Hesychius of Alexandria (Ancient Greek: Ἡσύχιος ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς, romanized: Hēsýchios ho Alexandreús, lit. 'Hesychios the Alexandrian') was a Greekgrammarian who, probably in the 5th or 6th century AD,[1] compiled the richest lexicon of unusual and obscure Greek words that has survived, probably by absorbing the works of earlier lexicographers.
The work, titled "Alphabetical Collection of All Words" (Συναγωγὴ Πασῶν Λέξεων κατὰ Στοιχεῖον, Synagōgē Pasōn Lexeōn kata Stoicheion), includes more than 50,000 entries, a copious list of peculiar words, forms and phrases, with an explanation of their meaning, and often with a reference to the author who used them or to the district of Greece where they were current. Hence, the book is of great value to the student of the Ancient Greek dialects and in the restoration of the text of the classical authors generally – particularly of such writers as Aeschylus and Theocritus, who used many unusual words. Hesychius is important, not only for Greek philology, but also for studying lost languages and obscure dialects (such as Thracian) and in reconstructing Proto-Indo-European. Many of the words that are included in this work are not found in surviving ancient Greek texts.
Hesychius' explanations of many epithets and phrases also reveal many important facts about the religion and social life of the ancients.
Hesychius was probably not a Christian. Explanations of words from Gregory Nazianzus and other Christian writers (glossae sacrae) are later interpolations.
The lexicon survives in one deeply corrupt 15th-century manuscript, which is preserved in the library of San Marco at Venice, (Marc. Gr. 622, 15th century). The best edition is by Moriz Wilhelm Constantin Schmidt [de] (1858–1868), but no complete comparative edition of the manuscript has been published since it was first printed by Marcus Musurus (at the press of Aldus Manutius) in Venice, 1514 (reprinted in 1520 and 1521 with modest revisions).
Eleanor Dickey, Ancient Greek Scholarship (Oxford 2007) 88-90
External links
Greek Wikisource has original text related to this article: Hesychius' lexicon
The new continuation of Latte's edition: Vol. III (pi through sigma), Vol. IV (tau through omega)
Hesychii Alexandrini Lexicon, Moritz Schmidt (ed.), Ienae, typis Maukij, 1867.
Hesychii glossographi discipulus et epiglōssistēs russus in ipsa Constantinopoli, sec. XII-XIII.: e Codice Vindobonensi graecorussica omnia, additus aliis pure graecis, et trium aliorum Cyrilliani lexici codicum speciminibus: aliisque miscellaneis philologici maxime et slavistici argumenti, Bartholomaeus Kopilar (ed.), Vindobonae, 1839, prostat apud G. Gerold.
Kurt Latte, Ian Campbell Cunningham (ed.), Hesychii Alexandrini lexicon: volumen I: A-Δ. Sammlung griechischer und lateinischer Grammatiker, 11. Berlin; Boston: De Gruyter, 2018. Pp. xxxvii, 660. ISBN9783110542813. €169,95. Review by Eleanor Dickey.
January 07, 2023
hesychius, alexandria, ancient, greek, Ἡσύχιος, Ἀλεξανδρεύς, romanized, hēsýchios, alexandreús, hesychios, alexandrian, greek, grammarian, probably, century, compiled, richest, lexicon, unusual, obscure, greek, words, that, survived, probably, absorbing, works. Hesychius of Alexandria Ancient Greek Ἡsyxios ὁ Ἀle3andreys romanized Hesychios ho Alexandreus lit Hesychios the Alexandrian was a Greek grammarian who probably in the 5th or 6th century AD 1 compiled the richest lexicon of unusual and obscure Greek words that has survived probably by absorbing the works of earlier lexicographers Beginning of letter p detail of Marc Gr 622 Hesychius dictionary Swiss edition 16th century The work titled Alphabetical Collection of All Words Synagwgὴ Pasῶn Le3ewn katὰ Stoixeῖon Synagōge Pasōn Lexeōn kata Stoicheion includes more than 50 000 entries a copious list of peculiar words forms and phrases with an explanation of their meaning and often with a reference to the author who used them or to the district of Greece where they were current Hence the book is of great value to the student of the Ancient Greek dialects and in the restoration of the text of the classical authors generally particularly of such writers as Aeschylus and Theocritus who used many unusual words Hesychius is important not only for Greek philology but also for studying lost languages and obscure dialects such as Thracian and in reconstructing Proto Indo European Many of the words that are included in this work are not found in surviving ancient Greek texts Hesychius explanations of many epithets and phrases also reveal many important facts about the religion and social life of the ancients In a prefatory letter Hesychius mentions that his lexicon is based on that of Diogenianus itself extracted from an earlier work by Pamphilus but that he has also used similar works by the grammarian Aristarchus of Samothrace Apion Heliodorus Amerias and others Hesychius was probably not a Christian Explanations of words from Gregory Nazianzus and other Christian writers glossae sacrae are later interpolations The lexicon survives in one deeply corrupt 15th century manuscript which is preserved in the library of San Marco at Venice Marc Gr 622 15th century The best edition is by Moriz Wilhelm Constantin Schmidt de 1858 1868 but no complete comparative edition of the manuscript has been published since it was first printed by Marcus Musurus at the press of Aldus Manutius in Venice 1514 reprinted in 1520 and 1521 with modest revisions A modern edition has been published under the auspices of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen begun by Kurt Latte vol 1 published in 1953 vol 2 posthumously in 1966 and completed by Peter Allan Hansen and Ian C Cunningham vol 3 2005 vol 4 2009 References Edit E Dickey Ancient Greek Scholarship 2007 p 88 Harry Thurston Peck Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities 1898 Eleanor Dickey Ancient Greek Scholarship Oxford 2007 88 90External links Edit Greek Wikisource has original text related to this article Hesychius lexicon The new continuation of Latte s edition Vol III pi through sigma Vol IV tau through omega Hesychii Alexandrini Lexicon Moritz Schmidt ed Ienae typis Maukij 1867 Hesychii glossographi discipulus et epiglōssistes russus in ipsa Constantinopoli sec XII XIII e Codice Vindobonensi graecorussica omnia additus aliis pure graecis et trium aliorum Cyrilliani lexici codicum speciminibus aliisque miscellaneis philologici maxime et slavistici argumenti Bartholomaeus Kopilar ed Vindobonae 1839 prostat apud G Gerold Kurt Latte Ian Campbell Cunningham ed Hesychii Alexandrini lexicon volumen I A D Sammlung griechischer und lateinischer Grammatiker 11 Berlin Boston De Gruyter 2018 Pp xxxvii 660 ISBN 9783110542813 169 95 Review by Eleanor Dickey Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hesychius of Alexandria amp oldid 1082288093, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
