Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Ainoi, logoi, mythoi By Gert-Jan van Dijk p 79f

The basic meaning of ainos is "spoken words with a hidden meaning." In this meaning ainos occurs twice in the Iliad (23.652, 795), once in the Odyssey (14.508). Ainos "fable" comes under this heading. Only seven fables are termed are termed ainos in Greek literature:

-Archaic period: Hes. 2F1, Archil.4F1-2
-Hellinistic period: Call 20F2; D.S. 38F2
-Imperial period: Stesich. 7T3 (Conon); Call 20T10 (Dieg).
-Byzantine Period: Macar. 5.9

The fables from Hesiod and Archilochus are the oldest three fables extant in Greek literature. After the Archaic Period, ainos ('fable') seems to become obsolete. In ten passages from the Imperial period, however, ainos occurs as a terminus technicus designating "fable" as a genre: Quint. G18b, Theon G20c, Luc. Tarrh. G21, Ps.Diogenian G28, Theo Sm. g29, (Ps.-?) Ptol. Ascal. G37, anon. peri anoun G39, Jul. G50, Nicol. G54a, S in Hes. G65.

Theon derives derives ainos from pareinesis, "since a fable contains some exhortation" ...


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