Book Series
The following series are edited by members of the International Plutarch Society but are not publications of the society.
Plutarchea Hypomnemata
Leuven University Press
Editors: Jan Opsomer (KU Leuven), Geert Roskam (KU Leuven), Frances Titchener (Utah State University, Logan), Luc Van der Stockt (KU Leuven)
The series Plutarchea Hypomnemata, published by Leuven University Press, focuses on the voluminous oeuvre of Plutarch of Chaeronea, one of the most prolific and multi-faceted authors of the ancient Greek world. Until the 19th century his fame as an author was primarily based on his Parallel Lives but today the miscellaneous collection of his ethical writings is highly appreciated as well. Nearly all of his works illustrate both his intelligent interpretation and appropriation of the Greek tradition, as well as his critical interaction with contemporary society. As a popular school author, his work exerted an immense influence on the education of the Western intelligentsia up to the 19th century. The second half of the 20th century witnessed a renaissance of scholarly research on his works, with the International Plutarch Society acting as a forceful catalyst.
The series Plutarchea Hypomnemata intends to further the scholarly study of, and international dialogue on, this rich Corpus Plutarcheum. To that end it welcomes monographs that explore specific themes developed in one or more Plutarchan writings, offer a thorough interpretation of and/or commentary on a particular text, or discuss various aspects of Plutarch's authorial activity, philosophical thinking, religious ideas, political convictions, and attitude towards history, science, and the arts. We also welcome studies that situate him in broader ideological and literary contexts (such as the so-called ‘Second Sophistic', ‘Middle Platonism', ancient biography) and/or in a contemporary political, social, and religious context.
Volumes in this series meet the highest scholarly standards and contribute significantly to the field of Plutarch studies. Specifically, they raise innovative questions while firmly grounded in sound methodology; they reach well-argued and original conclusions; and they are disseminated in the appropriate scientific format. This overall quality is guaranteed by international peer review.
Brill's Plutarch Studies
Brill
Editors: Lautaro Roig Lanzillotta (University of Groningen), Delfim F. Leão (University of Coimbra)
Ever since the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the influence of Plutarch, the great writer of Chaeronea, has been enormous. From Montaigne and Shakespeare to S. Zweig and J.K. Rowling, Plutarch has helped to shape modern Western thought and culture. Besides being an influential figure for intellectual and literary trends, Plutarch has also been fundamental in the transmission of ancient lore to medieval, Renaissance and modern Europe. Indeed, Plutarch is still a key figure for our understanding of the first centuries of the Common Era: his social provenance, education, rich political career and social life make him a first-rate witness to the cultural life of late antiquity.
The past two decades have witnessed an upsurge in scholarship on Plutarch. Classicists, archaeologists, historians, philosophers and theologians alike have shown a renewed interest in this intriguing figure and his works, particularly for the light they might shed on ancient culture. In point of fact, both his Lives and his Moralia are inexhaustible sources of information about numerous aspects of the ancient world and its wisdom, helping scholars as they attempt to reconstruct the past. This is as true for religion, philosophy, literature, politics, and science (botanic, zoology, astronomy, or mathematics), as it is for pseudo-sciences such as divination, astrology, or numerology.
Brill’s Plutarch Studies is a response to this renewed scholarly interest in the encyclopedic writer of Chaeronea. In addition to monographs and edited volumes, the series includes updated [English] translations of and commentaries on both Lives and Moralia. As such, it intends both to bring together the most significant Plutarch scholarship of recent years, as well as to provide a forum in which new approaches might be discussed.