Encomium of Ptolemy Philadelphus

Preface

PREFACE Theocritus’s Encomium of Ptolemy is not one of his best-known or most-admired poems, but these are exciting times for the study of Ptolemaic culture, and the need for a new study of this poem seemed, at least to me, self-evident. How far this book goes toward filling that need is a matter for others. The preparation of this book has taken me into scholarly areas where I am, at best, a novice, and the advice of friends has been more than ever important. Kathryn Gutzwiller, John Ma, Katja Mueller, Susan Stephens, and Dorothy Thompson all read earlier versions of some or all of the typescript, and their observations , corrections, and encouragement have been invaluable. I would also like to thank Kate Toll of the University of California Press for her enthusiastic support. vii This page intentionally left blank ...