Stephanus or Stephen of Byzantium (Latin: Stephanus Byzantinus; Greek: Στέφανος Βυζάντιος, Stéphanos Byzántios; fl. 6th centuryAD), was a Byzantine grammarian and the author of an important geographical dictionary entitled Ethnica (Ἐθνικά). Only meagre fragments of the dictionary survive, but the epitome is extant, compiled by one Hermolaus, not otherwise identified.
The Byzantine Empire during Stephanus' lifetime, with Justinian's conquests in green
Nothing is known about the life of Stephanus, except that he was a Greek grammarian[1] who was active in Constantinople, and lived after the time of Arcadius and Honorius, and before that of Justinian II. Later writers provide no information about him, but they do note that the work was later reduced to an epitome by a certain Hermolaus, who dedicated his epitome to Justinian; whether the first or second emperor of that name is meant is disputed, but it seems probable that Stephanus flourished in Byzantium in the earlier part of the sixth century AD, under Justinian I.[2]
The Ethnica
Even as an epitome, the Ethnica is of enormous value for geographical, mythological, and religious information about ancient Greece. Nearly every article in the epitome contains a reference to some ancient writer, as an authority for the name of the place. From the surviving fragments, we see that the original contained considerable quotations from ancient authors, besides many interesting particulars, topographical, historical, mythological, and others. Stephanus cites Artemidorus, Polybius, Aelius Herodianus, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Strabo and other writers.[3] He is the only writer to cite a lost work attributed to Sophaenetus.[4]
The chief fragments remaining of the original work are preserved by Constantine Porphyrogennetos, De administrando imperio, ch. 23 (the article Ίβηρίαι δύο) and De thematibus, ii. 10 (an account of Sicily); the latter includes a passage from the comic poet Alexis on the Seven Largest Islands. Another respectable fragment, from the article Δύμη to the end of Δ, exists in a manuscript of the Fonds Coislin, the library formed by Pierre Séguier.[5]
The first modern printed edition of the work was that published by the Aldine Press in Venice, 1502. The complete standard edition is still that of Augustus Meineke (1849, reprinted at Graz, 1958), and by convention, references to the text use Meineke's page numbers. A new completely revised edition in German, edited by B. Wyss, C. Zubler, M. Billerbeck, J.F. Gaertner, was published between 2006 and 2017, with a total of 5 volumes.[6]
Editions
Aldus Manutius (pr.), 1502, Στέφανος. Περὶ πόλεων (Peri poleōn) = Stephanus. De urbibus ("On cities") (Venice). Google Books
Thomas de Pinedo, 1678, Στέφανος. Περὶ πόλεων = Stephanus. De urbibus (Amsterdam). Contains parallel Latin translation. Google Books
Claudius Salmasius (Claude Saumaise) and Abraham van Berkel, 1688, Στεφάνου Βυζαντίου Ἐθνικὰ κατ' ἐπιτομήν Περὶ πόλεων = Stephani Byzantini Gentilia per epitomen, antehac De urbibus inscripta (Leiden). Contains parallel Latin translation. Google Books
Lucas Holstenius, 1692, Notae & castigationes in Stephanum Byzantium De urbibus (Leiden). Google Books
Thomas de Pinedo, 1725, Stephanus de urbibus (Amsterdam). Google Books
Karl Wilhelm Dindorf, 1825, Stephanus Byzantinus. Opera, 4 vols, (Leipzig). Incorporating notes by L. Holsteinius, A. Berkelius, and T. de Pinedo. Google Books
Anton Westermann, 1839, Stephani Byzantii ethnikon quae supersunt (Leipzig). Google Books
Augustus Meineke, 1849, Stephani Byzantii ethnicorum quae supersunt (Berlin). Google Books
Margarethe Billerbeck et al. (edd), Stephani Byzantii Ethnica. 5 volumes: 2006–2017. Berlin/New York: Walter de Gruyter, (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 43/1)[6][7][8]
References
^Browning, Robert (2016-03-07). "Stephanus of Byzantium". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.6074. ISBN978-0-19-938113-5. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Stephanus Byzantinus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 880.
^J. S. Richardson, Hispaniae: Spain and the Development of Roman Imperialism, 218-82 BC: "In four places, the lexicographer Stephanus of Byzantium refers to towns and ... Artemidorus as source, and in three of the four examples cites Polybius.; From political architecture to Stephanus Byzantius
^H. D. Westlake, "Diodorus and the Expedition of Cyrus", Phoenix41.3 (1987), pp. 241–254, at 251–252. JSTOR 1088192
Diller, Aubrey 1938, "The tradition of Stephanus Byzantius", Transactions of the American Philological Association 69: 333–48.
E.H. Bunbury, 1883, History of Ancient Geography (London), vol. i. 102, 135, 169; ii. 669–71.
Holstenius, L., 1684 (posth.), Lucae Holstenii Notae et castigationes postumae in Stephani Byzantii Ethnika, quae vulgo Peri poleōn inscribuntur (Leiden).
Niese, B., 1873, De Stephani Byzantii auctoribus (Kiel)
Johannes Geffcken, 1886, De Stephano Byzantio (Göttingen)
Whitehead, D. (ed.), 1994, From political architecture to Stephanus Byzantius : sources for the ancient Greek polis (Stuttgart).
July 06, 2023
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Stephanus or Stephen of Byzantium Latin Stephanus Byzantinus Greek Stefanos Byzantios Stephanos Byzantios fl 6th century AD was a Byzantine grammarian and the author of an important geographical dictionary entitled Ethnica Ἐ8nika Only meagre fragments of the dictionary survive but the epitome is extant compiled by one Hermolaus not otherwise identified Contents 1 Life 2 The Ethnica 3 Editions 4 References 5 Further readingLife Edit The Byzantine Empire during Stephanus lifetime with Justinian s conquests in green Nothing is known about the life of Stephanus except that he was a Greek grammarian 1 who was active in Constantinople and lived after the time of Arcadius and Honorius and before that of Justinian II Later writers provide no information about him but they do note that the work was later reduced to an epitome by a certain Hermolaus who dedicated his epitome to Justinian whether the first or second emperor of that name is meant is disputed but it seems probable that Stephanus flourished in Byzantium in the earlier part of the sixth century AD under Justinian I 2 The Ethnica EditEven as an epitome the Ethnica is of enormous value for geographical mythological and religious information about ancient Greece Nearly every article in the epitome contains a reference to some ancient writer as an authority for the name of the place From the surviving fragments we see that the original contained considerable quotations from ancient authors besides many interesting particulars topographical historical mythological and others Stephanus cites Artemidorus Polybius Aelius Herodianus Herodotus Thucydides Xenophon Strabo and other writers 3 He is the only writer to cite a lost work attributed to Sophaenetus 4 The chief fragments remaining of the original work are preserved by Constantine Porphyrogennetos De administrando imperio ch 23 the article Ibhriai dyo and De thematibus ii 10 an account of Sicily the latter includes a passage from the comic poet Alexis on the Seven Largest Islands Another respectable fragment from the article Dymh to the end of D exists in a manuscript of the Fonds Coislin the library formed by Pierre Seguier 5 The first modern printed edition of the work was that published by the Aldine Press in Venice 1502 The complete standard edition is still that of Augustus Meineke 1849 reprinted at Graz 1958 and by convention references to the text use Meineke s page numbers A new completely revised edition in German edited by B Wyss C Zubler M Billerbeck J F Gaertner was published between 2006 and 2017 with a total of 5 volumes 6 Editions EditAldus Manutius pr 1502 Stefanos Perὶ polewn Peri poleōn Stephanus De urbibus On cities Venice Google Books Guilielmus Xylander 1568 Stefanos Perὶ polewn Stephanus De urbibus Basel Thomas de Pinedo 1678 Stefanos Perὶ polewn Stephanus De urbibus Amsterdam Contains parallel Latin translation Google Books Claudius Salmasius Claude Saumaise and Abraham van Berkel 1688 Stefanoy Byzantioy Ἐ8nikὰ kat ἐpitomhn Perὶ polewn Stephani Byzantini Gentilia per epitomen antehac De urbibus inscripta Leiden Contains parallel Latin translation Google Books Lucas Holstenius 1692 Notae amp castigationes in Stephanum Byzantium De urbibus Leiden Google Books Thomas de Pinedo 1725 Stephanus de urbibus Amsterdam Google Books Karl Wilhelm Dindorf 1825 Stephanus Byzantinus Opera 4 vols Leipzig Incorporating notes by L Holsteinius A Berkelius and T de Pinedo Google Books Anton Westermann 1839 Stephani Byzantii ethnikon quae supersunt Leipzig Google Books Augustus Meineke 1849 Stephani Byzantii ethnicorum quae supersunt Berlin Google Books Margarethe Billerbeck et al edd Stephani Byzantii Ethnica 5 volumes 2006 2017 Berlin New York Walter de Gruyter Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 43 1 6 7 8 References Edit Browning Robert 2016 03 07 Stephanus of Byzantium Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics doi 10 1093 acrefore 9780199381135 013 6074 ISBN 978 0 19 938113 5 Retrieved 2021 10 02 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Stephanus Byzantinus Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 25 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 880 J S Richardson Hispaniae Spain and the Development of Roman Imperialism 218 82 BC In four places the lexicographer Stephanus of Byzantium refers to towns and Artemidorus as source and in three of the four examples cites Polybius From political architecture to Stephanus Byzantius H D Westlake Diodorus and the Expedition of Cyrus Phoenix 41 3 1987 pp 241 254 at 251 252 JSTOR 1088192 Chisholm 1911 p 880 a b de Gruyter Reviewed by C Neri in Reviewed by Martin L WestFurther reading EditSmith W Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology vol 3 s v Stephanus 2 of Byzantium Diller Aubrey 1938 The tradition of Stephanus Byzantius Transactions of the American Philological Association 69 333 48 E H Bunbury 1883 History of Ancient Geography London vol i 102 135 169 ii 669 71 Holstenius L 1684 posth Lucae Holstenii Notae et castigationes postumae in Stephani Byzantii Ethnika quae vulgo Peri poleōn inscribuntur Leiden Niese B 1873 De Stephani Byzantii auctoribus Kiel Johannes Geffcken 1886 De Stephano Byzantio Gottingen Whitehead D ed 1994 From political architecture to Stephanus Byzantius sources for the ancient Greek polis Stuttgart Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephanus of Byzantium amp oldid 1160598237, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
