The Complex World of Ancient Letter Collections

Ancient letter collections offer fascinating insights into how texts were transmitted, preserved, and sometimes manipulated. The process of keeping, copying, and disseminating letters involved a delicate balance of authenticity, control, and the inevitable human error or deliberate alteration. This post delves into the practice of letter collections in antiquity, examining key examples and highlighting the challenges of maintaining textual integrity.

Jerome and Augustine: A Case Study in Epistolary Doubt

In his letters to Augustine, Jerome reveals the complexities of ancient letter dissemination. Jerome's uncertainty about the authenticity of a letter attributed to Augustine reflects a broader concern about textual reliability:

"Copies of a letter addressed by someone apparently to me have come hither. In the said letter I am exhorted to sing the παλινωδια, confessing mistake in regard to a paragraph of the apostle's writing, and to imitate Stesichorus...Although the style and the method of argument appeared to be yours, I must frankly confess to your Excellency that I did not think it right to assume without examination the authenticity of a letter of which I had only seen copies..."

Jerome's cautious approach underscores the importance of verifying authorship, especially when copies circulate widely without the original's signature.

In a subsequent letter, Jerome continues to express his doubts:

"You are sending me letter upon letter, and often urging me to answer a certain letter of yours, a copy of which, without your signature, had reached me through our brother Sysinnius, deacon...I am at a loss to express my surprise that the same letter is reported to be in the possession of most of the Christians in Rome, and throughout Italy, and has come to everyone but myself, to whom it was ostensibly sent."

Jerome's insistence on receiving an authenticated copy directly from Augustine highlights the challenges of ensuring textual accuracy in the face of widespread, unauthorized copying.

Cicero: Early Evidence of Letter Collection Practices

The practice of keeping copies of letters sent and received is well documented in antiquity. Cicero, in his prosecution of Verres, describes finding letters in the house of Carpinatius:

"Vettius wrote a letter to Carpinatius in Sicily...a letter that I came upon in the house of Carpinatius at Syracuse among the files of letters received [in litterarum allatarum libris], and a copy of it at Rome in the house of Lucius Tullius, another director, among the files of letters dispatched [in <libris> litterarum missarum]."

This practice ensured a double attestation of correspondence, theoretically preserving the integrity and authenticity of the letters.

The Papyrological Record

The papyrological evidence further supports the practice of keeping copies of letters. In private, commercial, and administrative contexts, letter collections were common. Brent Nongbri, in his study of 2 Corinthians, provides a comprehensive overview of this practice, showing how letters were glued together to form rolls, later copied for preservation. This process, however, introduced the risk of omission, error, or interpolation.

The Case of Cicero's Letters

Cicero himself acknowledged the need to correct and approve his letters before publication:

"There is no collection [συναγωγη] of my letters, but Tiro [his 'secretary'] has about 70, and some can be got from you. Those I ought to see and correct, and then they may be published [edentur]."

Despite Cicero's intent, the survival of 426 letters to Atticus suggests that many letters circulated beyond his control, with Atticus's careful preservation playing a crucial role.

Eusebius and Origen: The Challenges of Posthumous Collections

The difficulties of compiling letter collections posthumously are exemplified by Eusebius's efforts with Origen's correspondence:

"And there is extant also a letter of his to the Emperor Philip himself, and another to his wife Severa, and various other letters to various persons. As many of these as we have been able to bring together, preserved as they were here and there by various persons, we arranged in separate roll-cases, so that they might no longer be dispersed. These letters number more than 100."

Eusebius's collection, assembled from disparate sources, likely included forgeries, reflecting the high value placed on Origen's letters as artifacts.

Conclusion

The collection and preservation of letters in antiquity were fraught with challenges. Authors like Cicero and Jerome grappled with issues of authenticity and control, while later collectors like Eusebius faced the daunting task of assembling complete and accurate collections from scattered sources. Despite these difficulties, letter collections provide invaluable insights into the personal and intellectual exchanges of the ancient world, even as they remind us of the complexities inherent in preserving textual integrity across centuries.