Lucretius on Creation and Evolution. A Commentary on De Rerum Natura Book Five, Lines 772-1104

380 Pages·2003·37.4 MB·English

by  Gordon Campbell

The aim of the Oxford Classical Monographs series (which replaces the
Oxford Classical and Philosophical Monographs) is to publish books based
on the best theses on Greek and Latin literature, ancient history, and
ancient philosophy examined by the Faculty Board of Classics.
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In Memoriam
Don Fowler
Doctissimi Viri
Nothing to fear in God.
Nothing to feel in death.
But good can be attained,
And evil may be endured.
Philodemus, The Fourfold
Remedy

Preface
I FIRST started this commentary as my D.Phil. thesis at Jesus
College, Oxford, under the supervision of the late Don Fowler.
His wonderful enthusiasm, vast learning, and breadth of vision
gave me an insight into a world of scholarship I did not know
existed. His confidence in me gave me the courage to believe I
was capable of such a project, and enabled me to continue even
during those times I had lost faith in myself. His extraordinary
courage and cheerfulness in the face of death confirmed me in my
view that Lucretius is a powerful force for good in the world.
This commentary may be slight recompense for his confidence,
but I dedicate it to him in deep gratitude.
I am also in the debt of many other kind and learned scholars,
especiaHy Dirk Obbink who generously acted as my supervisor
during and after Don's final illness, Thomas Griffiths for
his anthropological advice and many stimulating debates, and
Stephen Simpson for his advice on Darwinian evolution. They
should not be held responsible for any mistakes and omissions,
which are of course my own. I am also very grateful to the late
Don Fowler, and to Peta Fowler, for choosing me as Don's
research assistant during his final illness, and giving me t~e
opportunity to carry on working on Don's projects after his
death. I would also like to thank all those who have given me
valuable advice and criticism, especially my examiners Matthew
Leigh and David Sedley, who also acted as my adviser for OUP
and to whom I am grateful for many insights, and indebted for
saving me from many mistakes.
G.C.
1Vational University of Ireland
1VJa ynooth 3
200

Contents
.
Abbreviations Xl
INTRODUCTION
I
TEXT 19
TRANSLATION 31
COMMENTARY 41
Appendix A: Table of Themes in Accounts of Creation,
Zoogony, and Anthropogony 330
Appendix B: Table of Themes in Prehistories and
Accounts of the Golden Age 336
Bibliography 354
Index locorum 3 77
Index nominum et rerum 383

Abbreviations
Arr. G. Arrighetti, Epicuro Opere, 2nd edn. (Turin,
1973).
Boas G. Boas, Primitivism and Related Ideas in the
Middle Ages (Baltimore, 1948).
CAG H. Diels (ed.), Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca
(Berlin, 1882-1909).
DK H. Diels and W. Kranz, Die f ragmente der Vor
sokratiker (Berlin, 1952).
E-K I. Edelstein and I. G. Kidd (eds.), Posidonius: The
Fragments (Cambridge, 1989).
Ep.Hdt. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus.
Ep.Men. Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus.
Ep. Pyth. Epicurus, Letter to Pythocles.
Ernout-Meillet A. Ernout and A. Meillet, Dictionnaire etymologique
de la langue latine (Paris, 1959).
FHS&G W.W. Fortenbaugh, P. M. Huby, R. W. Sharples,
and D. Gutas (eds.), Theophrastus of Eresus
(Leiden, 1992).
Grimal P. Grimal, Dictionary of Classical Mythology
(Oxford, 1986).
KLl Epicurus, Principal Sayings
KRS G. S. Kirk, J. E. Raven, and l\tl. Schofield, The
Presocratic Philosophers (Cambridge, 1983).
LA
F. Longo Auricchio, Ermarco: Frammenti (Naples,
988).
I
L&B A.O. Lovejoy and G. Boas,Primiti'LismandRelated
1
Ideas in Antiquity (Baltimore, 1935).
L&S A. A. Long and D. N. Sedley, The Hellenistic
Philosophers (Cambridge, 1987).
LSJ H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, and H. S. Jones, A Greek
English Lexicon, 9th edn. with suppl. (Oxford,
1996).
Maltby R. l\tlaltby, A Lexicon of Ancient Latin Etymologies
(Leeds, 1991).
M&P A. Martin and 0. Primavesi (eds.), L'Empedocle de
Strasbourg ( P. Strasb. gr. Inv. r665~r666) (Berlin
and Strasbourg, 1998).