Works and nights: Marcus Argentarius (AP 9.161)

Abstract

<jats:p>In a long and colourful passage from Book 3 of his elegiac poem<jats:italic>Leontion</jats:italic>, a veritable manifesto of Hellenistic erotics, Hermesianax of Colophon (early third century BC) presents us with an amusing list of poets and their loves (fr. 7 Powell = Athen. XIII 597B). This catalogue features, inter alia, an enamoured Hesiod inspired by a woman. The notion of surly old Hesiod in love with a girl may come as a bit of a surprise to most students of classical philology. After all, one might suppose that the harsh, archaic misogyny of the didactic poet does not bode well for amorous relationships with members of the opposite sex.</jats:p>