4to, [20] leaves, first blank, 36-38 lines, roman letter, woodcut initial at beginning, slightly damaged, hole in margin of a2 repaired, name in same margin obliterated, long contemporary note on the work in accomplished humanist hand on first blank leaf. Nineteenth century calf gilt, with Wodhull arms on upper cover, upper joint repaired
Provenance:
bound for Michael Woodhull (around 1802), with his arms on upper cover, sold by Sotheby's in 1886, booklabel of George Dunn (sold by Sotheby's in 1914), bookplate of John Arthur Brooke (sold in 1921), bookplate of Albert Ehrman (Broxbourne collection, sold by by Sotheby's in 1977: the property of John Ehrman).
Ref. Goff D206; HC 6184*; Pell 4262; BMC VII 956; GW 8370; Cocxk-Indestege, Classica et humanistica, in Gulden Passer (2003), nr. 54 (this copy) Scarce, no copies in Belgian libraries. Dio of Prusa, the greatest Greek orator of his time (first century AD), directly contradicts everything Homer tells us about the Trojan War. Like an accuser, he verbally attacks the great poet: the Trojan War as we know it is based on Homeric lies. The truth must now come to light: not the Greeks, but the Trojans won the war! Dio's entertaining, fiery argument therefore not only fits within centuries of Homer criticism, it is also an indictment of 'fake news': a current theme, transported back into the world of ancient literary criticism
