Enumerating the Muses: Tzetzes in Hes. Op. 1 and the parody of catalogic poetry in Epicharmus

Tzetzes’ long scholium on the first two words of Hesiod’s Erga preserves precious information on the Muses, their number and names in Hesiod, Eumelus, Epicharmus and Aratus, for the last three of which he is the only source. The first part of this paper re-examines Tzetzes’ testimony in the context of his exegetical activity of the great poets of the past and proposes a new reading for the curious name Τιτόπλους. The second part focuses on Epicharmus’ catalogue in the context of the comedy The Wedding of Hebe, arguing that it represents a unique piece of epic parody characterized by Ionic features.