The importance of being articulate: Photius' reading notes (bibliotheca, CoD. 129) in the history of the ancient novel

Abstract

The paper examines the note by Photius, Byzantine theologian and Patriarch of Constantinople, on the “Metamorphoses” by Lucius Patrensis (cod. 129). The information given by Photius is extremely important for the history of the ancient novel, but in crucial passages of the text Photius' phrasing seems inarticulate. The paper is an attempt to fnd a reasonable explanation of Photius' inarticulate phrasing and to clarify the meaning of the problematic passages.