Alter Theocritus? Joachim Camerarius’ griechische Supplemente zu Theokrits Herakliskos und dem sogenannten Herakles leontophonos

Abstract

Since editions of Theocritus from the early sixteenth century, the two poems Heracliscus (“Little Heracles”) and the so‑called Heracles leontophonos (“Heracles the Lionslayer”) have been regarded as incomplete. This diagnosis was confirmed at least for the Heracliscus by the publication of a papyrus in 1930, whereas the Heracles leontophonos is now generally accepted as being complete. This paper presents the Greek supplements made for these poems by the German Hellenist Joachim Camerarius (1500‑1574) in collaboration with his friend and colleague Helius Eobanus Hessus (1488‑1540). The texts are analysed with regard to their sources and relations to the originals. Thus, Camerarius is shown to be a good observer of the texts, who makes extensive use of ancient sources (e.g. Homer, the Aspis and the Megara) for his supplements. An edition with German translation is given in the Appendix, along with Hessus’ Latin rendering of Camerarius’ Greek supplements.