Arrian on coursing

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

78013

Title

Arrian on coursing

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A specialized translation of Arrian's ancient treatise on coursing, this work addresses the 'coursing public' with practical annotations on greyhound history, breeding, and technique. It bridges classical Greek and Roman texts with later European hunting manuals, offering a comprehensive guide to the art of the leash for enthusiasts of the Celtic hound.

Summary up to 500 words

Arrian's *Cynegeticus*, translated and annotated by a graduate of medicine, serves as a definitive manual on the art of coursing, originally composed for the 'amateurs of the leash' during the reign of Hadrian. The text focuses exclusively on the greyhound, distinguishing its unique capabilities from other hunting dogs and detailing the sport as practiced across the Roman Empire. The work meticulously explores the physical characteristics of the Celtic greyhound, offering comprehensive guidance on breeding, feeding, and training. It delves into the specific techniques of hare-coursing, tracing the history of the hound from antiquity through the Middle Ages, noting a significant scarcity of full descriptions between the classical era and the fifteenth century. The volume is enriched by extensive classical and practical annotations drawn from a vast array of Greek and Roman authors, including Xenophon, Ovid, Oppian, and Nemesian. These references illuminate the psychology of the chase, the hound's speed and agility, and the sport's deep roots in ancient art and literature. The translator bridges a historical gap, connecting the vivid Ovidian sketches of the chase with the full, perfect picture provided by Arrian. The text also addresses the continuity of traditions from Nicomedia to the Sopewell cloister, incorporating insights from later medieval and Renaissance treatises such as Dame Juliana Berners' *Book of St. Albans* and the unpublished labors of Edmund Duke of York. While the general reader may find the subject narrow, the 'literary courser' will appreciate the collection of classical elucidations and the continuity of the sport's traditions. The work stands as a crucial link in the history of the leash, filling the lacunae left by earlier treatises and providing a detailed account of the greyhound's nature, from its red-colored archetypes to its legendary speed. By integrating ancient texts with later observations, the volume offers a complete picture of the greyhound's role in the chase, preserving the knowledge of a noble sport that flourished from the age of Trajan through the Antonines and beyond.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Hunting