The autobiography of red analysis example

Summary

Appendix A: Testimonia on the Question of Stesichoros’ Blinding by Helen

This appendix contains three entries from different ancient texts, each of which addresses the question of Stesichoros’ blinding by Helen.

The first entry is purportedly taken from the Suda, a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, whose author was formerly thought to be named Suidas, and whose name was historically confused with the title of the encyclopedia.

The encyclopedia entry is on the topic of the palinodia, defined as a “counter song” or “saying the opposite of what you said before.” The example it provides is that when Stesichoros wrote defamatory words about Helen of Troy, she struck him blind, and afterward he got his sight back by writing a palinodia which retracted his words of abuse.

The palinodia was a work of praise, also known as an encomium, and is said to have emerged out of a dream.

The second entry is from Isokrates, an ancient Greek