward to Neoptolemus......Page 180
4.1.2. Eurypylus: Looking Out for Neoptolemus......Page 183
4.2.1. Young Blood......Page 196
4.2.2. The New Champion......Page 210
4.2.3. In the Name of the Father......Page 223
4.3. Overview: What’s in a Name?......Page 227
4.3.1. Kid......Page 229
4.3.2. Neo-ptolemos......Page 231
4.3.3. Junior......Page 234
4.4.1. Not the Saviour after All?......Page 238
4.4.2. A Sidekick Arrives......Page 239
4.4.3. Through Trojan Eyes …......Page 241
Part 2. Heroism and the Sack of Troy......Page 245
Chapter 5. Reconsidering Heroic Tactics......Page 247
5.1. Change of Plan, Recipe for Disaster?......Page 249
5.2. Heroes, May the Force Be with You......Page 262
Excursus: Neoptolemus in Triphiodorus......Page 271
5.3. When a Plan Comes Together......Page 273
5.3.1. The Heroic Shortlist......Page 274
5.3.2. To Make a Name......Page 279
Chapter 6. Suffering Trojans, Victorious Achaeans......Page 289
6.1. Terror in the Streets......Page 291
6.1.1. The Risks of a Hangover......Page 292
6.1.2. Hungry Wolves......Page 297
6.2. The Gift of Mercy......Page 307
6.2.1. An Old Supplicant......Page 308
6.2.2. Two Old Supplicants......Page 313
6.2.3. Three Victims of the Sack......Page 320
6.3.1. Is It Right?......Page 324
6.3.2. How the Achaeans See It......Page 328
6.4. Towards Book 14: Unfinished Business......Page 331
Chapter 7. Heroic and Divine Power......Page 333
7.1. The Morning After......Page 334
7.2.1. Winged Words......Page 340
7.2.2. A Heroic Sacrifice......Page 355
7.2.3. Nostos Secured?......Page 361
7.3.1. Better Not Anger the Gods......Page 363
7.3.2. Titanic Stubbornness......Page 367
7.3.3. Apocalypse Now?......Page 371
7.4. The End: Towards the Odyssey......Page 374
Conclusion: Worthy of the Aeacids?......Page 377
Text Editions and Translations......Page 385
Secondary Literature......Page 388
Index Locorum......Page 403
General Index......Page 409
