Wikipedia / Vatican Mythographers
Wikipedia / Vatican Mythographers
The so-called Vatican Mythographers () are the anonymous authors of three Latin mythographical texts found together in a single medieval manuscript, Vatican Reg. lat. 1401. The name is that used by Angelo Mai when he published the first edition of the works in 1831. The text of the First Vatican Mythographer is found only in the Vatican manuscript; the second and third texts are found separately in other manuscripts, leading scholars to refer to a Second Vatican Mythographer and a Third Vatican Mythographer.
Content
Taken together, the works of the Vatican Mythographers provided a source-book of Greek and Roman myths and their iconography throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The texts, which were being copied in manuscripts as late as the 15th century, were parsed allegorically to provide Christianized moral and theological implications, "until in time the pagan divinities blossomed into full-fledged vices and virtues". Their testimonia, sources, and parallel passages constitute central documents in the transmission of classical culture to the medieval world, which is a major theme in the history of ideas in the West—though the texts have also been described as "highly deceptive sources which should be used with much caution".
Mai made many slips in rapidly transcribing the manuscript under difficult conditions, and he was in the habit of substituting euphemisms where the original was too sexually explicit to transcribe and publish, even in Latin. A revised, indexed edition of 1834, corrected by Georg Heinrich Bode without access to the Vatican manuscript, is the version that replaced Mai's first edition and has been drawn on in popular 20th-century anthologies of Greek mythology, such as those by Edith Hamilton, Robert Graves, and Karl Kerenyi.
The work of the First Vatican Mythographer is essentially a pared-down "fact-book" of mythology, stripped of nuance, not unlike the Fabulae of Hyginus, who, however, had provided no Roman stories and so could not suffice. Classical authors are rarely quoted directly, but the author seems to have used the commentary on Virgil by Servius and the scholiasts on Statius as sources. A modern edition of the text was published in 1995 by Nevio Zorzetti. On the basis of the latest source cited in it and the date of the first source to cite it, Zorzetti dates the composition of the work between the last quarter of the 9th century and the third quarter of the 11th century.
Nineteen manuscripts (including several fragments) are known for the second text, and more than forty for the third. The work of the Second Vatican Mythographer, which draws on that of the first, though it is considerably longer, perhaps dates to the 11th century. A modern edition of it was produced by Péter Kulcsár in 1987. In 2014, Alena Hadravová identified two new, previously unknown copies of the Second Vatican Mythographer in the National Library in Prague: MS Prague, NL, IX C 3 (1401), and MS Prague, NL, III C 18 (late 14th or early 15th century). In 2017, she published editions of both copies in a Czech-English commented book.
The work of the Third Vatican Mythographer, which differs from the others by containing "extensive allegorical interpretations", has often been attributed either to a certain Alberic of London, who is named in a number of the manuscripts, or to Alexander Neckam.
Stories
First Vatican Mythographer
The Story of Scylla
The Story of Silvanus and Cyparissus
The Story of Ceres and Proserpina
The Story of Celeus and Triptolemus
The Story of Ceyx and Alcyone
The Story of Ceres and Lyncus
The Story of Tityus
The Story of Ixion
The Story of Tiresias
The Story of Lycaon
The Story of Hippodame
The Story of Jason
The Story of Orithyia
The Story of Phineus
The Story of Leander and Hero
The Story of Cleobis and Bito
The Story of Lyncus
The Story of Oenopion
The Story of Orion
The Story of Amaracus
The History of Palamedes
The Story of Achilles
The Story of the Hesperides
The Story of Atalanta and Hippomenes
The Story of Helenus
The Story of Andromache and Molossus
The Story of the Sirens
The Story of Procris
The Story of Amymone and Palamedes
Theseus and Hippolytus
The Story of Theseus and Pirithous and Hercules
The Story of Hercules and Hylas
The Story of Hercules and Alcmena
The Story of Hercules and the Nemean Lion
The Story of Molorchus
The Story of Eryx and Hercules
The Story of Hercules and Lake Ciminus
The Story of Antaeus and Hercules
The Story of Hercules and Tricerberus
The Story of Philoctetes and Hercules
The Story of the Grandsons of Hercules
The Story of Pholus and Hercules
The Story of the Hydra and Hercules
The Story of the Hardships of Hercules
The Story of Eurystheus and Hercules
The Story of Busiris and Hercules
The Story of Cacus and Hercules
The Story of Geryon and Hercules
The Story of Evander and Hercules
The Story of Evander
The Story of Bellerophon, Who Is Also Perseus
The Story of the Chimera and Bellerophon
Perseus
The Story of Hymeneus
The Story of Castor and Pollux
The Story of the Swan and Leda
The Story of Apis
The Story of Salmoneus
The Story of Aloeus, Othus, and Ephialtes
The Story of Ceculus
The Story of the Three Proetides
The Story of the Pierides
The Story of Orista
The Story of Liber, Silenus, King Midas and the River Pactolus
On the Birth of Pan
The Story of Pan
The Story of Arachne and Minerva
The Story of Alcestis
The Story of Neptune and Amycus
The Story of Neptune and Eryx
The Story of Arion and the Dolphins
[Untitled]
The Story of Antiope, Zethus, and Amphion
The Story of Nyctimene
The Story of Glaucus
The Story of Glaucus and Venus
The Story of Saturn and His Sons
The Story of Jove's Birth
The Story of Jove and Saturn and Venus
The Story of Juno and the Garden of the Hesperides
The Story of Neptune
The Story of Pluto
On the Three Furies, or Eumenides
On the Three Fates
On the Three Harpies, or Stymphalides
On Proserpina, or Diana
The Story of Apollo, or the Sun
On the Nine Muses
The Story of Apollo, the Raven, and Coronis, the Daughter of Phlegyas
The Story of Apollo and Daphne, or the Laurel
The Story of Apollo and Eridanus
The Story of Mercury and His Mother, Maia
The Story of Semele and Her Son, Father Liber
The Story of Liber and Jove Ammon
The Story of Liber and the Tyrrhenians
The Story of Father Liber and King Lycurgus
The Story of Minerva
The Figurative Story of Pan
The Story of Vulcan
The Story of Phorcys
The Story of the Three Gorgons and Perseus
The Story of Medusa the Gorgon
The Story of the Three Graces
The Story of the Lemnian Women and Hypsipyle
The History of Dardanus and the Origin of the Trojans
The Story of Teucer
The Story of Pyrrhus and Helenus
The Story of Diomedes
On Diomedes and the Palladium
The Story of Diomedes' Companions
On the Island of Euboea, and Nauplius, the Father of Palamedes
On Another Euboea and the City of Cumae
The Story of Meleager and Oeneus
On Clytemnestra and Her son, Orestes
The Story of Europa and Jove
The Story of Cadmus and Harmonia
On the Necklace of Harmonia
The Story of Eteocles and Polynices and Amphiaraus
The Story of Apollo and Sibyl
The Story of Caenis (neither a Man nor a Woman) and Neptune
The Story of Tarpeia
The Story of Niobe and Her Children
The Story of Laodamia
The Story of Alcon
The Story of Codrus
The Story of Pirithous and Mars
The Story of the Thessalians and the Centaurs
The Story of the Phoenician Priestess
The Story of Sciron
The Story of the Sphinx
On Athracias the Magician
The Story of the River Licornus
On Minos
On the Centaurica
The Story of Atalanta and Meleager
Why the Dove is Consecrated to Venus
The Story of Jove and Juno and Vulcan
On the Temple of Juno
The Story of Antigone
The Story of Apollo and Cassandra
The Story of Minerva, Who Was Enraged at the Greeks
The Story of Astraeus and Aurora
The Story of Jove and Ganymede
The Story of the Sirens and Proserpina
The Story of Latona and the Lycian Peasants
The Story of Medea and Jason; Aeson and the Nurses of Father Liber
The Story of the Divine Palici
The Story of Consus and the Games of the Circus
The Story of Hercules; on the Games of the Olympiad
The Story of Tiber
On the Grynean Grove
On King Idomeneus and His Son
The History of Croesus, King of Lydia
The Story of Thamyras and the Muses
The Story of Meleager's Sisters
The Story of the Sons of Jason and Hypsipyle, and Phaeton
Likewise, on the Escape of Aeneas
[Untitled]
On the Genealogy of the Gods and Heroes
The Story of the Double Name and Downfall of Phlegyas
The History of the Sons of the Laconians Born of Uncertain Fathers
The Story of Jove and Thetis and Achilles
On the Wedding of Peleus and Thetis
On the Death of Troilus
On the Victory of Hector and the Flight of Palamedes
The History of Priam's Son, Killed by His Own Father
Varying Opinion on the Death of Priam
The Story of Dido and the History of Saturn
Likewise on Dido and the Founding of Carthage
On Anchises and Venus
The History of Dionysius the Tyrant
The History of Regulus, Roman Consul
The History of Torquatus' Victory and His Parricide
The History of Camillus' Victory
On the Seven Civil Wars of the Romans
The History of Atilius' Good Fortune
On the Three Hundred Fabii Killed and the One Survivor
On the Victory of Marcellus
On the Praises and Death of Another Marcellus
The Story of Berecyntia and Attis
The Story of Psyche and Cupid
The Story of Perdicca
The Story of the Dog Transported to the Constellations
On the Seven Pleiades
Second Vatican Mythographer
Where Fable Got Its Name
On the Different Names of the Gods
On Saturn
On Jove
On the Eagle of Jove
On Juno
On Her Peacock
On Iris, Her Rainbow
On the Reason Why Juno Is Called Jove's Sister and Wife
Who First Made Temples for Her
On Neptune
On Pluto
On His Three-Headed Hound
On His Furies
On the Causes of the Plague
On the Spartans
A History
A History
A History
A History
On the Harpies of Jove
On the Parcae of Pluto
On His Wife
On the Elysian Fields
On the Nine Circles
On the Life of Jove
On Latona and Her Sister
On the Triple Power of Apollo
On His Various Names
On His Tripod, Bow, and Arrows
On His Four Horses
On His Raven
On His Laurel
On His Nine Muses
On Diana, the Sister of Apollo
Why She Is Called Dictynna
On the Temple at Carya
On Endymion
On Mars
On the Birth of Venus
The Story of Why the Myrtle Is Consecrated to Venus
On the Roses of Venus
On the Seashell of Venus
On the Doves of Venus
On Adonis
On Venus' Cupid
On the Three Graces
On Erichthonius
On Priapus
On Minerva
On Vulcan
[Untitled]
On the Mercuries
Why He Is Called Mercury
On the Lyre
On Orpheus
On Jove and Etna the Nymph
On Cybele
On Atalanta
On Pan
The Story of Aeneas
A History
On Faunus
On Nymphs
On Astraeus
On Aeolus
On the Titans
On the Decree of Jove
[Untitled]
A Story About Gallus
[Untitled]
The Story of Peleus
On Otus and Ephialtes
On Salmoneus
On Phaethon
On Lycaon
On Thetis
On Icarus (Icarius)
On Saturn and Philyra
On Prometheus
On the Sacrifice of Prometheus
On Jove and Thetis
On Cleobis and Bito
On Chelone
On King Proetus
On Antigone
On Arachne
On Niobe
On Glaucus
On Deucalion and Pyrrha
On Lycus and Antiope
On Epaphus
On Lycurgus
Whence Wrestling Was Invented
On Jove and Europa
A Repetition
On Agenor and His Sons
On Cadmus
On Juno and Semele
On Liber
On Autonoë
On Aristaeus
On Agave
On Tiresias
On Branchus
On Mopsus
On Sibyl
On Her Books
On Io
On Isis
On Osiris
On the Winnowing Fan of Father Liber
On Venus
On Proserpina
On Ceres
On Her Search
On the Immortality of her Nursling
On Triptolemus
On King Cepheus
On the Finding of Proserpina
On the Sirens
On Tantalus
On Danaus and Aegyptus
On Tityus
On Sisyphus
On Ixion
An Explanation of This Same Story
On Perithous
The Story of Amulius and Numitor
On the People of Phlegyae
On Acrisius
On Perseus
On the Gorgons
The Interpretation of This Same Story
On Atlas
On Minerva
On the Song of Apollo and Marsyas
The Story of Midas
The Explanation of This Same Story
On the Contest of Neptune and Minerva
On Minos
On Venus
On Androgeus
On Scylla
On Theseus
On Aegeus
On Taurus
On Sciron
On Theseus
On Oenopion
On Perdicca
On Bellerophon
On Jove and Leda
On Theseus and Perithous
On King Athamas
On Pelias
On Jason
On Medea
On the Nurses of Liber
On Pontia
On Amycus the King
On Venus
On Phineus
On Oedipus and the Monster That Was Called Sphinx
On Oeneus
On Harpalyce
On Oenomaus
On Mercury
On Jove and Alcmena
On Hercules
Why He Is Called Hercules
On Diomedes
On Geryon
On Evander
On Admetus
On the Snake Killed by Hercules
On Eryx
On Busiris
On Hercules
On Eurytus
On the Two Lions That Hercules Conquered
On Avernus and Lucrinus
On Erymanthus and Stymphalus
On the Golden Apples Presented to Jove by Earth
On Hercules and Deianira
On Lerna, the Marsh
On Antaeus and Hercules
On Oeneus
On the Death of Hercules
On the Arrows of Hercules
On the Sanctuary of Hercules' Grandsons
On Phorcys
On Glaucus
On Scylla, Beloved by Glaucus
On Charybdis
On the Tyrrhenians and Father Liber
On Arion of Lesbos
On Arethusa
On Polyphemus
On Ceyx
On Mergus
On Cyparissus
A Second Telling of the Same Story
On Priapus
On Lyriope
On the Boy, Hyacinth
On the Boy, Amaracus
On Pilumnus and Pitumnus
On Two Brothers Who Were Called Divine
On the Telchines, Three Brothers
On Tenes
On Ebalus
On Maleus
On Codrus
On Croesus
On Alcon
On Jove and Electra
On Laomedon
On Tithonus and Aurora
On Anchises
On Cassandra
The Story of Helenus
On Hecuba
On Ganymede
On Hercules and Hylas
On Aminoe (Amymone)
On Nauplius
On Dodona
On Leucas
On Pelorus
On Euboea
On Pachynus
On the Syracusans
On Tullus Hostilius
On Brutus
On Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud)
On Brenus (Brennus)
On the Civil War
On Fabius
On Marcellus
On the Shield (Ancile)
On the Rostra
On Agamemnon
On Jove and Aegina
On Aeacus
On Peleus and Thetis
The Explanation of This Story
On Diomedes
On the Priest of Neptune
On Pyrrhus
On Hecuba and Polymestor
On Idomeneus
On Circe
The Interpretation of This Story
On Picus
On Phyllis
On Laodamia
On Procris
On Tereus
On Leander and Hero
On Hymenaeus
On Licambes
On Bubalus
On Iarbita
On Mopsus
On Apicius
The Story of Opimius
On Alcinous
The Story of Ixion
A Narrative
On Responsive Song
The Accursed Hunger for Gold
Third Vatican Mythographer
Saturn
Cybele
Jupiter
Juno
Neptune
Pluto
Proserpina
Apollo
Mercury
Venus
Hercules
Perseus
Notes
References
Burnett, Charles S. F. "A Note on the Origins of the Third Vatican Mythographer", Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes 44 (1981), pp.160–166.
Elliott, Kathleen O., and J. P. Elder. "A Critical Edition of the Vatican Mythographers", Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 78 (1947), pp.189–207. (Summarizes results of research for an edition that never materialized.)
Hadravová, Alena. Druhý Vatikánský mytograf. Dva nově identifikované rukopisy z Národní knihovny v Praze. – The Second Vatican Mythographer. Two Newly Identified Manuscripts from the National Library in Prague. Praha: Scriptorium, 2017.
Kulcsár, Péter. Mythographi Vaticani I et II. Corpus Christianorum Series Latina 91c. Turnhout: Brepols, 1987.
Pepin, Ronald E. The Vatican Mythographers. New York: Fordham University Press, 2008. (English translation of all three texts.)
Zorzetti, Nevio, and Jacques Berlioz. Le Premier mythographe du Vatican. Collection des universités de France, Série latine. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1995. (Includes a French translation [by Berlioz] and extensive annotations.)
External links