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1882
Volume 71, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 0017-0461
  • E-ISSN: 2507-0401

Abstract

Abstract

This paper provides a close reading of Nicomachus’ ‘very tortuous’ account of Pythagoras’ alleged addition of an eighth string to the seven-stringed lyre. The primary focus is on Philolaus’ anomalous use of the string name τρίτη in fragment 6a. This well-known conundrum is reconsidered in light of the ‘epicentric’ arrangement of the Archaic lyre’s seven strings. It is argued that τρίτη and παραμέση were originally alternative names for the same string (as Nicomachus implies). This ambivalence was later bifurcated when lyres began to have eight strings around 480-460 , a musical development that is plausibly reflected in a minority tradition about Simonides; the Pythagorean legend is a secondary development.

Abstract

Questo articolo fornisce una lettura attenta del racconto "molto tortuoso" di Nicomaco della supposta aggiunta di Pitagora di un'ottava corda alla lira a sette corde. Il foco principale è l'uso anomalo di Philolaus del nome della corda τρίτη nel frammento 6a. Questo enigma, bene noto, viene riconsiderato alla luce della disposizione "epicentrica" delle sette corde della lira arcaica. Sostengo che τρίτη e παραμέση fossero in origine nomi alternativi per la stessa corda (come implica Nicomachus stesso). Questa ambivalenza fu in seguito biforcata quando le lire iniziarono ad avere otto corde attorno al 480-460 a.C., uno sviluppo musicale che si riflette plausibilmente in una tradizione minoritaria su Simonide; la leggenda pitagorica è uno sviluppo secondario.

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/content/journals/10.1484/J.GIF.5.118459
2019-01-01
2025-12-06

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