The Geoponica or Geoponika (Greek: Γεωπονικά) is a twenty-book collection of agricultural lore, compiled during the 10th century in Constantinople for the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. The Greek word Geoponica signifies "agricultural pursuits" in its widest sense. It is the only surviving Byzantine agricultural work.
During the Macedonian Renaissance, the emperor Constantine VII assembled several compendia - compilations and excerpts of ancient writings - of which Geoponika was one. Around 50 manuscripts, dating from between the 10th and 16th centuries, have survived. Geoponika incorporated the work of Cassianus Bassus, which was compiled from an earlier work by Vindonius Anatolius.[1]
The 10th century collection is sometimes (wrongly) ascribed to the 7th century author Cassianus Bassus, whose collection, also titled Geoponica, was integrated into the extant work. Bassus drew heavily on the work of another agricultural compiler, Vindonius Anatolius (4th century). The ultimate sources of the Geoponica include Pliny, various lost Hellenistic and Roman-period Greek agriculture and veterinary authors, the Carthaginian agronomist Mago, and even works passing under the name of the Persian prophet Zoroaster. (The names of the principal sources for each section are attached to the text, although the age and correctness of these attributions remains in doubt.) The Greek manuscript tradition is extremely complex and not fully understood. Syriac, Pahlavi, Arabic and Armenian translations attest to its worldwide popularity and complicate the manuscript tradition still further.
Beckh, Henricus, ed. (1895). Geoponica sive Cassiani Bassi scholastici de re rustica eclogae (in Ancient Greek) (reprint 1994 ed.). Leipzig: Teubner. ISBN3-598-71387-8.
External linksedit
PDF: "Kêpopoiïa: Garden-Making and Garden Culture in the Greek Geoponica," in Byzantine Garden Culture, ed. A. Littlewood et al. (Washington, 2002), 159-175[permanent dead link]
Discussion of the Geoponica by John N. Lupia, III, from the LT-ANTIQ listserve, with bibliography 2005-03-13 at the Wayback Machine
Translation by Thomas Owen (1805-06)
February 16, 2024
geoponica, geoponika, greek, Γεωπονικά, twenty, book, collection, agricultural, lore, compiled, during, 10th, century, constantinople, byzantine, emperor, constantine, porphyrogenitus, greek, word, signifies, agricultural, pursuits, widest, sense, only, surviv. The Geoponica or Geoponika Greek Gewponika is a twenty book collection of agricultural lore compiled during the 10th century in Constantinople for the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus The Greek word Geoponica signifies agricultural pursuits in its widest sense It is the only surviving Byzantine agricultural work During the Macedonian Renaissance the emperor Constantine VII assembled several compendia compilations and excerpts of ancient writings of which Geoponika was one Around 50 manuscripts dating from between the 10th and 16th centuries have survived Geoponika incorporated the work of Cassianus Bassus which was compiled from an earlier work by Vindonius Anatolius 1 Contents 1 Sources 2 Contents 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksSources editThe 10th century collection is sometimes wrongly ascribed to the 7th century author Cassianus Bassus whose collection also titled Geoponica was integrated into the extant work Bassus drew heavily on the work of another agricultural compiler Vindonius Anatolius 4th century The ultimate sources of the Geoponica include Pliny various lost Hellenistic and Roman period Greek agriculture and veterinary authors the Carthaginian agronomist Mago and even works passing under the name of the Persian prophet Zoroaster The names of the principal sources for each section are attached to the text although the age and correctness of these attributions remains in doubt The Greek manuscript tradition is extremely complex and not fully understood Syriac Pahlavi Arabic and Armenian translations attest to its worldwide popularity and complicate the manuscript tradition still further Contents editThe Geoponica embraces all manner of agricultural information including celestial and terrestrial omina viticulture oleoculture apiculture veterinary medicine the construction of fish ponds and much more Taken from Charles Anthon s Manual of Greek Literature 1853 1 Of the atmosphere and of the rising and setting of the stars 2 Of general matters appertaining to agriculture and of the different kinds of corn 3 Of the various agricultural duties suitable to each month 4 5 Of the cultivation of the vine 6 8 Of the making of wine 9 Of the cultivation of the olive and the making of oil 10 12 Of horticulture 13 Of the animals and insects injurious to plants 14 Of pigeons and other birds 15 Of natural sympathies and antipathies and of the management of bees 16 Of horses donkeys and camels 17 Of the breeding of cattle 18 Of the breeding of sheep 19 Of dogs hares deer pigs and of salting meat 20 Of fishesSee also editColumella Andalusi agricultural corpus AgronomicsReferences edit Byzantine Garden Culture Dumbarton Oaks 2002 p 162 Bibliography editGeoponika Farm Work Translated by Dalby Andrew Totnes Prospect Books 2011 ISBN 978 1 903018 69 9 Beckh Henricus ed 1895 Geoponica sive Cassiani Bassi scholastici de re rustica eclogae in Ancient Greek reprint 1994 ed Leipzig Teubner ISBN 3 598 71387 8 External links editPDF Kepopoiia Garden Making and Garden Culture in the Greek Geoponica in Byzantine Garden Culture ed A Littlewood et al Washington 2002 159 175 permanent dead link Discussion of the Geoponica by John N Lupia III from the LT ANTIQ listserve with bibliography Archived 2005 03 13 at the Wayback Machine Translation by Thomas Owen 1805 06 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geoponica amp oldid 1201688201, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
