2020 CAMWS First Book Award: Stephanie Roussou (University of Cyprus)
A CAMWS First Book Award for 2020 was awarded to Stephanie Roussou (University of Cyprus) for her book Pseudo-Arcadius’ Epitome of Herodian’s De Prosodia Catholica, edited with an introduction and commentary (Oxford University Press, 2018).
Committee members lauded Roussou’s book as “an impressive piece of scholarship” and “a highly meritorious publication.” This critical edition, translation and commentary of Ps.- Arcadius’ epitome is the first to consider all surviving sources for Herodian’s Peri katholikēs prosōidias. It uses two manuscripts which have not been previously employed, but which Roussou directly consulted and found to contain superior readings; additionally, she analyzes parallel passages from later grammarians which help to confirm her findings. The resulting attempt to reconstruct Herodian’s book is an impressive work of painstaking scholarship which advances our knowledge of the ancient study of Greek grammar. It is also an important reminder that all Classicists depend on fundamental work like this for our current understanding of the grammar and pronunciation of ancient Greek. Congratulations!