Presentation of Statues (Andriantopoiika) in the New Posidippus

Abstract

Posidippus’ Andriantopoiika (epigrams 62-70 Austin-Bastianini), in accordance with their subject heading, deal with statue-making. Nearly every epigram contains phrases alluding to sculpting. One of the poet’s chief concerns was to show the criteria of the perfect art. The section begins with a direct appeal to sculptors to imitate ‘these works’ (probably those presented by Posidippus in the cluster that follows) and to leave aside ‘ancient rules for larger-than-lifesize statues’. In one poem (63) the poet proclaims a ‘canon of truth’, i.e. of realism, as the desirable style of sculpture. Miniaturism and polish are also highly valued. Although Posidippus praises other masters too — including older ones — the precedence is given to Lysippus, the favourite sculptor of Alexander whose presumed lawful successors were the Ptolemies. The section as a whole certainly gives a valuable clue to the principles of Hellenistic art.

Most of these poems can be classified as ekphrastic. Their form and underlying conception prove that Posidippus had an ambition to create a varied type of ekphrasis, in its content considerably independent of the described work of art. In the Andriantopoiika, the poet inserts, among other things, a historical comment (68), an anecdote (66), and literary allusions (64). His formal addressees include the spectator (64, 67), the artist who created a given work of art (65), and even the work or its elements themselves (64). However, it is always the reader who remains the intended addressee of each poem. The poet neither simply presents the sculptures nor states the plain facts connected with them. His epigrams serve specific ideological purposes, as they promote the cultural policy of the Ptolemies, consciously adopting the aesthetic preferences of Alexander.