Stephanus Byzantinus (6th century AD).

Estimate

1,200 - 1,800 GBP

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Description

Peri Polewn. [Florence: Heirs of Filippo Giunta, May 1521]

folio (292 x 189mm.), ff. 69, [1], illustration: woodcut printer's device on verso of final leaf, woodcut initial, binding: nineteenth-century red morocco by Hatton of Manchester, Macclesfield arms gilt to upper cover, gilt edges, lower corner of ff. 1-3 and final leaf repaired, lower corner of some other leaves worn and stained, binding slightly soiled

Literature

Brunet IV 785; Censimento 16 CNCE 28765; Pettas p.214

Catalogue Note

Stephanus is, as a personality, one of the most elusive of all Greek authors. His work (here entitled Peri Polewn but, according to Eustathius, the original title was Eqnika), as well as his identity (he was probably a grammarian based in Constantinople), has been largely lost in the mists of time. His geographical lexicon would appear to have been ambitious and influential in its scope and content, but all that remains is a few fragments and the current epitome, probably made a generation later by Hermolaus who dedicated his work to Justinian (?II). The editio princeps was published by Aldus in 1502.