Empedocles B30: ἐθρέφθη or ἐρέφθη? παρ᾽ἐλήλαται or παρελήλαται?

Abstract

B30 introduces the breaking of the Sphairos by Strife. At v. 1 the variant ἐθρέφθη, transmitted by Arist., Metaph., is widely accepted, although the rest of the fragment (except for the emendation of παρελήλαται into παρ᾽ελήλαται) is taken from Simpl., in Ph. The author brings forward many arguments in favour of the commentator’s reading ἐρέφθη: Aristotle quoted from memory, whereas Simplicius very likely had a complete exemplar of the Physical Poem at his disposal; we cannot be sure that the verb τρέφω belongs to Empedocles’ vocabulary, because θρεφθεῖσα in B17.5 is simply the result of an emendation by F. Panzerbieter; and we should trust the lectio difficilior ἐρέφθη (‘took cover’). This choice significantly contributes to understanding how the disruption of the Sphairos starts. The author also discusses the text of v. 3; he restores the lectio tradita παρελήλαται, and proposes a partially new interpretation of the line.

Keywords

• Empedocles B30 and B17.5;
• textual criticism concerning presocratics;
• Simplicius;
• lectio difficilior.