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Etymology and the Rewriting of the Homeric Hymn to Apollo in Apollonius Rhodius 2.669–719

  • Athanassios Vergados
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Ancient and Medieval Greek Etymology
This chapter is in the book Ancient and Medieval Greek Etymology

Abstract

This paper explores how the etymologies presented in the Thynias episode in Apollonius Rhodius Argonautica 2.669-719 take issue with the etymological explanations of Apollo’s name and of some of his divine appellations in the HomericHymn dedicated to him. It argues that the deployment of etymology in this episode effectuates a collapse of poetic authorities: while the Homeric poet’s etymological etiologies are corrected by Apollonius’ Orpheus, whose song is presented in reported (character) speech, Orpheus’ song itself is corrected by the Argonautica’s narrator who makes his presence abundantly clear and signals the progress in the understanding of linguistic and cultic matters that has taken place since the mythical times of Orpheus and the Argonauts. This conclusion conforms with analyses that view the relationship between Orpheus and the narrator of the Argonautica as antagonistic. Finally, Apollonius’ engagement with the Homeric Hymn to Apollo and its etymologies of Apolline matters demonstrates that any authority granted through etymology is only provisional. The etymology may be adapted when a clearer understanding about the past (including through the consultation of more modern/ written sources) is available. In this sense, etymology and the quest for authoritative origins embedded in language is a dynamic process that constantly undergoes revision.

Abstract

This paper explores how the etymologies presented in the Thynias episode in Apollonius Rhodius Argonautica 2.669-719 take issue with the etymological explanations of Apollo’s name and of some of his divine appellations in the HomericHymn dedicated to him. It argues that the deployment of etymology in this episode effectuates a collapse of poetic authorities: while the Homeric poet’s etymological etiologies are corrected by Apollonius’ Orpheus, whose song is presented in reported (character) speech, Orpheus’ song itself is corrected by the Argonautica’s narrator who makes his presence abundantly clear and signals the progress in the understanding of linguistic and cultic matters that has taken place since the mythical times of Orpheus and the Argonauts. This conclusion conforms with analyses that view the relationship between Orpheus and the narrator of the Argonautica as antagonistic. Finally, Apollonius’ engagement with the Homeric Hymn to Apollo and its etymologies of Apolline matters demonstrates that any authority granted through etymology is only provisional. The etymology may be adapted when a clearer understanding about the past (including through the consultation of more modern/ written sources) is available. In this sense, etymology and the quest for authoritative origins embedded in language is a dynamic process that constantly undergoes revision.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface VII
  3. Contents IX
  4. List of Abbreviations XI
  5. List of Tables XIII
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I: Linguistic Issues
  8. The Philosophy of Etymology in the Περὶ ἐτυμολογιῶν of Orion of Thebes 13
  9. Multiple Etymologies: Plural, Alternative, Complementary Etymologies 41
  10. The Concepts of ‘Barbarism’ and ‘Solecism’ in the Byzantine Etymologica 101
  11. Part II: Etymology and Etiology
  12. Etymology and Cosmological Revisionism in Pherecydes of Syros 141
  13. Etymology and the Rewriting of the Homeric Hymn to Apollo in Apollonius Rhodius 2.669–719 173
  14. Etymology as Explanation in Hellanicus of Lesbos’ Fragments 197
  15. Apollodorus in Pergamum, or the Reconciliation of Opposites 219
  16. Etymologies in the Margins: Etymological Practices in the Scholia on Apollonius’ Argonautica 257
  17. Etymology as a Teaching Tool for Learning Geography: Eustathius of Thessalonica’s Parekbolai on Dionysius Periegetes 279
  18. Celebrating the Hidden Essence of the Gods: The Etymology of Theonyms as a Source of Divine Revelation in Proclus’ Commentary on the Cratylus 297
  19. Part III: Literary and Playful Use of Etymology
  20. The Role of Etymology in the Formation of a Symbol: The Fourth Homeric Hymn to Hermes 331
  21. The Opening Riddle of Plato’s Cratylus 375
  22. Ridentem dicere uerum: Etymology and Humor in Varro and Plutarch 391
  23. Etymological Wordplay: Greek Philology as an Important Mediation between Greek and Latin Poetry of Erudition 413
  24. List of Contributors 431
  25. Index Notionum/Rerum 435
  26. Index Nominum 439
  27. Index Verborum 443
  28. Index Locorum 449
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111572796-006

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface VII
  3. Contents IX
  4. List of Abbreviations XI
  5. List of Tables XIII
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I: Linguistic Issues
  8. The Philosophy of Etymology in the Περὶ ἐτυμολογιῶν of Orion of Thebes 13
  9. Multiple Etymologies: Plural, Alternative, Complementary Etymologies 41
  10. The Concepts of ‘Barbarism’ and ‘Solecism’ in the Byzantine Etymologica 101
  11. Part II: Etymology and Etiology
  12. Etymology and Cosmological Revisionism in Pherecydes of Syros 141
  13. Etymology and the Rewriting of the Homeric Hymn to Apollo in Apollonius Rhodius 2.669–719 173
  14. Etymology as Explanation in Hellanicus of Lesbos’ Fragments 197
  15. Apollodorus in Pergamum, or the Reconciliation of Opposites 219
  16. Etymologies in the Margins: Etymological Practices in the Scholia on Apollonius’ Argonautica 257
  17. Etymology as a Teaching Tool for Learning Geography: Eustathius of Thessalonica’s Parekbolai on Dionysius Periegetes 279
  18. Celebrating the Hidden Essence of the Gods: The Etymology of Theonyms as a Source of Divine Revelation in Proclus’ Commentary on the Cratylus 297
  19. Part III: Literary and Playful Use of Etymology
  20. The Role of Etymology in the Formation of a Symbol: The Fourth Homeric Hymn to Hermes 331
  21. The Opening Riddle of Plato’s Cratylus 375
  22. Ridentem dicere uerum: Etymology and Humor in Varro and Plutarch 391
  23. Etymological Wordplay: Greek Philology as an Important Mediation between Greek and Latin Poetry of Erudition 413
  24. List of Contributors 431
  25. Index Notionum/Rerum 435
  26. Index Nominum 439
  27. Index Verborum 443
  28. Index Locorum 449
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