The Phantom Scribes
An academic exploration into the authorship and legacy of texts falsely attributed to the venerable Plutarch, delving into their historical context and scholarly significance.
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Introduction: The Enigma of Authorship
Defining Pseudo-Plutarch
The designation "Pseudo-Plutarch" is a scholarly convention used to identify the unknown authors responsible for a collection of ancient texts. These works were erroneously attributed to the renowned historian and biographer Plutarch, but critical analysis has established they were not penned by him. Such misattributions are common in classical literature, often arising from attempts to lend authority or prestige to a text by associating it with a famous figure.
Inclusion in Scholarly Editions
Despite their non-Plutarchan origins, several of these pseudepigraphal works were historically included in various editions of Plutarch's corpus, particularly within the collection known as the Moralia. This practice highlights the complex textual transmission and editorial decisions made throughout history, where the distinction between genuine and attributed works was not always rigorously maintained.
The Scholarly Pursuit
Identifying the true authors or origins of these texts is a significant task in classical scholarship. Textual criticism, comparative analysis of sources, and linguistic dating are employed to understand the historical context and intellectual lineage of these writings. The study of Pseudo-Plutarch offers valuable insights into the intellectual currents and literary practices of the periods in which they were actually composed.
Notable Works Attributed to Pseudo-Plutarch
Lives of the Ten Orators
This collection presents biographies of prominent Athenian orators. Its content is believed to be derived from earlier sources, possibly including the work of Caecilius of Calacte, and shares common material with the biographical entries compiled by Photius I of Constantinople. It offers a valuable, albeit indirectly transmitted, glimpse into the rhetorical and political landscape of ancient Athens.
The Doctrines of the Philosophers
Known in Greek as Placita Philosophorum, this work compiles the philosophical views of various ancient thinkers, particularly concerning natural philosophy. It serves as a crucial repository of information on pre-Socratic and other early philosophical schools, preserving doctrines that might otherwise be lost. The writer likely depended on the lost work of the Peripatetic philosopher Aetius.
De Musica (On Music)
This treatise explores the theory and practice of music in antiquity. While attributed to Plutarch, its style and content suggest a later origin. It contributes to our understanding of ancient Greek musical theory and its philosophical underpinnings.
Greek and Roman Parallel Stories (Parallela Minora)
This work presents a collection of anecdotes and stories comparing Greek and Roman figures, customs, or events. It functions as a comparative historical and cultural text, offering insights into how ancient authors viewed the relationship between these two major classical civilizations.
De fluviis (On Rivers)
Also known as About the Names of Rivers and Mountains, this text delves into the etymology and significance of geographical features, particularly rivers. It reflects an antiquarian interest common in later classical periods, seeking explanations for names and their associated myths or histories.
Other Works
Several other texts are included under the Pseudo-Plutarchan umbrella, such as Whether Fire or Water is More Useful, Pro Nobilitate (Noble Lineage), De Homero (On Homer), De Unius in Re Publica Dominatione (On the Rule of One in the Republic), and Consolatio ad Apollonium (Consolation to Apollonius). Each offers a unique perspective on philosophical, ethical, or historical themes.
Dating and Provenance
Late Antiquity Origins
The majority of works attributed to Pseudo-Plutarch are generally dated to Late Antiquity, typically spanning the 3rd to 4th centuries AD. This period follows Plutarch's own lifetime (c. 46 โ c. 120 AD) by a significant margin. The linguistic style, philosophical content, and references within these texts often point towards this later era.
Specific Case Studies
Scholarly research has provided more precise dating for certain texts. For instance, the philosophical work De Fato (On Fate), found within the Moralia, is considered a 2nd-century Middle Platonic text. More recently, David Blank's research (2011) has demonstrated that Pro Nobilitate was authored by Arnoul Le Ferron (Arnoldus Ferronus) and first published in 1556, placing it firmly in the Renaissance period, far removed from Plutarch's era.
Stromateis: A Key Source
The work titled Stromateis ("Patchwork") is another significant text falsely ascribed to Plutarch. It is particularly valued by scholars as an important source for reconstructing the doctrines of Pre-Socratic philosophy, offering fragments and summaries of early Greek thinkers.
Enduring Significance
Window into Antiquity
Despite their pseudepigraphal nature, these texts are invaluable primary sources. They provide crucial information on ancient philosophy, history, rhetoric, music, and biography that might otherwise be inaccessible. Their preservation allows scholars to reconstruct intellectual traditions and understand the reception and adaptation of classical ideas through subsequent centuries.
Authority Control Databases
The scholarly consensus on the nature and attribution of these works is reflected in international authority control databases. These systems help catalog and organize information about authors and texts, distinguishing between the genuine Plutarch and the various pseudepigraphal works attributed to him.
International Identifiers
International
ISNI: 000000051423768X
National
France (BnF data): ark:/12148/cb13197358f
Spain (BNE): datos.bne.es/resource/XX1077973
Netherlands: data.bibliotheken.nl/id/thes/p069951284
Poland: dbn.bn.org.pl/descriptor-details/9810702870905606
Other
Czech Republic (NKC): ica=jo2016919640
IdRef: 027995194
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