V. V. Fayer. Hexameter of the astrological poem by Manetho (pp. 926–932)

Author

V. V. Fayer (National Research University "Higher School of Economics", Poletayev Institute for Theoretical and Historical Studies in the Humanities)

Keywords\n metrics, Greek hexameter, Manetho, statistic analysis

Pages\n 926–932

Summary\n

Astrological text Ἀποτελέσματα by Manetho is in many respects untypical for hexametric poetry of the Imperial period. First, it has larger proportion of spondees (31%) than any extant extensive Greek text, although in this period hexametric poetry had strong tendency to use more dactyls. Second, the proportion of shorter and longer words in the poem is very close to that of Homer and in particular Hesiodus unlike Hellenistic and late epic texts. Furthermore, Manetho prefers penthemimeral caesura to word-break κατὰ τρίτον τροχαῖον and often uses elision (almost 70 per 100 verses). These peculiarities are important and evident enough to let us speak of special modeling of Greek hexameter by Manetho as opposed to Nonnian reformation of epic verse.

References\n

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