Who's the Woman on the Bull?: Achilles Tatius 1,4,3

Abstract

In sections 1,1,2–13 of his Leucippe and Clitophon Achilles Tatius has the unidentified author of the novel describe a painting on which is depicted synoptically the story of Europa. The passage begins with ὁρῶ γραφὴν ἀνα-κειμένην γῆς ἅμα καὶ θαλάσσης, Εὐρώπης ἡ γραφή (‘I saw a picture hanging up which was a landscape and a seascape in one. The painting was of Europa’). In section 1,4,2–3 the hero of the novel, Clitophon, relates to the unidentified author that he once fell in love at first sight with a maiden whom he describes as follows: ὡς δὲ ἐπέτεινα τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν, ἐν ἀριστερᾷ παρθένος ἐκφαίνεταί μοι, καὶ καταστράπεται μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τῷ προσώπῳ. τοιαύτην εἶδον ἐγώ ποτε ἐπὶ ταύρῳ γεγραμμένην Εὐρώπην. The phrase τοιαύτην εἶδον ἐγώ ποτε ἐπὶ ταύρῳ γεγραμμένην Εὐρώπην is the focus of this essay, in particular the word Εὐρώπην, since some manuscripts, translations, and commentaries show a different reading (Σελήνην). The parallel between the drawing in 1,1,2–13 and the simile in 1,4,3 would make sense, since the narrative includes references to two women astride bulls. The problems that I address in this paper are 1) the discrepancy between the manuscripts, all but one of which have Σελήνην instead of Εὐρώπην, and 2) the choices made by the translators of the novel, who are almost evenly divided in their preference for Σελήνην or Εὐρώπην. The resolution to the variant readings is found in a close examination of the character of the heroine, Leucippe, who undergoes a transformation from a normal individual in the beginning of the novel to a witch, or follower of Selene, by the end of the story.

Edmund P. Cueva is an Associate Professor of Classics at XavierUniversityin Cincinnati, Ohio. His research interests include the ancient novel and classical mythology. He is managing co-editor of The Classical Bulletin and the incoming editor of The Petronian Society Newsletter.