Description

This illustrated edition of the epyllion (epic poem) by the Greek poet Musaeus (also seen as Musaios, late fifth century‒early sixth century) relating the tragic love story of Hero and Leander is one of the first editions produced by Aldus Manutius the elder (1449 or 1450–1515) in his Venetian printing workshop, the Aldine Press. The book contains the text of the poem in the original Greek, in 343 hexameters, and a Latin translation. It is a matter of controversy in which year this undated edition was published—1494 ...