Scrinium Classical Antiquity

PAGE, D., Sappho and Alcaeus. An Introduction to the Study of Ancient Lesbian Poetry. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1955. IX,340p. Cloth wrps. Wrps bit worn. Pencil annotation from WGA on p.301. With initials from Prof. W.G. Arnott on free endpaper. Page's book on Sappho and Alcaeus is a companion to 'Poetarum Lesbiorum Fragmenta', and it is advisable that those who read Page's book should have P.L.F. at their elbow for reference; thanks however, to the full concordances which Page provides in his first index, readers should be able to follow his arguments fairly well if they have access to Diehl and Bergk. Part i is devoted to Sappho (pp.3-146), and is divided into two sections. The first (3-109) deals with twelve poems, covering practically all the poems by Sappho of which it is possible to gain any coherent idea. Each of these poems is dealt with in the same way: first the text is set out (...), and then we have a translation, a commentary on points of detail, and a more general interpretation (...). These detailed studies are followed by a second section (110-146) on 'The contents and Character of Sappho's Poetry', in which Page discusses such matters as the number of books intro which the Alexandrian edition of Sappho's works was divided and the distribution of the poems among the books (...) the parts played by the gods (especially Aphrodite) and by heroes and heroines in Sappho's poetry (...). And though it remains true that de gustibus non disputandum, yet it must be said that few lovers of poetry are likely to be satisfied with Page's views of Sappho as a poet. (...) It is a relief to turn (...) to the calm and scholarly atmosphere of Part ii (147-317), in which he deals with the non-political poems of Alcaeus. His account of the historical background (both political and literary) of Alcaeus' works is certain to be recognized as a most important contribution to our knowledge of that hitherto all but unknown period (...). Our gratitude to Professor Page for his masterly treatment of Alcaeus may be allowed to compensate for our doubts about his views on Sappho.' (J.A. DAVISON in The Classical Review (New Series), 1957, pp.21-23). From the library of the late Prof. W. Geoffrey Arnott. € 45.00 (Antiquarian)

PAGE, D., Sappho and Alcaeus. An Introduction to the Study of Ancient Lesbian Poetry. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1970. Photomechanical reprint 1st ed.1955. IX,340p. Original burgundy cloth. Spine gilt titled. Head and tail spine a tiny bit bumped. Ex libris glued to paste-down endpaper. Pages a little bit yellowed. Page's book on Sappho and Alcaeus is a companion to 'Poetarum Lesbiorum Fragmenta', and it is advisable that those who read Page's book should have P.L.F. at their elbow for reference; thanks however, to the full concordances which Page provides in his first index, readers should be able to follow his arguments fairly well if they have access to Diehl and Bergk. Part i is devoted to Sappho (pp.3-146), and is divided into two sections. The first (3-109) deals with twelve poems, covering practically all the poems by Sappho of which it is possible to gain any coherent idea. Each of these poems is dealt with in the same way: first the text is set out (...), and then we have a translation, a commentary on points of detail, and a more general interpretation (...). These detailed studies are followed by a second section (110-146) on 'The contents and Character of Sappho's Poetry', in which Page discusses such matters as the number of books intro which the Alexandrian edition of Sappho's works was divided and the distribution of the poems among the books (...) the parts played by the gods (especially Aphrodite) and by heroes and heroines in Sappho's poetry (...). And though it remains true that de gustibus non disputandum, yet it must be said that few lovers of poetry are likely to be satisfied with Page's views of Sappho as a poet. (...) It is a relief to turn (...) to the calm and scholarly atmosphere of Part ii (147-317), in which he deals with the non-political poems of Alcaeus. His account of the historical background (both political and literary) of Alcaeus' works is certain to be recognized as a most important contribution to our knowledge of that hitherto all but unknown period (...). Our gratitude to Professor Page for his masterly treatment of Alcaeus may be allowed to compensate for our doubts about his views on Sappho.' (J.A. DAVISON in The Classical Review (New Series), 1957, pp.21-23). € 30.00 (Antiquarian)

PAGEL, W., Paracelse. Introduction à la médecine philosophique de la Renaissance. Arthaud, n.p., 1963. 403p. ills.(B&W line drawings). Paperback with dust wrps. Head spine a little bit worn and repaired with adhesive tape. Small tear in free endpaper. Pages a bit yellowed due to paper quality. Series: Collection Signe des Temps XX. Translated by Michel Deutsch. ‘Si un livre mérite de se trouver non seulement entre les mains de tout médecin cultivé, mais aussi dans la bibliothèque de l’humaniste d’aujourd’hui, c’est bien cet ouvrage sur Paracelse.’ (CHRISTIAN DEDET in Esprit, 1965, p.595). From the library of Professor Carl Deroux. € 22.50 (Antiquarian)

PAGELS, E., Adam, Eva und die Schlange. Die Theologie der Sünde. Deutsch von K. von Neff. Rowohlt, Hamburg, 1991. 352p. Hard bound with pictorial dust wrps. Original title: Adam, Eve, and the Serpent. (1988). € 15.00 (Antiquarian)

PAGET, R., Human Speech. Some Observations, Experiments, and Conclusions as to the Nature, Origin, Purpose and Possible Improvement of Human Speech. Kegan Paul / Harcourt, London / Ne York, 1930. XIV,360p. Richly ills.(175 B&W photographs and line drawings). Cloth. Prize book St. Paul's School, Apposition 1936, Classical Lower Eight, Second Prize for K.J. Dover. Small personal library mark and name on free endpaper. Nice copy.From the library of the late Sir Kenneth James Dover. € 37.50 (Antiquarian)

PAILLER, J.-M., Les mots de Bacchus. Presses Universitaires du Mirail, Toulouse, 2009. 127p. Paperback. Bacchus, le Dionysos des Grecs, est le dieu antique qui parte le plus à notre imaginaire. Né de Zeus et d'une mortelle, tantôt proche ami des hommes, tantôt le pire ennemi de qui ne le reconnaît pas, il guide de par le monde son cortège dansant d'êtres humains et divins. Possédé et détenteur de la mania qui s'empare de ceux qui le suivent, il dispense des bienfaits ambivalents, et ses qualités l'ont fait passer à la postérité du monde antique. De Rabelais ou Ronsard à Nietzsche et à René Girard, du Titien à Picasso et au cinéma, sa survie multiforme fait de lui un dieu toujours vivant, et pas seulement par la 'dive bouteille'. Cette figure fascinante, offerte à tous en face à face, se présente ici à travers ses images, sa musique, ses parcours et apparitions sans trêve. (Publisher's information). From the library of Prof. Carl Deroux. € 8.00 (Antiquarian)

PAINE, St.W., Beginning Greek. A Functional Approach. Oxford University Press, New York, 1961. XXII,327p. Hard bound. € 30.00 (Antiquarian)

PALLADAS, Epigrammen. Grieks - Nederlands. Vertaald en van aantekeningen voorzien door Allard Schröder. Styx Publications, Groningen, 1998. VIII,190p. Paperback. Plasticized. (Rare). 'De archetypische leraar is een verbitterd en bespot mens, verontwaardigd over de teloorgang van kennis, manieren en fatsoen. Leraren beginnen veelal begeesterd met de bestorming van het bastion. Ze eindigen even vaak nurks, gekwetst en onbegrepen. Geen beroepsgroep ziet immers meedogenlozer het verglijden van de tijd: telkens weer jonge spruiten, maar zelf wordt ze alleen maar ouder en grijzer. (....) Zo'n leraar uit de vierde eeuw na Christus, overgangstijd bij uitstek, was Palladas. Van zijn deceptie kunnen wij nu kennis nemen dankzij de eerste integrale bundeling van zijn overgeleverde poëzie, ingeleid, vertaald en van noten voorzien door Allard Schroder. Het boek verkent een weinig gangbaar terrein en is daarom alleen al een aanwinst. Dankzij de parallel met het heden strekt het ook tot lering en vooral vermaak. Palladas schreef epigrammen. De Nederlandse term voor dit genre, puntdicht, is misleidend. In de oudheid hoefde een epigram niet per se een pointe te hebben. Oorspronkelijk, in de archaïsche tijd, waren epigrammen letterlijk opschriften: de sprekende stenen bij graven en monumenten. In de Hellenistische tijd weekte het epigram zich los van zijn monumentale context en emancipeerde tot een literair genre, waarin naast fictieve graf- en wijdingsinscripties ook plaats was voor Wein, Weib und Gesang alledaagse voorvallen, korte adviezen en reflecties. Kenmerkend contrast met de lyriek, was een sterke distantie, de ironisering van het poetische ik. Tegelijkertijd overheerste, door het voortdurend terugkeren van het vergankelijkheids-thema, een vederlichte melancholie. Dat heeft grote gedichten op de vierkante millimeter opgeleverd. Wanneer in de derde eeuw na Christus, met zijn chaos en desintegratie, niet alleen de stemmen in steen maar ook het literaire epigram verstomt, lijkt het genre dood. Maar Palladas - omgeven door barbaren en Christenen, eenzaam in een wegkwijnend Alexandrie - neemt het aan het eind van de vierde eeuw plotseling weer op. Zo schakelt hij het Hellenistische verleden van het genre aan zijn Byzantijnse toekomst.' (DAVID RIJSER in NRC Boeken, 31.12.1998). € 30.00 (Antiquarian)

PALLADIO, A., Die vier Bücher zur Architektur. Nach der Ausgabe Venedig 1570 I Quattro Libri dell'Architettura aus dem Italienischen übertragen und herausgegeben von A. Beyer und U. Schütte. Verlag für Architektur Artemis, Zürich/München, 1984. 2nd ed. 470p. ills. Paperback. € 47.50 (Antiquarian)

PALLOTINO, Massimo, The Meaning of Archaeology. Harry N. Abrams Publishers, NewYork, n.d.(>1968). 350p. Richly ills. (314, incl. 29 in full colour). Cloth wrps. € 23.00 (Antiquarian)