Le metafore di Pindaro negli scolî alle Istmiche: un repertorio

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to analyse the way in which ancient scholars understand and interpret the metaphors used by Pindar in his epinician odes. Due to the large quantity of ancient material that has been preserved over the centuries, the article discusses only some passages from the scholia vetera to the Isthmian Odes. Various terms, not only μεταφορά, μεταφορικῶς and μεταφέρειν but also ἀλληγορία, τροπή, περίφρασις, are used in a non-technical way in the scholia to explain Pindar’s metaphors. Ancient scholars sometimes use different terms to refer to the same figurative expression. Furthermore, although they usually only indicate the metaphors, they occasionally make observations and judgements about them. For instance, they sometimes use the terms σκληρός or διθυραμβωδῶς. The analysis of the various terms attested in the scholia can be interesting and can help us to better understand the ancient interpretation of Pindar’s metaphors.