Note esegetiche all’anonimo De epistolis (RLM, p. 589 Halm): un confronto con Giulio Vittore e con Demetrio

This contribution compares some sources of epistolary theory: the anonymous De epistolis, the section De epistolis by Julius Victor and its compendium dating back to the 9th century a.d. and, finally, the paragraphs on the epistolary style by Demetrius. The analysis focuses on two case studies. The aim is to demonstrate that these texts develop some epistolary topoi, but each of them independently, making this traditional material part of an original theoretical system (like J. Victor and Demetrius), or part of a different logical succession of the topics dealt with (like the anonymous De epistolis). The different formulation of topical concepts makes a comparative reading of these texts fruitful, especially in some places of uncertain interpretation.