In April 1856, the well-known American classical scholar Cornelius Conway Felton wrote a long article for the «Boston Daily Advertiser» devoted to Constantine Simonides, the notorious forger of ancient texts. The article reveals that Simonides had planned since 1851 a visit to the United States to peddle his forged manuscripts. It also includes part of an earlier warning note which was published by the Greek scholar Evangelinos Apostolides Sophocles as soon as Simonides announced his visit. Finally, the closing section of Felton’s article contains a harsh criticism of the German classical philology and of the German scholars who had recently been the victims of the skilled impostor. The article is republished with notes and an Italian translation.
Sul falsario Costantino Simonidis e un suo progettato, ma non realizzato, viaggio negli Stati Uniti d'America negli anni '50 del XIX secolo.
Costantino Simonides in America. Un articolo di Cornelius Conway Felton sui falsi e la filologia tedesca
PINTO, Pasquale Massimo
2010-01-01
Abstract
In April 1856, the well-known American classical scholar Cornelius Conway Felton wrote a long article for the «Boston Daily Advertiser» devoted to Constantine Simonides, the notorious forger of ancient texts. The article reveals that Simonides had planned since 1851 a visit to the United States to peddle his forged manuscripts. It also includes part of an earlier warning note which was published by the Greek scholar Evangelinos Apostolides Sophocles as soon as Simonides announced his visit. Finally, the closing section of Felton’s article contains a harsh criticism of the German classical philology and of the German scholars who had recently been the victims of the skilled impostor. The article is republished with notes and an Italian translation.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
