Introduzione

Long introductory essay to the edition of the 'Extracts from Theodotus' by Clement of Alexandria, edited by the same author. The data relating to the life and works of Clement are first analyzed. Regarding the 'Extracts' the A. evaluates the elements relating to their fragmentary nature, the theses about the possibility that they are scattered notes, and finally comes to relaunch the minority thesis according to which they could come from the lost 'Hypotyposeis'. The analysis also focuses on the correct understanding of the title of the collection, subsequently moving on to the identification within the manuscript tradition of sufficient elements to define a subdivision into thirteen sections. A brief summary of the contents of each of them is presented. The analysis of the literary form, structure and sources follows, in particular the belonging to the literary genre of the epitome, the uniformity of the collection and the impossibility of maintaining the traditional subdivision into four parts introduced by F. Sagnard. Before the final chapter dedicated to the manuscript tradition, critical editions and translations the A. offers a synthesis of the theological-exegetical contents referable now to Clement, now to the followers of Valentinus (or perhaps to Valentinus himself), now to Theodotus, a teacher perhaps comparable not so much to Valentinus as to the adoptionist Theodotus of Byzantium.