Editing Stephanus of Byzantium (section)

==The ''Ethnica''==
Stephanos' work, originally written in [[Greek language|Greek]], takes the form of an alphabetical [[dictionary]] or [[encyclopedia]] of geographical [[Toponymy|toponymns]], [[Ethnonym|ethnonymns]] etc. It is a vast work, with sometimes hundreds of list entries under each letter of the greek alphabet: [[Alpha|Α]]–[[Omega|Ω]]. 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Encyclopedic entries in Stephanos's ''Ethnica''
|'''Letter'''
|'''Number of Entries'''
|-
|[[Alpha|Α]] α
|581<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSETHNICAvol.AALPHAGAMMA2006ByMargaretheBillerbeck/page/318/mode/2up?q=brita |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS ETHNICA [vol. A] [ ALPHA GAMMA] [ 2006] By Margarethe Billerbeck |date=2006 |page=319}}</ref>
|-
|[[Beta|Β]] β
|201<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSETHNICAvol.AALPHAGAMMA2006ByMargaretheBillerbeck/page/388/mode/2up?q=brita |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS ETHNICA [vol. A] [ ALPHA GAMMA] [ 2006] By Margarethe Billerbeck |date=2006 |pages=319–389}}</ref>
|-
|[[Gamma|Γ]] γ
|122<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSETHNICAvol.AALPHAGAMMA2006ByMargaretheBillerbeck/page/440/mode/2up?q=brita |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS ETHNICA [vol. A] [ ALPHA GAMMA] [ 2006] By Margarethe Billerbeck |date=2006 |pages=390–441}}</ref>
|-
|[[Delta (letter)|Δ]] δ
|151<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSVONBYZANZMargaretheBillerbeckChristianZublerSTEPHANIBYZANTIIENICAIIpdf/page/119/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS VON BYZANZ [ Margarethe Billerbeck, Christian Zubler] Δ Εως ΙΩΤΑ STEPHANI BYZANTII EΤΗ NICA [ II] ΔῙpdf |date=2011 |page=119}}</ref>
|-
|[[Epsilon|Ε]] ε
|186<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSVONBYZANZMargaretheBillerbeckChristianZublerSTEPHANIBYZANTIIENICAIIpdf/page/195/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS VON BYZANZ [ Margarethe Billerbeck, Christian Zubler] Δ Εως ΙΩΤΑ STEPHANI BYZANTII EΤΗ NICA [ II] ΔῙpdf |date=2011 |page=195}}</ref>
|-
|[[Zeta|Ζ]] ζ
|34<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSVONBYZANZMargaretheBillerbeckChristianZublerSTEPHANIBYZANTIIENICAIIpdf/page/207/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS VON BYZANZ [ Margarethe Billerbeck, Christian Zubler] Δ Εως ΙΩΤΑ STEPHANI BYZANTII EΤΗ NICA [ II] ΔῙpdf |date=2011 |page=207}}</ref>
|-
|[[Eta|Η]] η
|30<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSVONBYZANZMargaretheBillerbeckChristianZublerSTEPHANIBYZANTIIENICAIIpdf/page/225/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS VON BYZANZ [ Margarethe Billerbeck, Christian Zubler] Δ Εως ΙΩΤΑ STEPHANI BYZANTII EΤΗ NICA [ II] ΔῙpdf |date=2011 |page=30}}</ref>
|-
|[[Theta|Θ]] θ
|82<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSVONBYZANZMargaretheBillerbeckChristianZublerSTEPHANIBYZANTIIENICAIIpdf/page/257/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS VON BYZANZ [ Margarethe Billerbeck, Christian Zubler] Δ Εως ΙΩΤΑ STEPHANI BYZANTII EΤΗ NICA [ II] ΔῙpdf |date=2011 |page=257}}</ref>
|-
|[[Iota|Ι]] ι
|131<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSVONBYZANZMargaretheBillerbeckChristianZublerSTEPHANIBYZANTIIENICAIIpdf/page/305/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS VON BYZANZ [ Margarethe Billerbeck, Christian Zubler] Δ Εως ΙΩΤΑ STEPHANI BYZANTII EΤΗ NICA [ II] ΔῙpdf |date=2011 |page=305}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kappa|Κ]] κ
|316<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSMargaretheBillerbeckStephaniByzantiiEthnicaKO.BYMARGARETHEBILLERBECK/page/179/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Margarethe Billerbeck] Stephani Byzantii Ethnica, K O. BY MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |date=2014 |page=179}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lambda|Λ]] λ
|120<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSMargaretheBillerbeckStephaniByzantiiEthnicaKO.BYMARGARETHEBILLERBECK/page/243/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Margarethe Billerbeck] Stephani Byzantii Ethnica, K O. BY MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |date=2014 |pages=180–243}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mu (letter)|Μ]] μ
|271<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSMargaretheBillerbeckStephaniByzantiiEthnicaKO.BYMARGARETHEBILLERBECK/page/357/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Margarethe Billerbeck] Stephani Byzantii Ethnica, K O. BY MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |date=2014 |pages=244–357}}</ref>
|-
|[[Nu (letter)|Ν]] ν
|89<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSMargaretheBillerbeckStephaniByzantiiEthnicaKO.BYMARGARETHEBILLERBECK/page/401/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Margarethe Billerbeck] Stephani Byzantii Ethnica, K O. BY MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |date=2014 |pages=358–401}}</ref>
|-
|[[Xi (letter)|Ξ]] ξ
|16<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSMargaretheBillerbeckStephaniByzantiiEthnicaKO.BYMARGARETHEBILLERBECK/page/409/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Margarethe Billerbeck] Stephani Byzantii Ethnica, K O. BY MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |date=2014 |pages=402–409}}</ref>
|-
|[[Omicron|Ο]] ο
|89<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSMargaretheBillerbeckStephaniByzantiiEthnicaKO.BYMARGARETHEBILLERBECK/page/409/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Margarethe Billerbeck] Stephani Byzantii Ethnica, K O. BY MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |date=2014 |pages=410–448}}</ref>
|-
|[[Pi|Π]] π
|295<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSVonByzanzMargaretheBillerbeckPYPSILON.PU/page/110/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Von Byzanz, Margarethe Billerbeck, P YPSILON. P U |date=2016 |page=111}}</ref>
|-
|[[Rho|Ρ]] ρ
|65<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSVonByzanzMargaretheBillerbeckPYPSILON.PU/page/128/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Von Byzanz, Margarethe Billerbeck, P YPSILON. P U |date=2016 |pages=112–129}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sigma|Σ]] σ/ς 
|345<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSVonByzanzMargaretheBillerbeckPYPSILON.PU/page/128/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Von Byzanz, Margarethe Billerbeck, P YPSILON. P U |date=2016 |pages=130–245}}</ref>
|-
|[[Tau|Τ]] τ
|238<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSVonByzanzMargaretheBillerbeckPYPSILON.PU/page/358/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Von Byzanz, Margarethe Billerbeck, P YPSILON. P U |date=2016 |pages=246–359}}</ref>
|-
|[[Upsilon|Υ]] υ
|57<ref>{{Cite book |last=MARGARETHE BILLERBECK |url=https://archive.org/details/STEPHANUSBYZANTIUSVonByzanzMargaretheBillerbeckPYPSILON.PU/page/386/mode/2up |title=STEPHANUS BYZANTIUS Von Byzanz, Margarethe Billerbeck, P YPSILON. P U |date=2016 |pages=360–387}}</ref>
|-
|[[Phi|Φ]] φ
|123<ref>{{Citation |title=Volumen V Phi - Omega. Indices |date=2017-04-10 |work=Volumen V Phi - Omega. Indices |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110219661/html |access-date=2024-08-31 |publisher=De Gruyter |language=de |doi=10.1515/9783110219661 |isbn=978-3-11-021966-1|page=63}}</ref>
|-
|[[Chi (letter)|Χ]] χ
|67<ref>{{Citation |title=Volumen V Phi - Omega. Indices |date=2017-04-10 |work=Volumen V Phi - Omega. Indices |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110219661/html |access-date=2024-08-31 |publisher=De Gruyter |language=de |doi=10.1515/9783110219661 |isbn=978-3-11-021966-1|pages=64–121}}</ref>
|-
|[[Psi (Greek)|Ψ]] ψ
|22<ref>{{Citation |title=Volumen V Phi - Omega. Indices |date=2017-04-10 |work=Volumen V Phi - Omega. Indices |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110219661/html |access-date=2024-08-31 |publisher=De Gruyter |language=de |doi=10.1515/9783110219661 |isbn=978-3-11-021966-1|pages=121–133}}</ref>
|-
|[[Omega|Ω]] ω
|24<ref>{{Citation |title=Volumen V Phi - Omega. Indices |date=2017-04-10 |work=Volumen V Phi - Omega. Indices |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110219661/html |access-date=2024-08-31 |publisher=De Gruyter |language=de |doi=10.1515/9783110219661 |isbn=978-3-11-021966-1|pages=134–153}}</ref>
|-
|Total
|3655
|}
Even as an epitome, the ''Ethnica'' is of enormous value for geographical, [[Greek mythology|mythological]], and [[Ancient Greek religion|religious]] information about [[ancient Greece]]. Nearly every article in the epitome contains a reference to some ancient writer, as an authority for the name of the place. From the surviving fragments, we see that the original contained considerable quotations from ancient authors, besides many interesting particulars, topographical, historical, mythological, and others. Stephanus cites [[Artemidorus]], [[Polybius]], [[Aelius Herodianus]], [[Herodotus]], [[Thucydides]], [[Xenophon]], [[Strabo]] and other writers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Whitehead |first1=David |title=From Political Architecture to Stephanus Byzantius: Sources for the Ancient Greek Polis |date=1994 |publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag |isbn=978-3-515-06572-6 |page=102 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RtSV5M3BUwIC&dq=De+prosodia+catholica+stephanus&pg=PA106 |quote=In four places, the lexicographer Stephanus of Byzantium refers to towns and ... [[Artemidorus]] as source, and in three of the four examples cites [[Polybius]].}}</ref> He is the only writer to cite a lost work attributed to [[Sophaenetus]].<ref name="HDW">H. D. Westlake, "Diodorus and the Expedition of Cyrus", ''Phoenix'' '''41'''.3 (1987), pp. 241–254, at 251–252. {{jstor|1088192}}</ref>

The chief fragments remaining of the original work are preserved by [[Constantine Porphyrogennetos]] in ''[[De Administrando Imperio]]'', ch. 23 (the article ''{{lang|grc|Ίβηρίαι δύο}}'') and ''De thematibus'', ii. 10 (an account of [[Sicily]]); the latter includes a passage from the comic poet [[Alexis (poet)|Alexis]] on the ''Seven Largest Islands''. Another respectable fragment, from the article ''Δύμη'' to the end of ''Δ'', exists in a manuscript of the [[Fonds Coislin]], the library formed by [[Pierre Séguier]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=880}}

The first modern printed edition of the work was published by the [[Aldine Press]] in Venice in 1502. The complete standard edition is still that of [[August Meineke]] (1849, reprinted at Graz, 1958), and by convention, references to the text use Meineke's page numbers. A new completely revised edition in German, edited by B. Wyss, C. Zubler, M. Billerbeck, J.F. Gaertner, was published between 2006 and 2017, with a total of 5 volumes.<ref name="degruyter">{{Cite web |title=Stephani Byzantii Ethnica |url=https://www.degruyter.com/serial/sbe-b/html |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=De Gruyter |language=en}}</ref>