Euphony in the Septuagint : Genesis 49 and Exodus 15 as Study Cases

Abstract

This article takes a closer look at some poetic passages in the Septuagint in order to determine if a certain quest for more formal regularity could have influenced translator’s choices. This factor has been usually neglected so far because the Septuagint itself was not regarded as a literary text that can make an aesthetic impact on the reader. Anyway, the study demonstrates that at times translational anomalies can be explained, alongside with other reasons, by translator’s intention to produce more alliterations and assonances and more rhythmic regularities than a standard equivalent would. Still, this research demands a rather balanced methodology so that meaningful solutions can be distinguished from mere coincidences. So the methodology is discussed here in detail. Another aspect which is considered in this study is the role played by the Septuagint in the history of Greek literature. One may ask if some Septuagint texts influenced to a certain degree the future rise of the Byzantine rhythmic poetry, and the present study gives a cautious approval to this hypothesis.