Echoes and Gaps: The Lion in Aristophanes of Byzantium’s Epitome and the Aristotelian Tradition
Abstract
This study examines the section on the lion (Epit. 2.133-150) of Aristophanes of Byzantium’s Epitome. Through close textual comparison with the Historia animalium and related Aristotelian works, the paper demonstrates that Aristophanes’ epitome is not merely derivative, but reflects a deliberate process of selection, abbreviation, and reorganization. While largely faithful to its source material, the epitome introduces notable divergences, ranging from stylistic compression to substantive deviations, including omissions, generalizations, and details unattested in extant sources. Some features may derive from now-lost works or reflect Aristophanes’ own interpretive contributions. The lion-entry thus offers a valuable case study in ancient scholarly practice, revealing how classical scientific knowledge was not only preserved but actively reshaped in the process of transmission.
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