Plutarch

C. B. R. Pelling

P. E. Easterling

en Limba Engleză Paperback – 31 ian 2005

Plutarch's Life of Antony is a work remarkable for its colourful narrative and vivid characterisation of Antony and Cleopatra. This book presents the Greek text of the Life, accompanied by an extensive introduction and a detailed commentary. Dr Pelling is concerned throughout to discuss the work as literature. The introduction sets the life in its historical and literary context and the commentary pays particular attention to discussing the value of Plutarch's narrative as a historical source for the period and to explaining points of linguistic difficulty. An especially interesting and friutful approach used by Dr Pelling is to compare the work with Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra (which was almost wholly based to Plutarch's Life), bringing out how much Shakespeare's conception of the character and destiny of his protagonists owes to Plutarch, and tracing its transposition into dramatic form. Intended primarily as a textbook for undergraduate students, this edition will nevertheless be of interest to all Greek scholars, to ancient historians, and also the students of English literature since the relevant discussions require no knowledge of Greek.

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Notă biografică

Plutarch (c. AD 46 - c. 120), later named, upon becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus, was a Greek biographer and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. Plutarch was born to a prominent family in the small town of Chaeronea, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of Delphi, in the Greek region of Boeotia. Plutarch studied mathematics and philosophy at the Academy of Athens under Ammonius. Plutarch lived most of his life at Chaeronea, and was initiated into the mysteries of the Greek god Apollo. For many years Plutarch served as one of the two priests at the temple of Apollo at Delphi, the site of the famous Delphic Oracle, twenty miles from his home. He probably took part in the Eleusinian Mysteries. By his writings and lectures Plutarch became a celebrity in the Roman Empire, yet he continued to reside where he was born, and actively participated in local affairs, even serving as mayor. At his country estate, guests from all over the empire congregated for serious conversation, presided over by Plutarch in his marble chair. Plutarch was also a magistrate at Chaeronea and he represented his home town on various missions to foreign countries during his early adult years. Plutarch held the office of archon in his native municipality, probably only an annual one which he likely served more than once. He busied himself with all the little matters of the town and undertook the humblest of duties.