Antoni'nus Libera'lis
(
Ἀντωνῖνος Λιβεράλις), a Greek grammarian, concerning whose life nothing is known, but who is generally believed to have lived in the reign of the Antonines, about A. D. 147.
Works
We possess a work under his name, entitled
μεταμορφώσεων συναγωγή, and consisting of forty-one tales about mythical metamorphoses.
With the exception of nine tales, he always mentions the sources from which he took his accounts.
Since most of the works referred to by him are now lost, his book is of some importance for the study of Greek mythology, but in regard to composition and style it is of no value.
There are but very few MSS. of this work, and the chief ones are that at Heidelberg and the one in Paris.
Editions
The first edition from the Heidelberg MS. with a Latin translation, is by Xylander, Basel, 1568, 8vo. There is a good edition by Verheyk (Lugd. Bat. 1774, 8vo.) with notes by Muncker, Hemsterhuis, &c.
The best is by Koch (Leipz. 1832, 8vo.), who collated the Paris MS. and added valuable notes of his own.
Further Information
Mallmann,
Commentatio de causis et auctoribus narrationum de mutatis formis, Leipz. 1786, p. 89,&c.; Bast,
Epistola critica ad Boissonade super Antonino Liberali, Parthenio et Aristaeneto, Leipz. 1809; Koch's Preface to his edition.
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