Euphorion of Chalcis

Euphorion, Greek poet and grammarian, born at Chalcis in Euboea about 275 BC.

Euphorion, after studying philosophy with Lakydes and Prytanis, became the student and eromenos of the poet Archeboulus. ["Suda," epsilon.3801]

He spent much of his life in Athens, where he amassed great wealth. About 221 he was invited by Antiochus the Great to the court of Syria. He assisted in the formation of the royal library at Antioch, of which he held the post of librarian till his death. He wrote mythological epics (the "epyllion" "Thrax"), amatory elegies, epigrams and a satirical poem ("Arae", "curses") after the manner of the "Ibis" of Callimachus.

Prose works on antiquities and history are also attributed to him. Like Lycophron, he was fond of using archaic and obsolete expressions, and the erudite character of his allusions rendered his language very obscure. His elegies were highly esteemed by the Romans — they were imitated or translated by Cornelius Gallus and also by the emperor Tiberius.

Fragments published in Meineke, "De Euphorionis Chalcidensis vita et scriptis", in his "Analecta Alexandrina" (1843) began the modern editions of the surviving fragments of Euphorion. Further lines have been recovered from papyri of Oxyrhynchus and elsewhere. [ [http://www.gltc.leidenuniv.nl/index.php3?c=135 On-line bibliography of papyri] ]

Notes

References

* [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1205.html Euphorion] Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology

Further reading

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=bS6NXE4bKIgC&pg=PA101&dq=Mopsopia&sig=P1ypTP_rpxX66CKpZzZRzQ2bRGI Euphorion] Who's Who in the Greek World by John Hazel.
* [http://www.gltc.leidenuniv.nl/index.php3?c=135 Euphorion bibliography]
*Magnelli, Enrico 2002. "Studi su Euforione"(Rome)
*Powell, Johannes U. (1925) 1981."Collectanea Alexandrina: Reliquiae minores poetarum Graecorum aetatis Ptolemaicae 323-146 A.C." (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1925; reprinted Chicago 1981. Euphorion, pp. 28-58.
*Latte, Kurt. 1968. "Der Thrax des Euphorion", "Philologus" 44 (1935) 129-55, reprinted in Latte, "Kleine Schriften" Munich 1968, pp 562-84.
*Magnelli, Enrico 2002. "Studi su Euforione"(Rome)