Ninus and Metiochus in the school of rhetoric: the first Greek novels

Abstract

he aim of this paper is to underline the influence of school rhetoric in two passages of Ninus and Parthenope. Ninus' speech in presence of his aunt Derkeia (frag. A of P.Berol. 6926) is analysed from the point of view of the stasis-theory and its most relevant formal features are commented. Metiochus’ refutation of the traditional mythical narrative on Eros (second column of P.Berol.7927) is dealt with the progymnasmatic theory. Moreover, the love-related motifs and the references to the previous literature are highlighted.