Myrmeicus or Myrmecius?

WOUDHUYSEN, GEORGE

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: Feb 28, 2021
• 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
• Contract Date: Sep 17, 2018