LA MUSA ΠΟΛΥΜΝΗΣΤΗ: PENELOPE NELLA POETICA DI EMPEDOCLE (FR. 3 DK)

Abstract

The epithet πολυμνήστη ascribed by Empedocles to the Muse in the proem of the Περὶ φύσεως, recalls the Odyssey: here Penelope is πολυμνήστη, courted by the suitors, but after all the lawful wife of Odysseus. So, in the Περὶ φύσεως, the Muse πολυμνηᾳστη has a peculiar relation only with Empedocles, who is the new poet and who is in contrast with his rivals, that is the previous tradition.