LE ETIMOLOGIE GRECHE NEI COMMENTARII DI SERVIO A VIRGILIO

The most notable work of the late Latin grammarian Servius (second half of IV century CE-first quarter of the V century CE) is undoubtedly his commentary on Virgil's Aeneid, Eclogues, and Georgics. This thesis provides the first ever complete lexicon of the Greek etymological notations (i.e. implying Greek language in all its forms) that Servius included in his commentary on Virgil. The notes have been categorised into six groups according to their grammatical function (Proper Names; Epithets; Common Names; Zoonyms, Phytonyms and Botanical Terms; Adjectives; Verbs and Adverbs, Prefixes). These categories correspond to the six chapters of the thesis. The lexicon contains specific entries for each etymological note or group of notes. Each entry provides a detailed analysis of the notes in question and of their relation to the Virgilian passages commented on, as well as a full account and discussion of the Greek and Latin parallels of Servius' Greek etymologies, presented in chronological order. The relevant Greek parallels range from Hesiod (VIII-VII century BCE) to Eustathius of Thessalonica (died c. 1195 CE), while the relevant Latin parallels range from Naevius (III century BCE) to Isidore of Seville (died 636 CE). In the Conclusions, a comprehensive analysis of Servius' Greek etymological notes relative to their function is presented. Furthermore, two widely accepted scholarly interpretations, namely that Servius believed in an Aeolic origin of Latin and that his commentary was intended for students, are reassessed. Finally, the appendix provides a full account of the notes concerning the morphophonological integration of idionymic Graecisms into Latin in Servius' commentary on Virgil.