Rhetoric in Antiquity

Thesaurus: The System of Rhetoric

Thesaurus The System of Rhetoric Ancient rhetoric does not present conceptions and technical terms in isolation, but as part of a network taking the form of a multitude of lists. Each list means to be as complete a description as possible of one sector or aspect. It aims to detail the constitutive elements of the topic being considered , following the method of division into genera and species in order to cover it completely and to define it by enumerating its parts. The different lists are juxtaposed, superimposed, and mesh with one another. Bringing these lists together, when they are all looked at as an ensemble , forms the system of ancient rhetoric. It is a prodigious intellectual construct, capable of almost infinite subdivision, which aims to render a full accounting of the art of the spoken word. This system was built in stages over the course of history and, as it continually enriched itself, gradually imposed itself during the Hellenistic and Imperial Ages. Spread far and wide, conveyed particularly by teaching, it represented a kind of shared possession for all those—and they were many—who had been educated in rhetoric. That is why it is important to know this system today, the better to understand the ancient texts. Furthermore , many of the notions thus defined have remained current in modern languages and thought. The overall coherence of the system, however, did not prevent unflagging research and constant rearranging—the lists were endlessly modified, abridged, lengthened, debated. Nor did it prevent numerous divergences on points of detail among authors, not to mention actual contradictions between one list and another. We provide here a panorama of the system, presenting the most important lists. This is a synchronic overview, and we do not seek to retrace the history of the different lists (some observations on this topic have been made along the way in the body of the book). We cite each list, as much as 215 possible, in the most currently accepted form, from a representative source within the chronological limits of the present work (i.e., from the very beginnings to the third century ..). We indicate with “cf.” supplementary references, contained within the same chronological limits; the choice has had to be very selective, given the wealth of material. Technical Greek and Latin terms, chosen among the best attested, are drawn from the sources. List of Abbreviations Alex.: Alexander, nd cent. .. (ed. Spengel, Rhetores Graeci, III) Fragments Fig.: On the Figures Anon. Seg.: Anonymous Seguerianus, nd–rd cent. .., The Art of Political Speech (ed. Dilts-Kennedy, Two Greek Rhetorical Treatises from the Roman Empire) Apsines, rd cent. .. Rhet.: Rhetoric (ed. Dilts-Kennedy, op. cit.) Probl. Fig.: On Figured Problems (ed. Patillon) Aquil. Rom.: Aquila Romanus, rd cent. .., On the Figures of Thought and Diction (ed. Halm, Rhetores Latini Minores) Arist.: Aristotle, th cent. .. Rhet.: Rhetoric (ed. Loeb, Freese) Top.: Topics (ed. Loeb, Forster) Cic.: Cicero, st cent. .. Brut.: Brutus (ed. Loeb, Hendrickson) De or.: On the Orator (ed. Loeb, Rackham) Inv.: On Invention (ed. Loeb, Hubbell) Or.: Orator (ed. Loeb, Hubbell) Part.: On the Classification of Rhetoric (ed. Loeb, Rackham) Top.: Topica (ed. Loeb, Hubbell) Demetr.: Demetrios, nd–st cent. .. (?), On Style (ed. Loeb, Innes) D. Hal.: Dionysios of Halikarnassos, st cent. .., Critical Essays (ed. Loeb, Usher) Lys.: Lysias Dem.: Demosthenes 216 Thesaurus Diog. L.: Diogenes Laertios, rd cent. .., Lives of Eminent Philosophers (ed. Loeb, Hicks) Gell.: Aulus Gellius, nd cent. .., Attic Nights (ed. Loeb, Rolfe) Hermag.: Hermagoras I, nd cent. .. (ed. Matthes) Hermog.: Hermogenes, nd–rd cent. .. (ed. Rabe) Id.: Forms of Style Inv.: Invention Prog.: Preparatory Exercises Stat.: Questions at Issue Isokr.: Isokrates, th cent. .. (ed. Loeb, Norlin and Van Hook) Longin.: Cassius Longinus, rd cent. .., Rhetoric (ed. Patillon-Brisson ) Men. Rhet.: Menander Rhetor I, rd cent. .., Division of Epideictic Orations, and II, rd cent. .., On Epideictic Orations (ed. Russell-Wilson ) Minuc.: Minucianus, rd cent. .., On Epicheiremes (ed. SpengelHammer , Rhetores Graeci I, ) Philod.: Philodemos, st cent. .., Rhetoric (ed. Sudhaus) Plat.: Plato, th cent. .., Phaidros (ed. Loeb, Fowler) Ps.-Aristides: Pseudo-Aelius Aristides, nd cent. .., Rhetoric (ed. Patillon) Ps.-D. Hal.: Pseudo-Dionysios of Halikarnassos, rd cent. .., Rhetoric (ed. Usener-Radermacher) Quint.: Quintilian, st cent. .., Institutio Oratoria (ed. Loeb, Russell) Rhet. Alex.: Pseudo-Aristotle, th cent. .., Rhetoric to Alexander (ed. Loeb, Rackham) Rhet. Her.: st cent. .., Rhetorica ad Herennium (ed. Loeb, Caplan) Rufus, nd cent. .., Rhetoric (ed. Patillon) Rut. Lup...