Ancient Etymologies in Ovid's Metamorphoses: a Commented Lexicon

Andreas Michalopoulos

ARCA 40. ISBN 978-0-905205-98-4. viii+204 pp. Cloth. Publ. 2001.

In this useful contribution to a subject of growing importance in contemporary classical studies, Andreas Michalopoulos has collected around 200 etymologies and etymological complexes in Ovid's Metamorphoses. These are listed with brief contextual information, evidence for the etymology from ancient grammarians, discussion of the artistic function of the wordplay, and examples of its use in other works of Ovid and in other Latin poets. The introduction sets out a conceptual framework and succinctly describes etymological techniques particularly typical of (although not unique to) Ovid. As well as adding to the corpus of etymological reference works, this study will increase appreciation both of Ovid's learning and of his wit.

ANDREAS MICHALOPOULOS studied at the Universities of Thessaloniki, Greece, and Leeds, England. He is presently a lecturer at the University of Athens, Greece. His commentary on Ovid’s Heroides 16 and 17 (Arca 47) was published in 2006.

Reviews

Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2002.10.09 (Michael Paschalis)

Journal of Roman Studies 93 (2003) pp.378-9 (Barbara Pavlock). “… a valuable reference work, it is a welcome contribution to the scholarship on Ovid.”

L’Antiquité Classique 72 (2003) pp.394-5 (Pol Tordeur).

Gnomon 76 (2004) pp.169-71 (Bruno Rochette). “Illustrant l’importance de l’étymologie ancienne comme source d’inspiration, cet ouvrage rendra des services pour l’étude de l’art d’Ovide, qui apparaît comme un véritable virtuose des mots.”

Classical World 97.2 (2004) pp.210-212 (James J. O’Hara).

Latomus 63 (2004) pp.237-8 (R. Cormier).(French version in Revue des Études Anciennes 105 (2003) pp.310-11). “This is a publication that should find its way onto the reference shelves of all scholars in Latin language, literature and culture.”