THE TERM DIASYRTICUS IN SERVIUS’ COMMENTARY ON THE AENEID (SERV. IN AEN. 2, 80–193)

Abstract

The article examines a fairly rare term of Greek origin, diasyrticus, that is used four times in Servius’ commentary on Sinon’s speech in the second book of Vergil’s Aeneis (Serv. in Aen. 2, 80–193). Although this term does sporadically appear in scholia to other Roman poets, Servius’ use of it four times over a limited stretch of his commentary, as well as the fact that he does not use either diasyrticus or the adverb diasyrtice in any other passage of his commentary, is remarkable. The article seeks to determine the exact meaning of the term diasyrticus, as well as to describe its usage in works of Roman scholars and critics, to trace its origins and estimate at what point the Greek term might have entered the terminological apparatus of Roman literary criticism; finally, a possible source for Servius’ use of diasyrticus is suggested. It is shown that the semantics of the Greek adjective διασυρ- τικóς, which derives from the noun διασύρτης ‘malicious liar, detractor’, combines two aspects, designating the speech of one who seeks to fool his listeners or to slander someone or something before their eyes, but also does this with malicious intent, taking a mean delight in their gullibility. It appears that the term διασυρτικóς began to be used by Roman scholars and critics at the end of the first century BCE (cf. the use of διασυρτικός in Περὶ τρόπων of the Alexandrian grammarian Trypho who, according to the tradition, taught in Rome at that time). Among the occurrences of diasyrticus in Roman scholarship, Aelius Donatus’ use of it in his commentary on Terence is particularly significant. Donatus was also the author of an important commentary on Vergil (now largely lost), and an important source for Servius as he was composing his own commentary. It is therefore highly probable that it was ultimately from Donatus’ work that Servius adopted the term diasyrticus, limiting its application, however, only to Sinon’s speech. Refs 13.