Tag: Baluze Étienne

Are the ‘Blue Rocks’ Rio and Antirrio?

Early-modern and modern commentaries are typically found as part of editions of Sidonius’ work. There is, however, a separate manuscript series of notes towards a commentary on the Epithalamium for Ruricius and Hiberia (Carm. 10-11) by the French historiographer Étienne Baluze (1630-1718) in BNF Baluze 126. It is in several parts: ff. 172-194 on the Epithalamium (on its beginnning in particular here); ff. 195-199 quotations and various notes, possibly relating to the commentary; ff. 200-213 on de Praefatio. Interestingly, Baluze tries to solve the conundrum of the opening of the Epithalamium by interpreting Cyaneas … cautes as the capes of Rio and Antirrio, which delimit the Gulf of Corinth to the west.