Il parto dell’orsa, un miope emendamento del Cuperus e il destino della poesia di Petronio

Starting from the examination of the lucky topos of the bear’s birth, which gives birth to small imperfect ones and licks them until she gives them a complete shape, we discuss an epigram by the Carthaginian poet Luxorius, dedicated to this topic. The identification of the imitation by Luxorius of an epigram attributed to Petronius (fr. 26 Bucheler = 26 Muller = AL 690 Riese²) allows us to introduce considerations regarding the diffusion of Petronian poetic florilegiums in late ancient North Africa, which soon migrated to the Spain of Isidorus of Seville and originated anthologies subsequently testified by IX century manuscripts such as the Vossianus Q. 86 and the deperditus Bellovacensis.