The only known epigram by Speusippus is preserved in Philodemus’ Index Academicorum (PHerc. 1021, col. 6,34-38) and was written on the occasion of his dedication of statues of the Charites to the Muses. A rereading of a crucial word in the papyrus reveals the true reason for Speusippus’ gift: The gifts of the Muses. Furthermore, the new reading leads to a second polyptoton in the epigram so that it now sounds much more polished and sophisticated.

Journal Name: Philologus Issue: Ahead of print.

The article argues that the genuine first name of Philo of Larissa was in fact ‘Philio’. This claim is based on two new readings ‘Philio’ in our earliest (certain) source for the name, Philodemus’ Index Academicorum, which put other early evidence into perspective. Three other essentially independent and reliable witnesses have the reading ‘Philio’ too. Furthermore, several Cicero manuscripts preserve various examples of the alternative reading ‘Philio’. The reading ‘Philo’ in some other sources might be a mistake or a kind (...) of nickname. (shrink)

From a new reading in Philodemus’ Index Academicorum (PHerc. 1021, col. XXXVI) emerges that Phanostratos, pupil of Charmadas, stems from the Carian city of Tralleis and enjoyed good reputation for psychagogy of masses, both hitherto unknown facts.

Considering the fair amount of ancient authors who compiled works on the subject of the ‘History of Philosophy’, it is remarkable—and regrettable—that there is no solid basis for a comparative analysis of their structures. Most ancient histories of philosophy are only preserved in a few fragments or excerpts and hardly allow any meaningful non-trivial comparison of the structure and order of the philosophers and schools discussed. The only more or less entirely preserved ‘History of Philosophy’ is Diogenes Laertius’ famous treatise. (...) Although his work seems to offer an idiosyncratic rendering in some respects, and is hardly representative of the genre, some structural similarities with Sotion's Διαδοχαί (Successions) can be identified. Generally, a crucial question concerning the structure is how the philosophers and their schools were arranged in these works. Did the works basically follow a chronological order? How were the Διαδοχαί arranged? Were certain schools or philosophers dealt with together in a single book or in more than one book, or were they presented in a certain order? (shrink)

Philodemus' History of the Academy represents a valuable treatise on Greek philosophical schools containing much unique information on Plato and on the development of the Academy under his successors. The so called Index Academicorum is a draft version preserved in a Herculaneum papyrus, which has been reread and reedited on the basis of innovative papyrological criteria and pioneering imaging techniques. The text is now very different from former editions and reveals countless new facts on various Academic philosophers. The edition and (...) the commentary provide new insights of interdisciplinary relevance into ancient philosophy, biography, literature and the ancient process of writing a book. (shrink)