The Traveling Reader: Journeys through Ancient Epigram Books

In ancient literature writing and reading are frequently equated with wayfaring. Given the origins of the genre, the image of the traveling reader gains a special meaning in the context of epigram collections: the reception situation of epigraphic poetry, which forms part of antiquity's materia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTransactions of the American Philological Association (1974) Vol. 137; no. 2; pp. 333 - 369
Main Author Regina Höschele
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Baltimore The Johns Hopkins University Press 01.10.2007
Johns Hopkins University Press
Subjects
Anthologies
Antiquity
Classical literature
Cluster on Literary and Material Culture in Hellenistic Greece
Collections
Epigrams
Epitaphs
Latin literature
Literature
Lyric poetry
Memorials & monuments
Metaphor
Narrative poetry
Paleography
Pastoral poetry
Phaedrus
Poetry
Travel
Travelers
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Summary:In ancient literature writing and reading are frequently equated with wayfaring. Given the origins of the genre, the image of the traveling reader gains a special meaning in the context of epigram collections: the reception situation of epigraphic poetry, which forms part of antiquity's material culture, is transferred to the literary landscape of the bookroll, and the traditional passer-by morphs into a metaphorical wanderer. Just as inscriptions are concerned with catching the traveler's attention, the epigrams contained within a libellus have to attract the interest of the reader who is moving through the book.
ISSN:0360-5949
1533-0699
2575-7180
1533-0699
2575-7199
DOI:10.1353/apa.2008.0010