Counting the Letters of the Alphabet. A Reading of Plutarch, Quaestiones convivales 9.3

The last book of Plutarch’s Quaestiones convivales contains several discussions of literary and grammatical topics. The present article focuses on Quaest. conv. 9.3, which deals with the number of the letters in the alphabet. This question is raised by ‘Plutarch’ to Hermeias the geometer. It is first argued that this qualifies as an excellent sympotic question (according to Plutarch’s own standards). Then, attention is given to the solution proposed by ‘Plutarch’ himself (738DE), to the learned reply by Hermeias (738EF), and to the final critical evaluation by Zopyrio (738F-739A). This detailed interpretation of the Quaestio should help in revealing the argumentative dynamics of Plutarch’s philosophical approach in the Quaestiones convivales.

Plu., An seni 784C-D: Textual and Exegetical Problems

The aim of this article is to reflect on the different exegetical possibilities of An seni 784C-D through the analysis of the history of modern translations and critical editions. At the end of the paper, an interpretative hypothesis and a textual comment to An Seni 784C-D are given.

Demosthenes and Philip’s Death

This paper aims to analyse the episode about Demosthenes’ reaction to Philips’ death both in Aeschines and Plutarch, comparing persuasive devices used by each writer when searching for the audience response that each of them wants. Firstly, we will verify the rhetorical strategies from forensic oratory that Aeschines uses in Against Ctesiphon to portray Demosthenes as a threat to community welfare. Finally, we will emphasise epideictic techniques in the Life of Demosthenes, which allow Plutarch to show a much more favourable image of Demosthenes than Aeschines does.

One, Dyad, Same and Diverse. On Plutarch’s An. Procr. 24 (Cherniss)

This paper deals with chapter 24 from Plutarch’s An. Procr. This piece of text is extremely complex and philosophically rich, but it might seem to be obscure and inconsistent, on the face of it. My purpose is to claim Plutarch’s overall consistency, by showing his ability to combine heterogeneous pieces of philosophy within the unitarian framework of Plato’s philosophy.

Wonder and the Divine. The Eternal Chain in Plutarch’s, De E apud Delphos 384D-385D

The first two introductory chapters of De E apud Delphos are confusing from a chronological point of view. A close reading and detailed analysis, however, reveals that Plutarch hid a chain throughout this part of the text, by means of thematic and verbal connections. This chain highlights that every mystery related to Apollo raises wonder about the god that leads to philosophical discussions. These discussions never result in a full answer, but lead to a new mystery related to the god that will elicit new discussions. This not only shows that recent scholarship is correct in claiming that Ammonius’ lengthy reply at the end of De E is not the eventual solution to the meaning of the E, but also clarifies Sarapion’s precise function as Plutarch’s dedicatee.

Mourning in Sparta (Plu., Lyc. 27.1-4)

With relation to the requirements established by the Spartan Lycurgus on funeral rites, the plutarchean biography mentions two exceptions (one man and one woman) from the rule requiring anonymous burials. The manuscripts’ paradosis has been suspected and corrected from the 16th century onwards: in the last two centuries the conjecture λεχοῦς, proposed by Latte and printed by Ziegler in the text of his Teubner edition, has been generally accepted. In this paper the reasons in support of this conjecture are rediscussed, and the possibility of retaining the manuscripts’ text is advanced on the basis of the Lacedaemonian traditions attested by the sources.

Animals as Main Characters in the Dreams in Plutarch

Three dreams have animals as main characters in Plutarch’s works: Themistocles 26.3 (a snake that changes into an eagle), Cimon 18.2 (a barking dog) and De sera 555 B-C (wolves and vultures). In these three cases Plutarch uses animals in order to foresee the immediate future of the dreamers but also because of the mythological and literary symbolism they have. This paper will focus on these symbolisms related to the dreams.