HUMBLE HOSPITALITY IN CALLIMACHUS' HECALE
HUMBLE HOSPITALITY IN CALLIMACHUS' HECALE

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the representation of humble hospitality in Callimachus' Hecale, one of the most influential epyllia of antiquity. The poem presents the encounter between Theseus and the elderly Hecale, who offers him shelter in her modest dwelling during a storm. Through an analysis of the fragments, the study explores the poem’s thematic innovations, such as the anti-heroic perspective, the glorification of simple life, and the neoteric reconfiguration of epic motifs. Additionally, the paper highlights Callimachus' sophisticated poetic techniques, including intertextual references, stylistic contrast, and the reinterpretation of traditional epic conventions. By focusing on the central scene of hospitality, the study demonstrates how Hecale serves as both a literary innovation and a response to earlier epic traditions, particularly Homeric narratives. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of Callimachean aesthetics and the evolution of Hellenistic poetry.

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