Delphi Complete Works of Oppian

by Oppian, Delphi Classics (Editor), A.W. Mair (Translator)

The second century poet Oppian of Cilicia wrote a celebrated epic on the subject of ‘Fishing’ in five books, dedicated to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It deals with the habits and characteristics of fish, as well as giving instructions for the art of fishing. Though not precisely poetical in nature, the ‘Halieutica’ preserves a great deal of curious information that would have been otherwise lost. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations and the original Greek texts. This eBook presents Oppian’s complete extant works, with illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Oppian's life and works* Features the complete extant works of Oppian, in both English translation and the original Greek* Concise introductions to the texts* A. W. Mair’s 1928 translations, which previously appeared in the Loeb Classical Library edition of Oppian* Excellent formatting of the texts* Easily locate the sections you want to read with individual contents tables* Includes the rare Pseudo-Oppian work ‘The Chase’, first time in digital print* Provides a special dual English and Greek text, allowing readers to compare the pages paragraph by paragraph — ideal for students* Features a bonus biography — immerse yourself Oppian's ancient world* Ordering of texts into chronological order and literary TranslationsFishingThe Chase (Pseudo-Oppian)The Greek TextsContents of the Greek TextsThe Dual TextsDual Greek and English TextsThe BiographyIntroduction to Oppian by A. W. Mair

1062 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2021

About the author

Oppian (Ancient Greek: Ὀππιανός, Oppianós; Latin: Oppianus), also known as Oppian of Anazarbus, of Corycus, or of Cilicia, was a 2nd-century Greco-Roman poet during the reign of the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. He was actually born in Caesarea (now known as Anazarbus), but was mistakenly placed in Corycus by Suidas; both cities were in the Roman province of Cilicia. He composed a series of didactic poems in Greek hexameter: one on hunting (Κυνηγετικά, Kynēgetiká), one on fishing (Ἁλιευτικά, Halieutiká), and one on bird catching (Ἰξευτικά, Ixeutiká). The surviving work on hunting is now believed to be the work of a different Oppian and the surviving prose paraphrase of the work on birding is now thought to describe a work composed by the Dionysus whom the Suda mention as the author of a treatise on rocks (Λιθιακά, Lithiaká).

According to an anonymous biographer, Oppian's father, having incurred the displeasure of a colleague of Marcus Aurelius named Lucius Verus by neglecting to pay his respects to him when he visited Rome, was banished to Malta. Oppian, who had accompanied his father into exile, returned after the death of Verus (ad 169) and presented his poems to Marcus Aurelius, who was so pleased with them that he gave the author a piece of gold for each line, took him into favor, and pardoned his father. Oppian subsequently returned to his native country but died of the plague shortly afterwards at the early age of thirty. His contemporaries erected a statue in his honor, with an inscription which is still extant, containing a lament for his premature death and a eulogy of his precocious genius.

His poem on fishing, the Halieutica, is still extant. It is about 3500 lines and bears a dedication to Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus, placing it to the time of their joint rule.