Aristarchus' Exegesis on Ancient Lyric

Objective

AREXAL will investigate the exegetical works of Aristarchus of Samothrace (3rd–2nd c. BC), one of the most influential scholars of antiquity. While his studies on Homer are well known, his engagement with Greek lyric poets such as Sappho, Pindar, and Alcaeus has never been systematically studied, despite its importance for the transmission of European literary heritage. The project has three main objectives: (1) to collect and analyse all surviving fragments of Aristarchus’ works on lyric poetry, preserved in papyri and medieval manuscripts, and provide them with an English translation; (2) to reconstruct Aristarchus’ scholarly methods and his role in shaping the lyric canon; (3) to investigate the reception and transmission of these works from the Hellenistic to the Byzantine era. AREXAL will achieve these aims by combining philology, papyrology, and codicology within a training and research programme hosted in Geneva and Pavia. This interdisciplinary approach will ensure a reliable reconstruction of Aristarchus’ scholarship and its long-term impact on ancient and medieval literary culture. The expected outcome is a monograph including the collected material, translation, introduction, and commentary. This will fill a crucial gap in classical studies, establish a new reference point for research on ancient scholarship, and contribute to a better understanding of the foundations of European culture.