Works Philitas of Cos

a 2nd century ad papyrus fragment, written in greek, copies part of apollodorus 2nd century bc mythography on gods, quotes philitas demeter (outlined in red) while discussing etymology of word ἌΟΡ (aor; sword or spear ).

philitas wrote vocabulary explaining meanings of rare literary words, words local dialects, , technical terms; took form of lexicon. vocabulary, called disorderly words (Ἄτακτοι γλῶσσαι, Átaktoi glôssai), has been lost, few fragments quoted later authors. 1 example, quoted in athenaeus, word πέλλα (pélla) meant wine cup in ancient greek region of boeotia; evidently contrasted same word meaning milk pail in homer s iliad. hermeneia, scholarly work, contained philitas versions , critical interpretations of homer , other authors.

about thirty fragments of philitas poetry known, along 4 definite titles:

demeter, philitas famous work, consisted of elegiac couplets, or couplets in elegiac meter. few surviving fragments suggest narrated grain goddess demeter s hunt daughter persephone. fragments describe demeter s arrival on cos , warm welcome royal family of meropids, or humans twice normal size, presenting founding myth of local cult of demeter on cos.
hermes epyllion, or brief mythological narrative, written in hexameter. had structure of hymn, central narrative telling of odysseus visit island of king aeolus, keeper of winds, , of odysseus secret affair king s daughter polymele. possible hermes collection of such stories, patronage of hermes himself common thread.
playthings (Παίγνια, paígnia) had 2 shorter collections. these poems had structure of epigrams , themes may have included erotica. surviving poem contains 2 elegiac couplets , has puzzle or riddle structure characteristic of ancient greek drinking-party songs.
only 1 of epigrams has been reconstructed.

another possible poem telephus, may have been companion demeter.

at fifty verses of philitas survive. below example fragment of 2 verses, quoted in collection of paradoxical stories, putative author antigonus (often identified antigonus of carystus, near-contemporary) not specify work came from; indirect evidence suggests demeter. these 2 verses show confluence of philitas interests in poetry , obscure words:

according antigonus, cactus (κάκτος, káktos) thorny plant sicily, , when deer steps on , pricked, bones remain soundless , unusable flutes. reason philitas spoke of it. antigonus quotes 1 more passage, , 5th century ad anthologist stobaeus quotes eleven passages philitas; remaining fragments derived ancient commentators quoted philitas when discussing rare words or names used other authors.