Is really Syntipas a translation? The case of The faithful dog

Abstract

The fable entitled 'The faithful dog' has been transmitted by means of a manifold sample of versions, from which Pausanias' is the oldest, according with a sure chronology. It is commonly said that the Greek version afforded by the Book of Syntipas the philosopher is a mere XIIth cent. translation of the hypothetically reconstructed original Indian text. Our contribution suggests that the text of the Syntipas' version does not follow the grammatical patterns of literary translation. Just on the contrary, it shows a striking lexical coincidence with the text given by Pausanias. Therefore, we conclude that the Syntipas' version of 'The faithful dog' is an original text which has to be inserted into a Greek tradition