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Homeric professors in the age of the Sophists

1975; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 21; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0068673500003710

2053-5899

N. J. Richardson,

Classical Philosophy and Thought

At the opening of Plato's Ion Socrates expresses his admiration for the rhapsodic profession in a characteristically ironic way: I have many times envied you rhapsodes your art. Not only are you always dressed up in a way that accords with the dignity of your profession, and you cut the most imposing figures but you are also required to spend your time on many good poets, and above all on Homer, the best and most divine poet of all; and you must have a detailed knowledge not only of his verses but also of his meaning (διάνοια). All this makes you an object of envy. Ion agrees, saying this is the aspect of his art which has demanded the greatest effort of him, and he declares: I think that I am the best exponent of Homer, and neither Metrodorus of Lampsacus nor Stesimbrotus of Thasos nor Glaucon, nor anyone else in the past has ever been able to express so many fine thoughts about Homer as I can.