1. Journal of Ancient History 1 (78)
2. On Peloris by Horace (Hor. Sat. II. 4. 32)

On Peloris by Horace (Hor. Sat. II. 4. 32)

Gimadeev Elias R.

The article argues that the term peloris in Hor. Sat. II. 4. 32, which was misunderstood in previous scholarship, is to be more correctly understood as the Gari depressa (Pennant, 1777). The commentation tradition interpreted peloris as the Tridacna gigas (Linnaeus, 1758) (a huge mollusc up to 400 kg), which is absurd in this context, or as the mussel, i.e. Mytilus – а genus of edible, mainly saltwater mussels, which contradicts the ancient sources. The hypothesis that this term is equivalent to the Bivalvia in general is inconsistent with the precision typical of Horace.

Keywords: Horace, Gari depressa, peloris, molluscs, mussels

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