This book is commonly referred to as Theocritus, but Theocritus is only one of the authors represented. It is actually a collection of Ancient Greek poets – Theocritus, Hesiod, Theognis, Moschus, Bion – especially in the bucolic or pastoral genre, which Theocritus (3rd century BCE), is hailed as the originator of. Bucolic or pastoral poetry was typically set in rural areas with shepherds or goatherds as the main characters, and feature tales of lost love as well as singing contests (Ancient Greek rap battles?) between the characters.

“The Idylls of Theocritus were very influential in the scholarly circles of the Renaissance and at the same time served as a manual for the teaching of Greek.” (Staikos 2016, p132)

Aldus dedicates this edition to Batista Guarino, who taught Greek to Aldus in Ferrara earlier in his career.

Many of these works first appeared in print in this edition.

NOTE: The publication date is February 1495, but due to the Venetian calendar beginning the year in March, this would be February 1496 in our modern calendar.

References

Fletcher, H. George. New Aldine Studies: Documentary Essays on the Life and Work of Aldus Manutius. B.M. Rosenthal, 1988.

Staikos, Konstantinos. 2016. The Greek Editions of Aldus Manutious and His Collaborators. Oak Knoll Press. https://www.oakknoll.com/pages/books/127162/konstantinos-sp-staikos/greek-editions-of-aldus-manutius-and-his-greek-collaborators-the.

Theocritus. Theocritus, Moschus, Bion. Translated by Neil Hopkinson. Loeb Classical Library 28. Harvard University Press, 2015.

Wilson, N. G., ed. Aldus Manutius: The Greek Classics. Translated by N. G. Wilson. Harvard University Press, 2017. pp 23–25.

Full Title

Εἰδύλλια. Eclogae. (Marciana)

Author

Theocritus (Marciana STC)

Edition details:

Pub Year

1495

Place

Venice, Italy

Colophon

Impressum Venetiis characteribus ac studio Aldi Manucii Romani cum gratia &c. .M.CCCC.XC.V. Mense februario

Edition

NULL

Format

Folio

Languages

Greek

Columns

1

Numbering

none

Typography

Greek (L) + Bembo Roman + Gaza Roman

Copy-specific details

Leaf WxH

200 x 297 mm

Type Area

105 x 216 mm

Thickness

24 mm

Extent

NULL

Copy notes

NULL

References

Identifer

https://data.cerl.org/istc/it00144000 (ISTC)

SFU Call no.

PA 4442 A2 1495

SFU Subjects

Pastoral poetry, Greek.; Incunabula--Italy--Venice--1495.; Pastoral poetry.

IIIF Manifest

https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/node/503774/book-manifest-original

Notes

NULL

Comparable digital copies:

⚓ link

Münchener DigitalisierungsZentrum (MDZ) - Digitale Bibliothek

⚓ link

Collections@UrMEL - Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena

⚓ link

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (The State Hall of the Austrian National Library)