ARISTOTLE AND SAPPHO (TO THE INTERPRETATION OF ONE POETIC DIALOGUE FROM RHET. 1367а7–15) Cover Image

АРИСТОТЕЛЬ И САПФО (К ИСТОЛКОВАНИЮ ОДНОГО ПОЭТИЧЕСКОГО ДИАЛОГА ИЗ RHET. 1367а7–15)
ARISTOTLE AND SAPPHO (TO THE INTERPRETATION OF ONE POETIC DIALOGUE FROM RHET. 1367а7–15)

Author(s): Timothey Myakin
Subject(s): Ancient Philosphy, Rhetoric
Published by: Новосибирский государственный университет
Keywords: Poetic quotations in Aristotle's Rhetoric; Sappho and Aristotle; mysteries of Artemis in Mytilene; Pythias and Aristotle in Mytilene;

Summary/Abstract: In the article, I prove that the dialogical ritual obscene songs, in which Sappho “scolds” (elenchei) Gorgo and Andromeda, are the closest parallel to Aristotle's poetic dialogue of Sappho with Alcaeus (cf. Sapph. Frr. 68(a), 70, 145, 99(a) etc. Campbell; cf. Max Tyr., 18. 9 (p. 230s.) Hobein). Also I prove that this poetic dialogue was most likely included in the text of the “Rhetoric” in mid-340s., when Aristotle and his young wife Pythias were living in Mytilene. Aristotelian verb tetimekasin indicates that, even in his time, these Sapphic dialogical songs had traditionally been performed in Mytilene during religious festivals (cf. SEG XV, 517, 16–19; Schol. In Pind. Nem. II, schol. 1c, 8 etc.). It becomes clear that Aristotle, while quoting this dialogue of Sappho with Alcaeus, seeks to “elevate” Sappho over the obscene songs of the Mytilenean ritual chorus, leaving all the responsibility for aischrologia entirely with Alcaeus (cf. Arist. Pol. 1336b4–7).

  • Issue Year: XII/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 122-136
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Russian
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