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Aphthonius, Ekphrasis

The document discusses the concept of ecphrasis, which is descriptive language that vividly depicts people, places, events, and objects. It provides examples from Homer and Thucydides to illustrate ecphrasis. The passage also notes that ecphrasis can be either single, describing one thing, or compound, combining descriptions of multiple things.

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Andrei Dumitrescu
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128 views1 page

Aphthonius, Ekphrasis

The document discusses the concept of ecphrasis, which is descriptive language that vividly depicts people, places, events, and objects. It provides examples from Homer and Thucydides to illustrate ecphrasis. The passage also notes that ecphrasis can be either single, describing one thing, or compound, combining descriptions of multiple things.

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Andrei Dumitrescu
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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chp3.

qxd 1/7/2003 10:52 AM Page 117

PRELIMINARY EXERCISES OF APHTHONIUS THE SOPHIST 

abundance before the rivalry. Now my lot is one of weeping for each
child and grieving at the loss of what was a source of pride.
Where can I turn? What can I hold to? What kind of tomb will
suffice for the destruction of so many dead children? My honors
have ended in misfortunes. But why do I laments these things, when
it is possible to ask the gods to change my nature for another? I see
but one escape from my misfortunes, to change into a substance that
feels nothing. Yet I am more fearful lest even in that form I may
continue weeping.
. ON ECPHRASIS
Ecphrasis (ekphrasis) is descriptive language, bringing what is
shown clearly before the eyes. [R] One should describe both per-
sons and things, occasions and places, dumb animals and, in addi-
tion, growing things: persons, as Homer does, “He was round
shouldered, dark skinned, woolly haired”; things, as description of
a naval battle and an infantry battle, as does the historian (i.e.,
Thucydides); occasions, like spring and summer, saying what flow-
ers they produce; places, as the same Thucydides (.) speaks of
Chimerium, the harbor of the Thesprotians, telling what shape it
has. In making an ecphrasis of persons one should go from first
things to last, that is, from head to feet; and in describing things, say
what preceded them, what is in them, and what is wont to result,
and describe occasions and places from what surrounds them and
what is in them.
Some ecphrases are single, some compound: single, like [] de-
scriptions of an infantry or naval battle, compound, like those com-
bining things and occasions together, as Thucydides (.–) de-
scribes the night battle in Sicily; for he specified how the battle was
conducted and what the night was like.
In composing an ecphrasis, one should make use of a relaxed
style [R] and adorn it with varied figures and, throughout, cre-
ate an imitation of the things being described.


Zeus changed her into a weeping stone on Mount Sipylon, pointed out to
later travelers.

Of Eurybates in Odyssey ..

Cf. Libanius, vol. , pp. – and –, ed. Foerster.

I.e., without periods and enthymemes; cf. John of Sardis, ad loc.

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