Alexander of Greece (rhetorician)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Numenius or (according to the Suda
) Alexander, son of Numenius, was a Greek
rhetoric
ian who flourished in the first half of the 2nd century.
About his life almost nothing is known. We possess two works which are ascribed to him. The one which certainly is his work bears the title Περὶ τῶν τῆς διανοίας καὶ τῆς λέξεως σχημάτων Peri ton tes dianoias kai tes lexeos schematon. Julius Rufinianus, in his work on the same subject expressly states that Aquila Romanus
, in his Latin
treatise De Figuris Sententiarum et Elocutionis, took his materials from Alexander's work. Another epitome was made in the 4th century by a Christian
for use in Christian schools, containing additional examples from Gregory Nazianzus.
The second work traditionally attributed to Alexander Numenius, titled On Show-Speeches , is acknowledged by virtually all critics to not be the work of this Alexander, but of a later grammarian also named Alexander; it is, to speak more correctly, made up very clumsily from two distinct works, one of which was written by one Alexander, and the other by Menander
. The first edition of these two works is the Aldine edition (Rhetores Graeci, Venice, 1508, fol., vol. i. p. 574, &c.). They are also contained in Walz
's Rhetores Graeci, vol. viii. The genuine work of Alexander Numenius has also been edited, together with Minucianus and Phoebammon, by L. Normann, with a Latin
translation and useful notes, Upsala, 1690, 8vo.
Suda
The Suda or Souda is a massive 10th century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Suidas. It is an encyclopedic lexicon, written in Greek, with 30,000 entries, many drawing from ancient sources that have since been lost, and often...
) Alexander, son of Numenius, was a Greek
Roman and Byzantine Greece
The history of Byzantine Greece mainly coincides with the rise and fall of the Byzantine Empire.-Roman Greece:The Greek peninsula became a Roman protectorate in 146 BC, and the Aegean islands were added to this territory in 133. Athens and other Greek cities revolted in 88, and the peninsula was...
rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
ian who flourished in the first half of the 2nd century.
About his life almost nothing is known. We possess two works which are ascribed to him. The one which certainly is his work bears the title Περὶ τῶν τῆς διανοίας καὶ τῆς λέξεως σχημάτων Peri ton tes dianoias kai tes lexeos schematon. Julius Rufinianus, in his work on the same subject expressly states that Aquila Romanus
Aquila Romanus
Aquila Romanus, a Latin grammarian who flourished in the second half of the 3rd century AD.He was the author of an extant treatise De Figuris Sententiarum et Elocutionis, written as an instalment of a complete rhetorical handbook for the use of a young and eager correspondent...
, in his Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
treatise De Figuris Sententiarum et Elocutionis, took his materials from Alexander's work. Another epitome was made in the 4th century by a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
for use in Christian schools, containing additional examples from Gregory Nazianzus.
The second work traditionally attributed to Alexander Numenius, titled On Show-Speeches , is acknowledged by virtually all critics to not be the work of this Alexander, but of a later grammarian also named Alexander; it is, to speak more correctly, made up very clumsily from two distinct works, one of which was written by one Alexander, and the other by Menander
Menander
Menander , Greek dramatist, the best-known representative of Athenian New Comedy, was the son of well-to-do parents; his father Diopeithes is identified by some with the Athenian general and governor of the Thracian Chersonese known from the speech of Demosthenes De Chersoneso...
. The first edition of these two works is the Aldine edition (Rhetores Graeci, Venice, 1508, fol., vol. i. p. 574, &c.). They are also contained in Walz
Ernst Christian Walz
Ernst Christian Walz was a German classical philologist and archaeologist born in Münklingen, Baden-Württemberg.He was a student and later a teacher at Tübinger Stift in Tübingen...
's Rhetores Graeci, vol. viii. The genuine work of Alexander Numenius has also been edited, together with Minucianus and Phoebammon, by L. Normann, with a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
translation and useful notes, Upsala, 1690, 8vo.
External links
- Greek text: Leonhard von SpengelLeonhard von SpengelLeonhard von Spengel was a German classical scholar, born at Munich. He became known through his edition of Varro's De Lingua Latina and was appointed in 1826 lector, in 1830 professor in the Wilhelmsgymnasiun of Munich. From 1842 to 1847 he was professor at Heidelberg, but he returned to Munich...
, Rhetores graeci, vol. 3 (Leipzig: Teubner, 1856), pp. 1-40, with preface, pp. iii-v (Google Books; HTML)