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Myrmeicus or Myrmecius?

WOUDHUYSEN, GEORGE

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Abstract

In this article, I examine the name of a friend and correspondent of the fourth-century poet Avienius, commonly identified hitherto as Flavianus Myrmeicus. After summarising the current state of research and translating the verse epistle which he received, I argue that, for a variety of reasons, Myrmeicus cannot be his name. Instead, it should be emended to Myrmecius, which was his signum: an example of a variety of nickname which many Romans of elevated status in late antiquity bore in addition to their birth names. I examine Myrmecius as a signum within the context of late-Roman supernomina more generally, in the process clarifying how and in what circumstances and combinations they were used, and suggesting several sources from which they might be derived. I then explain how Myrmecius’ signum might have been mangled in the course of transmission, and conclude by noting that while the bulk of attested signa are found on inscriptions, Myrmecius suggests that many more may currently lie concealed in literary texts.

Citation

WOUDHUYSEN, G. (2019). Myrmeicus or Myrmecius?. Mnemosyne, 72(5), 840–860. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568525X-12342607

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 23, 2018
Online Publication Date Feb 27, 2019
Publication Date Sep 3, 2019
Deposit Date Sep 17, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Mnemosyne
Print ISSN 0026-7074
Electronic ISSN 1568-525X
Publisher Brill Academic Publishers
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 72
Issue 5
Pages 840–860
DOI https://doi.org/10.1163/1568525X-12342607
Keywords Rufius Festus Avienius; Onmastics; Signa; Latin literature; Transmission history
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1067966
Publisher URL https://brill.com/view/journals/mnem/aop/article-10.1163-1568525X-12342607.xml

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