[B-Greek] Accents

Mitch Larramore mitchlarramore at yahoo.com
Fri Jun 17 15:12:34 EDT 2005


Here are a few statements taken from the ATR Big
Grammar beginning with page 226 (on Accent):

"The systematic application of accent in the MSS.,
like the regular use of the spiritus lenis, dates from
the seventh century A.D."

"There are no accent-marks in the early inscriptions
and papyri; in fact, tradition ascribes the invention
of these signs as a system to Aristophanes of
Byzantium in the third century B.C., though the
beginnings appear in the preceding century."

"There is the Harris papyrus of Homer in the first
century A.D. which has accents..." (which he later
adds that every syllable of every word was accented)


I just wanted to confirm what I think I’m reading.
Accents (acute, grave, circumflex) were in REGULAR USE
by century 7 AD as far as the MSS go, but that as
early as century 4 BC some "ancient writings" actually
used accents. The second quote above states "the
beginnings appear..." so I am assuming accents are
visible on some ancient sources of the 4th century BC.

I even tried to go out on the Internet to see if I
could find an image of this Harris Papyrus so I could
see for myself these accents, but was not able to
locate it. 


Mitch Larramore
Sugar Land, Texas

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 



More information about the B-Greek mailing list