schironi

An excerpt from The Best of the Grammarians, by Francesca Schironi

Aristarchus’ Legacy By preparing his working text where he deleted lines which were probably spurious (for example, lines which were not well attested in the manuscript tradition), Aristarchus to a large extent determined the text of Homer that we still read today, as the disappearance of the ‘wild papyri’ seems to prove94 .Yet the importance … Read more

Andras Nemeth interview

An interview with András Németh, author of The Excerpta Constantiniana and the Byzantine Appropriation of the Past

Andras, thank you for taking the time to talk to us about your book. Can you tell us a little about your work with Greek manuscripts, and what led you to take an interest in the Excerpta Constantiniana? Your line of academic work is very specialised, as is the Byzantine book that you are writing about. Could you set the scene for the general reader, and tell us what your book is about?

When I was a student of Latin, Greek and history in Budapest, I was always fascinated by manuscripts. I very soon discovered that I can spot details in manuscripts, handwritten books, which others had failed to notice.

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Nemeth

An excerpt from The Excerpta Constantiniana and the Byzantine Appropriation of the Past, by András Németh

The proem to the Excerpta survives via two independent channels. The text of both is identical and contains the name of the first collection (Inauguration of the Emperors). All those, both among the emperors of old and the persons of no public station, who did not allow their mind to be turned aside or weakened … Read more

An excerpt from The Gardens of Corfu, by Rachel Weaving, with photos by Marianne Majerus

Corfu Gardens: Ancient Myth and Modern Magic Greenest of the Greek islands, Corfu exerts a powerful magic. For those who seek them out, its natural landscapes and private gardens evoke a sense of wonder: expansive and intimate, restorative and energising, they offer joy and solace in a stressful world. It was in pre-Classical times that … Read more