New Reference Work in Classical Studies

With the launch of Supplementum Grammaticum Graecum Online (SGGO), Brill adds a vital new resource to the field of Classical Studies. Complementing Jacoby Online and the Lexicon of Greek Grammarians of Antiquity , SGGO offers critical editions of the fragments and testimonies of ancient Greek grammarians. In this interview, General Editor Fausto Montana (University of Pavia) discusses the project’s scholarly aims, the challenges of reconstructing fragmentary texts, and how SGGO reflects the future of digital philology.

1. How did the idea for Supplementum Grammaticum Graecum originate, and what scholarly needs does it seek to address?

The epistemological system of the ancient Greco-Roman world had an articulation that only roughly corresponds to the modern and contemporary one(s). For this reason, there are ancient Greek authors and works that we can hardly frame in one of our recognized fields. It happens that today's historian of historiography and historian of philology run into each other while studying the same textual fragment. This fact was clearly brought to light by Felix Jacoby when, in the first decades of the 20th century, he reflected on a plan to edit the fragments of ancient Greek historians. He acted selectively and pragmatically in including in his Fragmente der griechischen Historiker also a number of textual fragments from ‘grammarians’ (or, as I like to call them, ‘scholar-historians’) of interest to today's historians. This approach had the additional merit of highlighting a state of affairs: the writings of the ancient Greek grammatikoi that have only survived in fragments have only rarely received appropriate and systematic editorial treatment. SGG was created to fill this gap.

2. SGGO is designed to complement Jacoby Online and the Lexicon of Greek Grammarians of Antiquity . Could you explain how these resources work together and what added value this cross-referencing brings to users?

LGGA and SGGO are two sides of the same coin. LGGA is the encyclopedic repertory of ancient Greek grammarians, containing biographical and historical information on both the intellectual activity and works of the individuals. SGGO is designed to offer the critical edition and scholarly commentary of the textual testimonies on and fragments of (a number of) these individuals.

As far as the relationship with JO is concerned, a distinction must be made. Grammarians (scholar-historians) partially edited by Jacoby himself in parts I-III of the Fragmente (JO I-III / BNJ / BNJ2) can find a complete and updated edition in SGGO. On the other hand, the relationship to parts IV and, exceptionally, V of JO (Jacoby continuatus) provides for no duplication: it is stipulated that the edition of an ancient author entirely appears either in JO, or in SGGO. This editorial complementarity is our solution to the question of the imperfect overlapping of ancient and modern epistemological systems in relation to the historical, antiquarian, and philological fields.

3. Many entries in SGGO present new or first critical editions of testimonies and fragments. What challenges do you face when reconstructing the fragmentary remains of ancient grammarians?

The fundamental problem is the enormity of what has been lost of the grammarians' works. The vast majority of the fragments are of indirect tradition and this entails a very careful study of the citation context: our ability to recover the form and content of the fragments almost entirely depends on this. Secondly, the interpretation of the handed-down texts requires the application of a rigorous critical sense and accurate scholarly documentation, which stick to the textual fact and do not give in to the temptation of reckless (re)constructions. Painstaking work! But necessary to try to understand in a reliable manner this side of ancient culture, so decisive for the transmission and reception of Greek literary civilization over the centuries and down to us.

4. Given the collaborative nature of SGGO, what has your experience been like working together as general editors? How do you coordinate and make decisions across such a complex editorial project?

The collaboration between us general co-editors predates our formal role in SGGO (and LGGA) and is nurtured by decades-long professional and human relationship and acquaintance. It is only natural, as well as mutually supportive, for us to share reflections and decisions that range from the theoretical and design levels to the programmatic and operational ones.

5. Digital critical editions are becoming increasingly central to classical philology. In your view, how does SGGO reflect or even shape the future of digital scholarship in the field?

Digital technology makes it possible to multiply the usefulness and effectiveness of critical editing. Strengths are that the critical reader can easily and quickly reach the desired piece of information, separately or simultaneously with others of her/his choice, and therefore that s/he can build customized paths to use the edited material – critical text, translation, commentary, indexes, and so forth. Designing and implementing this for large collections of fragmentary texts, such as SGGO and JO, is undoubtedly something pioneering in the field of classical scholarship.

6. Are there particular grammarians in the current collection whose fragments you find especially intriguing or revealing for our understanding of ancient scholarship?

Without wanting to draw up ‘rankings’, figures like Antimachus of Colophon and Didymus Alexandrinus stand out for their respective roles in key moments of the history of ancient philology. The former (5th-4th c. BCE) can be seen as a precursor of the Alexandrian professionalized scholarship, the latter (Augustan age) as the main carrier of the Alexandrian philological heritage towards the world and the ages of the Roman Empire and beyond. But many others, who lived and operated before, between, and after these two, contribute to making sense of them...