Nicarchus
2. An epigrammatist. Reiske
It. Notit. p. 249), on insufficient grounds, conjectures he was a native of Samos. From the use of a Latin word in one of his epigrams (Jacobs,
Anth. Graec. vol. iii. p. 66), we conclude that he lived at Rome.
The inference that he lived near the beginning of the second century of the Christian era seems well founded.
It is drawn not only from the general style of his writings, but from the fact, that in one of his epigrams (xxxi.) he satirizes Zopyrus, an Egyptian physician. From Plutarch
Symnp. 3.6) we learn that a physician of this name was his contemporary, and Celsus (5.23) mentions Zopyrus in connection with king Ptolemy. (Jacobs,
Anthol. Graec. vol. xiii. p. 922.)
Works
Epigrams
Thirty-eight epigrams are given under his name in the Greek Anthology. (Jacobs, vol. iii. p. 58, &c.)
But the authorship of seven of these is doubtful. On the other hand, the third of Lollius Bassus, and four others of uncertain authorship, are assigned to him.
Assessment
The merit of these epigrams is not great. They are mostly satirical, and are often absurdly extravagant. What is worse, they are sometimes disfigured with grossness and obscenity.
Further Information
Jacobs,
Anthol. Graec. II. cc. and vol. x. p. 17, &c.; Fabric.
Bibl. Graec. vol. iv. p. 484.
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W.M.G]
