Solutions from character: the author in ancient Homeric criticism

Abstract

This paper investigates an ancient mode of Homeric interpretation, ‘the solution from character’ (<i>ἡ λύσις ἐκ τοῦ προσώπου</i>). It discusses its ancient intellectual contexts (also in relation to the Aristarchean principle ‘clarify Homer by reference to Homer’, <i>Ὅμηρον ἐξ Ὁμήρου σαφηνίζειν</i>); considers some specific ancient applications; and argues for its usefulness to textual criticism and literary interpretation today. The broader intellectual context of this paper is provided by a research project funded by the European Research Council, and hosted at Durham University: Living Poets: A New Approach to Ancient Poetry, https://livingpoets.dur.ac.uk/.