Joannes Meursius and his “Orchestra, sive de saltationibus veterum” of 1618: The first monograph on ancient Greek dance since Antiquity

The first encyclopedic study of ancient Greek dance is in fact the first study of any dance genre or form in the world. This edition includes a facsimile of the original work, along with additional resources such as a dictionary of terms, a complete bibliography arranged chronologically, and a biography of the author, Jo(h)annes Meursius.Though the original work inaugurated the scholarly approach to dance, it was absent from the entire bibliography. It remained unknown to dance historians until 2003, when Naerebout and Raftis brought it to light. Had Meursius’ work been known earlier, dance studies would have probably taken another direction. Instead of trying to analyze movements, researchers would have analyzed meanings, relationships and social aspects.As the earliest known monograph devoted entirely to the dances as such, it provides an alternative to shallow books by dance masters of the Renaissance. A dance is a social event and should be examined as such. It is above all a work of art, to be studied within the History of Art. In this singular lexicon-style work, fourteen centuries after Lucian and Athenaeus, Meursius meticulously documented the terminology and meanings of dances, referencing a vast range of literary, philosophical, and historical sources.The present edition includes a reprint of the same work as edited by Lamius in Meursius’ Opera Omnia, which in its turn was based on the re-edition by Gronovius. This is the best version of the work in existence, but hard to find. It is now made widely available in this volume, which includes a description of Meursius’ life and work, as well as a commentary on Meursius’ text.This new edition, edited and introduced by renowned scholars Frederick Naerebout (Leiden University) and Alkis Raftis (University of Paris-Sorbonne) places the discipline of Choreology (or Dance Studies) in its intellectual and historical context. Their introduction offers a deep critical analysis of Meursius’ life and legacy and the evolution of early modern classical scholarship, shedding new light on the intersection of antiquarianism, performance, and cultural history.Organized alphabetically and rich in philological insight, Orchestra is not only a window into the performative world of the ancients but also a milestone in the history of dance research. Ideal for classicists, dance historians, philologists, and scholars of early modern thought.Whether you are a dance educator, a student, or a curious reader of forgotten knowledge, this annotated edition of Orchestra brings to life a timeless study of meanings associated with dancing in ancient Greece. It is a model for the in-depth study of any genre of dance.Important Note: This Kindle edition has been created as a print replica of the original print version. For the best reading experience, we recommend using a Kindle tablet with a large screen or a computer screen. Read more