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ΠΕΡΙ ΑΕΡΩΝ Περ ρων und die Sammlung der
Hippokratischen Schriften. By Ludwig Edelstein. Pp. viii
+ 188. (Problemata: Heft IV.) Berlin: Weidmannsche
Buchhandlung, 1931.
A. L. Peck
The Classical Review / Volume 45 / Issue 05 / November 1931, pp 179 - 180
DOI: 10.1017/S0009840X00056584, Published online: 27 October 2009
Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0009840X00056584
How to cite this article:
A. L. Peck (1931). The Classical Review, 45, pp 179-180 doi:10.1017/S0009840X00056584
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THE CLASSICAL REVIEW 179
may admit, perhaps, but are we really author aims at (and attains) clarity of
to take seriously the argument that, diction rather than a distinctively poetic
because Sophocles won the prize with style. It is on the whole literal, but
a play in which Philoctetes has two sometimes the Italian is hardly adequate
spasms of pain, he meant to make more to the force of the Greek word, e.g.
certain of it by letting Heracles have 685 iroKvtyfKov ( a m a t o ) , 719 <r<pa\ij<reTai
four ? Or that he was underlining (muore), 1060 ayXwo-o-o? (Asia). He is
former phrases when e.g. he makes also somewhat squeamish about the
H e r a c l e s cry 77 8' aZ fxiapa fipv/cei, <f)ev, acceptance of lines as genuine. Pear-
whereas Philoctetes had only said son's text brackets five, but though
fipvKOfjMi, TBKVOV? He accounts for the Signor Perrotta accepts two of these
paucity of avTikafiai in so late a play (684 and 696), he finds reasons for
by the comparative absence of dialogue rejecting twelve others. Forty pages
in contrast with long speeches; he of analysis follow under twenty-two
ignores the economy in the use of the heads, where the various dramatic
third actor. But there is another points are discussed. There are also
argument, which he does not notice, two useful appendices, one on the
that seems to tell strongly against his oracles of the play and another on the
view. Can we believe that in 409 myth of the capture of Oechalia. The
Heracles came with all the majesty of book concludes with a short discussion
a deus ex machina, and one or two years of a few textual points.
later died as a mortal ? A. S. OWEN.
A translation follows in which the Keble College, Oxford.
nEPI AEPftN.
Ilept aepaov und die Sammlung der To ask who the author of ir. aepwv
Hippokratischen Schriften. By L U D - vBdraiv TOTTWV was implies the previous
WIG EDELSTEIN. Pp. viii + 188. question, who Hippocrates was. To
(Problemata: Heft IV.) Berlin: deal with this, Herr Edelstein traces
Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1931. the growth of the Hippocrates-myth,
Paper, M. 12. the final version of which represents
THE problem of Hippocrates and the Hippocrates as the ' father of medicine,'
Hippocratic corpus is a perennial one, whereas the earlier evidence shows that
and Herr Edelstein's work, if it does he was an expert in only one branch of
not claim to have given a solution, may medicine—namely, dietetics—in which
reasonably claim to have begun with he made notable advances. A similar
the first things first, thereby seriously process of development and accretion
attempting to strike the path which can be traced in respect of the doctrines
ought to be followed. He begins with of Hippocrates and of his writings.
an examination of the structure of Here, too, the testimony of later
7T. aepatv vSdreov TOTTCOV, a n d c o n c l u d e s authors is at variance with that of
that it is a conflation of two originally Plato and Aristotle. It was the anti-
separate treatises, the first of which is quarian enthusiasm of later men which,
simply prognostic. This leads to an looking for writings of the great
inquiry into the purpose of ancient Master, found ready to hand the
medical prognosis, and the social and several treatises which have come down
psychological conditions which gave to us, and gave them out as the works
rise to it. The conclusion here is that of Hippocrates. Herr Edelstein takes
prognosis was not in the first place an the extreme view that, judged by
outcome of the desire for knowledge or internal evidence, hardly any two of
even for mastery over disease, but of a the treatises can be attributed to any
desire to win the confidence of the one author.
patient and so to secure at the outset Some of these hypotheses are new,
favourable conditions for the physician others are not; but they are all honest
to work in. attempts to deal with problems at the
i8o THE CLASSICAL REVIEW
source. The book is pleasantly written of various editions. Herr Edelstein is
and well printed, and should be useful compelled to refer to the pages of Corpus
not only to specialists but also to those medicorum graecorutn, Kiihlewein, and
who need an introduction to the Hippo- Littre". When (very occasionally) he
cratic corpus, a statement of some of omits to give the title of the treatise,
the chief problems inherent in it, and a this system becomes even more ob-
sensible outline of the method by which viously unsatisfactory. Perhaps some-
they can be solved. thing could be done by determining
There ought to be by now some sections in Littre"'s chapters, and citing
standardised system for referring to the by title, chapter, and section.
Hippocratic treatises, more convenient A. L. PECK.
and significant than references to pages Chrisfs College, Cambridge.
MORE ZENON PAPYRI.
Zenon Papyri in the University of Michi- to say that he has performed his task
gan Collection. By CAMPBELL COWAN with his usual mastery. The papyri
EDGAR. Pp. xiv + 211; 6 plates. here published vary from small scraps
Ann Arbor: University of Michigan to fine pieces in almost perfect preser-
Press, 1931. $ 3.50. vation and from documents which con-
T H E Zenon papyri are probably the tain nothing of importance to some
largest, as they are certainly among the which, while hardly ranking with the
richest in historical information and dozen or so most remarkable texts from
general interest, of all the archives of this archive, are of exceptional interest;
Greek papyri yet found in Egypt. The but it is no disparagement of their
extensive collection at Florence has quality to say that the most valuable
been fully published in successive feature of the volume is probably the
volumes of the series of Papiri greci e introduction, in which Mr. Edgar, from
latini issued by the Societa Italiana, his accumulated experience and in the
and the majority of the still larger light of the most recent material, sums
number at Cairo have been edited by up the main facts at present known
Mr. Edgar in three big volumes of the about Apollonius and Zenon and their
Catalogue General, though enough re- circle. This introduction is to be
main to fill at least one further volume; warmly commended to the notice not
but there are still many awaiting only of papyrologists but of all inter-
publication elsewhere. The present ested in Hellenistic history, and econo-
volume, printed by the Oxford Univer- mics. A few points call for special
sity Press and provided with several comment. Edgar remarks that soon
excellent facsimiles and a good air- after Zenon's arrival at Philadelphia his
photograph of the site of Philadelphia, predecessor Panakestor ' seems to have
goes some way towards completing the been transferred to another station,
work of making the archive accessible probably to an estate of Apollonios in
to students of the Hellenistic period. the Memphite nome.' This can be
It contains the texts of 120 papyri, with confirmed and supplemented by the
commentary and, usually, translations, help of a recently acquired British
as well as an introduction of 60 pages Museum papyrus (Inv. No. 2854) in
dealing with Zenon himself, his em- which Panakestor acknowledges the
ployer Apollonius, and various questions r e c e i p t irapa TlocreiScoviov TOV e/i Me/j.<f>ei
raised by his archive. rpaire^iTov Kara TO nrapk 'AiroWcoviov
The Michigan authorities are to be <JV(L[SO\OV ex T^? yivofievrj<; 'AnoWmviov
congratulated on their decision to en- o-vvrdgea)!} of his oijrwviov for the month
trust their Zenon papyri to Mr. Edgar, of Daisios in the thirtieth year. The
whose unrivalled knowledge of the word avpfioXov is clearly used in the
collection and the period of Egyptian not uncommon sense of a warrant for
history to which it belongs makes him payment, and the document is no doubt
an ideal editor. It is hardly necessary a receipt for Panakestor's salary. He
