Lexicographic (and Philological) Notes on the Expositio totius mundi

Abstract

The anonymous Expositio totius mundi and its abridged and revised version, the Totius mundi descriptio, reproducing a geographical text (about 360 CE) translated from Greek, are difficult to date and very problematic for lexicographers, as shown by numerous examples from the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, especially in its first volumes. The discussion on certain hapax legómena accepted among its entries (in particular calopetta, to be corrected in calopecta, and alethinus) helps to introduce some of the most interesting philological problems in the Expositio, e.g. concerning the reading alicem at § 47, in view of a new edition.