Abstract
Why a new lexicon of ancient Greek? It is the question that opens the preface to the English translation of this work. The translators answer that issue in various ways without disparaging existing lexica, such as the standard work by Liddell and Scott (and Jones)—the LSJ. They do note that the LSJ was a revision of the fourth edition of Passow’s lexicon (1831), which itself was a revision of Johann Gottlob Schneider’s 1798 work. Thus the need to update the language and definitions, but more significantly to incorporate ‘new evidence, especially from epigraphical sources and papyri’ (p. vii). Hence the editors note that lexicography is a dynamic discipline, which is not an exact science. Rather, it is more intuitive and iterative in nature, building on the work of predecessors, yet incrementally advancing the understanding of the ancient Greek language.
The layout is simple and user friendly, with a key to the presentation of each lemma and the accompanying symbols being laid out on the inside cover pages. Although originally an Italian work, the translators have carefully considered the most appropriate English terms to render the Greek. There are approximately 140,000 headwords, and the chronological span extends to the sixth century ce, making this a useful reference work for those interested in late antique Greek, as well as the earliest phases of the language. One particularly useful feature of this lexicon is the listing of the extant principal parts for some 15,000 verbs. Only those forms that are documented to survive in ancient texts are listed.
There is no doubt that this work will be consulted as a major and standard reference tool. Loyalty to the LSJ, or BDAG or New Testament scholars, may mean that it is some years before this work is regularly consulted. However, if the longevity of previous lexica is any guide, then this work will have a long shelf life. So the speed of uptake is not necessarily a concern. This dictionary is most helpful when used alongside existing standard works. Its comparative perspectives and the provision of new lexical data will surely serve to enrich the texts being studied. This is a splendid work and all those responsible for its production and translation are to be most warmly commended.