FIRST ALDINE EDITION OF STATIUS’ COLLECTED WORKS

STATIUS PUBLIUS PAPINIUS. Sylvarum libri quinque. Thebaidos libri duodecim. Achilleidos duo.
[together with:]
MARCUS MUSURUS. Orthographia et flexus Dictionum Graearum omnium apud Statium cum accentib[us]et generib[us] ex variis utriusque linguae autorib[us].Venetiis, in aedibus Aldi, mense Augusto 1502. [Venice: Aldo Manuzio, August 1502].

2 parts in a volume in 8vo, later limp vellum, ff. [256]. At the beginning of the volume, [40] unnumbered leaves with Statius’ Orthographia.

FIRST ALDINE EDITION OF STATIUS’ COLLECTED WORKS, also containing the Orthographia et flexus dictionum graecarum omnium apud Statium an account of Greek words contained in Statius’ works.

Sylvae are 32 occasional poems (weddings, country estates, spa, works of art, etc.) addressed to the poets’ friends; Tebaides deals with the conflict between the Teban brothers Eteocles and Polynices; Achilleides contains Achilles’ life until his leaving to Troy, and was interrupted at the second book due to the poet’s death.

PUBLIUS PAPINIUS STATIUS (Naples ca. 45-96 A.D.), was a Latin poet, very popular at Domitian’s court and renowned during the Middle Ages. He is also known for his appearance as a major character in the Purgatory in Dante’s Divine Comedy.

REFERENCES: Renouard 35.7. Adams S-1670. BM STC Italian, 646; Machiels, S-539. CNCE 36141.

Some stains at the last leaves; other traces of use, but honest and crisp copy.