Aristejevo pismo Filokratu

Abstract

Poglavlja 1-8 čine izrazito retorizovan uvod svojstven prozi helenističke epohe: autor visokoparnim stilom iznosi svoje motive za sastavljanje spisa i posvećuje ga svome bratu Filokratu, za kojeg saznajemo još jedino to da mu je brat ne samo po krvi već i po ljubavi prema znanju i mudrosti. Pošto je podvukao i sopstvene zasluge za istorijski poduhvat prevođenja Petoknjižja na grčki, on prelazi na opis zbivanja, koji započinje obraćanjem upravnika Aleksandrijske biblioteke kralju Ptolemeju II Filadelfu.

Chapters 1-8 form a distinctly rhetorical introduction characteristic of the prose of the Hellenistic era: the author expresses his motives for compiling the writings in a high-sounding style and dedicates it to his brother Philocrates, for which we learn only that his brother is not only by blood but also by the love of knowledge and wisdom. Having underlined his own merits for the historical endeavor of translating the Pentateuch into Greek, he turns to the description of events, which begins with the address of the headmaster of the Alexandria library to King Ptolemy II of Philadelphia.