Parthenius of Nicaea

"This is the first study of all the extant remains of the important Hellenistic poet and mythographer, Parthenius of Nicaea, reputed to have been Virgil's tutor in Greek and a major literary figure in his own right. A new edition of his poetic fragments, this book presents the first commentary on Parthenius since the work of August Meineke (1843); it also attempts to contextualize his work within the traditions of Hellenistic poetry and within the 'neoteric revolution' of late Republican Rome. The prime importance of the work is that it aims to be a comprehensive treatment of a relatively neglected and marginalized figure; and that it sets Parthenius' poetry and prose side by side to illustrate and contextualize a literary personality who was unusual in antiquity as an accomplished writer in both genres."--Jacket.