Images of Eternal Beauty in Funerary Verse Inscriptions of the Hellenistic and Greco-Roman Periods
Series: - Mnemosyne, Supplements, Volume: 352
In 'Images of Eternal Beauty in Funerary Verse Inscriptions of the Hellenistic and Greco-Roman Periods Andrzej Wypustek provides a study of various forms of poetic heroization that became increasingly widespread in Greek funerary epigram.
The deceased were presented as eternally young heroes, oblivious of old age and death, as stars shining with an eternal brightness in heavens or in Ether, or as the ones chosen by the gods, abducted by them to their home in the heavens or married to them in the other world (following the examples of Ganymede, Adonis, Hylas and Persephone). The author demonstrates that, for all their diversity, the common feature of these verse inscriptions was the praise of beauty of the dead.
The deceased were presented as eternally young heroes, oblivious of old age and death, as stars shining with an eternal brightness in heavens or in Ether, or as the ones chosen by the gods, abducted by them to their home in the heavens or married to them in the other world (following the examples of Ganymede, Adonis, Hylas and Persephone). The author demonstrates that, for all their diversity, the common feature of these verse inscriptions was the praise of beauty of the dead.
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Andrzej Wypustek, Ph.D. (1998), University of Wrocław, Poland, is associate professor of ancient history at the Institute of History of that university. He is the author of a number of scholarly articles and three books on various aspects of ancient history.
“Wypustek's book is provocative and stimulating, and raises further questions (…) The selection of epigrams, many of which not commonly known, is fascinating and a source of pleasure to the reader.” Julia Lougovaya-Ast, sehepunkte 13 (2013), Nr. 11 [15.11.2013].
"[T]he book offers a welcome and well-argued alternative view of Hellenistic and Roman funerary epigrams that succesfully questions previous soteriological and eschatological interpretations of the material. (...) Certainly, one of the most pleasant features of this study is the ability of its author always to remain critical without ever appearing dogmatic." Joannis Mylonopoulos, Mnemosyne 67 (2014), 513-517.
"[T]he book offers a welcome and well-argued alternative view of Hellenistic and Roman funerary epigrams that succesfully questions previous soteriological and eschatological interpretations of the material. (...) Certainly, one of the most pleasant features of this study is the ability of its author always to remain critical without ever appearing dogmatic." Joannis Mylonopoulos, Mnemosyne 67 (2014), 513-517.
Classical philologists, ancient historians, classical archaeologists; all interested in ancient, Greek-Roman religion, literature and art; Hellenistic and Greek-Roman history and archaeology.