A Zeus and two Jasons: reverse acrostics and telestics in Callimachus, Apollonius and Valerius Flaccus

Journal article

This article highlights three previously unnoticed name-acrostics/telestics: the reverse-acrostic ΖΕΥΣ (Zeus) in Callimachus’ Hymn to Zeus (40–3), the reverse-telestic ΙΗΣΩΝ (Ieson, the Greek form of Jason) in the final lines of Apollonius of Rhodes’ Argonautica (4.1774–8), and the reverse-telestic IASO (the Latin form of Jason) in the opening lines of Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica (1.4–7). By arguing for the significance of these specific examples, all of which are in reverse, the article provides support for reversed acrostics and telestics more generally.

Authors: Robinson, M

• Publication status: Accepted
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Classical Association
• Journal: Classical Quarterly
• Acceptance date: 2025-12-07
• EISSN: 1471-6844
• ISSN: 0009-8388
• Language: English
• Keywords: Hymn to Zeus; acrostics; Apollonius; telestics; Callimachus; Valerius Flaccus; Argonautica