We
mentioned the Certamen in the
previous entry already, and also earlier among Nietzsches Werke, where it stands at #5 under the formal title Der Florentinische Tractat Über Homer und
Hesiod. This philological essay, published like some of his earlier works
in 1870 in the reputable Rheinisches
Museum für Philologie, exhibits
yet again Nietzsche’s eminent philological talent. For this reason, this work
merits a separate entry, albeit a short one.
The
poetic contest between Homer and Hesiod, in which the latter is declared the
winner, and he receives a bronze tripod, which he dedicates to the Muses, is
obviously a fictitious event described in an extant second century AD
manuscript, yet claiming an earlier origin. In examining this document, as well
as several other pertinent sources, Nietzsche comes to the conclusion that it
must come from as early as fourth century BC, and attributes it to the Greek
sophist Alcidamas, specifically to his work Mouseion.
Although
it was merely an educated assertion on his part, twentieth century’s
discoveries of certain ancient manuscripts have confirmed Nietzsche’s
hypothesis beyond any doubt.
Bravo,
Nietzsche the philologist!
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