Biobibliographical Works of Galen as a Source for the History of Roman Book Culture

Abstract

The article examines the problems of book culture in Rome in the 2nd-3rd centuries AD according to new historical and philological evidence from the bio-bibliographical works of Galen. After the publication of new critical editions of his works De libris propriis and De indolentia, new evidences on Roman libraries, their topography, book collections, the state of manuscript funds, as well as on Galen’s work as a philologist, editor and text critic were introduced into scientifi c circulation. The purpose of the article is to show that Galen was not only a famous physician and philosopher but also one of the outstanding scholars of his time, who was inextricably linked with the culture of the “Second Sophistry”. The continuity of the Greek intellectual tradition and education, the interest in the works of medical and philosophical authorities, the copying and reconstruction of their texts both for personal needs and for public use and the preservation of cultural heritage, as evidenced by Galen, largely clarify the issues of cultural life in Rome at that time and Galen’s place in it. The research methodology is based on traditional historical and philological analysis and source study of Galen’s original Greek texts, which are considered against the background of the cultural tradition with the study of relevant terms and concepts necessary for its characterization. The results of the study clarify a number of philological issues in the fi eld of book history, libraries, philological terminology of text criticism and cultural studies and can be used in various philological, historical and cultural studies courses.

Keywords

• biobibliographical works
• galen
• ancient libraries
• history of the book