MINIATURIST, Greek
(active 11th century)

Oppian: Cynegetica

11th century
Manuscript (Gr. Z. 479)
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice

This manuscript contains a didactic poem on the technique of hunting with dogs, written by Oppian of Apamea in Syria. The poem is dedicated to the emperor Caracalla, so that it must have been written after 211 A.D. It consists of about 2150 lines, and is divided into four books, the last of which, seems incomplete. The text is illustrated by 150 miniatures that fall into two groups. In the main group, the scenes shown are closely linked to the text: they show hunting techniques, dogs, horses and other animals. There is also a smaller group of mythological scenes.

The picture shown here belongs to the second group: the miniature on folio 23 depicts the Banquet of Phineus. This story is found in Apollonius Rhodius. The blind king is represented in the centre of the scene, surrounded by harpies who hurl themselves at the table in an attempt to take away a goblet.