DOI: 10.53084/22209050_2023_28_17

N.K. Malinauskene
A.F. Losev on the designations of light in the ancient Greek tradition: Homer

Abstract: The article discusses A.F. Losev's analysis of a group of designations of light in the works by Homer, which became the source for the further Greek tradition. In his terminological studies, the scholar often turned to light designations in the works by other ancient authors, in particular Plato and especially the Neoplatonists, considering them in relation to both semantically similar names of color and brilliance as well as their antonyms – designations of darkness. Studying Homer, Losev attracts only basic light representations, starting with the most general terms (the noun φάος 'light', the verb λάμπω 'to illuminate', 'shine', 'glitter') and noting the absence of some derivatives from the noun φάος, since Homer is not at all interested in light itself, without any aesthetic connotations. The adjective λαμπρός, in which the light is connected with glitter, the verb λάμπω 'to shine', the participle from λαμπετάω as well as the noun φάος and its derivatives (φαεινός 'light', φαέθων 'brilliant', the compound φαεσίμβροτος '(bearing) light to the mortals', verbs φαείνω 'shine' and φαίνω 'show, manifest') are related by Homer to the same objects and phenomena: the sun, the moon, the dawn, the stars, weapons, armor, clothing, and eyes. A number of other words associated with the notions of light and shine are also analyzed – the nouns αὐγή, αἴγλη, σέλας, the verbs στίλβω, μαρμαίρω, the participles of the verbs γανάω and *γλαυκιάω, the adjectives φαεινός, φαίδιμος, φαέθων, φαιδρός, σιγαλόεις and their various derivatives. As a result, Losev states that Homer knows the most subtle differences in light sensations and perceptions, numerous emotional and aesthetic shades, and all his things are «beautiful» and immersed in endless light and color waves. The article shows that when studying light terms in the Homeric epic, as well as in ancient texts of later time, the scholar realized their place in all the theological, philosophical, historical and cultural context known to him.

Keywords: ancient Greek, Homeric epic, lexical semantics, light designations

To cite this article: Malinauskiene N.K. A.F. Losev on the designations of light in the ancient Greek tradition: Homer. Aristeas XXVIII (2023): 17–25.

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Author:
N.K. Malinauskene