Horváth, Lászió; (1997) The 'Nachleben' of Hyperides. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

The thesis begins with the examination of extant evidence from the medieval textual tradition, the latest reference in which relates to 16th century Hungary. The thesis focuses on the question of the dramatic changes in Hyperides' popularity between the second centuries B.C. and A.D. First, the problem of the origin of the rhetorical canon is dealt with. Hyperides' unquestionable place in it reflects the favour of the Hellenistic rhetorical schools. The fact that in lexicographical works, from the beginning of Atticising tendencies up to the Byzantine period, Hyperides' vocabulary is quite frequently referred to, is partly due to the paradoxon that the orator belongs to the accepted Ten, despite the fact that he uses an 'impure' language and therefore he stays in the crossfire of lexicographers. The decisive factor in Hyperides' 'Nachleben' is the Rhodian school of rhetoric. In Molo's rhetorical system the actual delivery ('actio') was the most important element. Logically, his Attic models became the ex-actor Aeschines and the witty and facetious Hyperides. Molo smoothly melted together the inherited Asian and the adopted Attic rhetorical tradition to create something new, which had far reaching influence in first century Rome. The majority of Romans, who seem to respect Hyperides, can also be related to Rhodes in one way or other. Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Caecilius on the other hand are the first representatives of the later dominating school-demand for orators, with a perspicuous 'lektikos topos', which can be easily imitated by students. Hyperides' skill in arrangement determined the decline of his popularity. The reason for the unique and exceptional late appraisal of Hyperides in Ps.Longinus originates from the hatred of the author for Caecilius. In the rhetorical handbooks of the following centuries only the fictitious alter ego of Hyperides appears, apart from some works, where traces of the Hellenistic/Rhodian rhetorical tradition can be detected. Appendices: 1, Brassicanus' report; 2, List of lexicographical entries; 3, List of peculiar words; 4, The origin of Hyperides' most famous speech, the Deliacus.

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