The world of classical scholarship has lost a significant figure with the passing of Lidia Massa Positano, an Italian hellenist who dedicated her life to the study of ancient Greek and Latin literature. Born in Naples in 1912 and passing away in 1984, Positano’s career spanned decades, encompassing professorships at the University of Messina and the University of Naples Federico II.
Positano’s early intellectual promise was evident at a remarkably young age. By the age of 13, she had already published a book of original poetry, garnering critical acclaim. This early success attracted the attention of Ada Negri, a prominent Italian poet, who reviewed Positano’s work favorably and engaged in a correspondence with the young scholar between 1925 and 1930. These letters, recently rediscovered and now housed at the library of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, offer a glimpse into the formative years of a distinguished academic career.
After graduating in Classics from the University of Naples under the tutelage of Vittorio De Falco, Positano established herself as a respected scholar of Greek literature. She began her academic journey as a ‘libero docente’ at the University of Naples before securing a professorship in Greek and Latin grammar at the University of Messina in 1954. She later returned to the University of Naples, where she taught Greek literature and Greek palaeography.
Positano’s scholarly contributions were diverse, encompassing essays on prominent figures such as Sappho, Sophocles, and Solon. However, she distinguished herself through a particular interest in late antique Greek literature, a field where she made significant contributions through critical editions of important texts. She meticulously edited the letters of Aeneas of Gaza, a 6th-century Greek philosopher, and a treatise by Theophylact Simocatta, a Byzantine historian.
Her work extended into the realm of Byzantine studies, where she produced scholarly editions of the scholia – critical commentaries – on Aeschylus’s “Persians” penned by Demetrius Triclinius. She also tackled John Tzetzes’s essay on Ancient Greek comedy and his commentary on Aristophanes’ “Plutus,” providing valuable insights into these complex works.
Positano’s dedication to textual scholarship also manifested in her translations and commentaries on the first four mimiambs by Herodas, a poet of the Hellenistic period, and the fragments of Epicurean philosophy. These editions were not merely translations but involved careful analysis and interpretation of the original texts, making them valuable resources for scholars.
Throughout her career, Positano was described as a “filologa classica non classicista” – a classical philologist who did not adhere strictly to traditional classicist approaches. This suggests a willingness to engage with texts in innovative ways and to consider broader historical and cultural contexts. Her work on Aeneas of Gaza, for example, involved a careful examination of the manuscript tradition and a nuanced understanding of the philosophical and religious currents of the 6th century.
Positano’s published works include the multi-volume “Lessico sintattico Laurenziano,” co-edited with Arco Magrì, and numerous editions of classical texts, including her critical editions of Demetrius Triclinius’s scholia on Aeschylus’s “Persians,” published in 1948 and a revised edition in 1963. Her work on Theophylact Simocatta’s “Questioni Naturali” also appeared in multiple editions, demonstrating the enduring value of her scholarship.
Lidia Massa Positano’s legacy lies in her meticulous scholarship, her dedication to the study of classical and late antique literature, and her commitment to making these texts accessible to a wider audience. Her work continues to be consulted by scholars today, ensuring that her contributions to the field of classical studies will be remembered for years to come.
