A Strange Epigram and the Date of Hegesander

Abstract

Abstract This paper is on an epigram reported by Hegesander of Delphi (LGGA F 11), which was constituted exclusively of neologistic compounds. Its peculiarity, in attacking the hypocrisy of Cynics, is the complete disregard of any morphological rules as in no other known Greek text. I analyze this poem from the point of view of language, context, and content. I consider also other epigrams on the same theme. I will discuss the stereotype of the pseudo-Cynic charlatan, common in texts from the imperial period, on the base of which I suggest changing the date of the epigram (and consequently of Hegesander) to the early imperial era.