This article is about the poet. For the philosopher, see Blossius.
Blossius Aemilius Dracontius (c. 455 – c. 505 AD) of Carthage was a Christian poet who flourished in Roman Africa during the latter part of the 5th century. He belonged to a family of landowners, and practiced as a lawyer in his native place. After the conquest of the country by the Vandals, Dracontius was at first allowed to retain possession of his estates, but was subsequently despoiled of his property and thrown into prison by the Vandal king Gaiseric, whose triumphs he had omitted to celebrate, while he had written a panegyric on a foreign and hostile ruler. He subsequently addressed an elegiac poem to the king, asking pardon, and pleading for release.[1] The result is not known, but it is supposed that Dracontius obtained his liberty and migrated to northern Roman Italy in search of peace and quiet. This is consistent with the discovery at Bobbio of a 15th-century MS., now in the Biblioteca Nazionale at Naples, containing a number of poems by Dracontius (the Carmina minora).[2]
The most important of his works is the De laudibus Dei in three books. The account of the creation, which occupies the greater part of the first book, was at an early date edited separately under the title of Hexameron, and it was not till 1791 that the three books were edited by Faustino Arévalo. The apology (Satisfactio) consists of 158 elegiac couplets; it is generally supposed that the king addressed is Gunthamund (484–496). The Carmina minora, nearly all in hexameter verse, consist of school exercises and rhetorical declamations, amongst others the fable of Hylas, with a preface to his tutor, the grammarian Felicianus; De raptu Helenae (The Rape of Helen); Medea; and two epithalamia. It is also probable that Dracontius was the author of the Orestis Tragoedia, a poem of some 1,000 hexameters, which in language, metre, and general treatment of the subject exhibits a striking resemblance to the other works of Dracontius.[2]
Opinions differ as to his poetical merits, but, when due allowance is made for rhetorical exaggeration and consequent want of lucidity, his works show considerable vigour of expression, and a remarkable knowledge of the Bible and of Roman classical literature.[2]
Referencesedit
^Curtin, D. P. (February 2018). The Apology to Gunthamund, King of Vandals. Dalcassian Publishing Company. ISBN9781088235096.
^ abcOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Dracontius, Blossius Aemilius". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 464–465. Endnotes:
Editions:
De Deo and Satisfactio, ed. Arevalo, reprinted in Migne’s Patrologiae cursus, lx.
Carmina minora, ed. F. de Duhn (1873).
On Dracontius generally:
A. Ebert, Allgemeine Geschichte der Lit. des Mittelalters im Abendlande, i. (1874)
C. Rossberg, In D. Carmina minora (1878)
H. Mailfait, De Dracontii poëtae lingua (1902)
On the Orestis tragoedia:
Editions by R. Peiper (1875) and C. Giarratino (Milan, 1906)
Pamphlets by C. Rossberg (1880, on the authorship; 1888, materials for a commentary).
Further readingedit
Lejay, Paul (1909). "Blossius Æmilius Dracontius" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
"Studi draconziani (1912–1996)", a cura di Luigi Castagna, Napoli, Loffredo 1997
A. Arweiler, "Interpreting cultural change: Semiotics and exegesis in Dracontius’ De laudibus Dei," in Poetry and Exegesis in Premodern Latin Christianity: The Encounter between Classical and Christian Strategies of Interpretation. Eds. Willemien Otten and Karla Pollmann (Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2007) (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, 87).
Luceri, Angelo (ed.). Gli epitalami di Blossio Emilio Draconzio (Rom. 6 e 7) (Roma: Herder, 2007) (Biblioteca di cultura romanobarbarica; 10).
Galli Milić, Lavinia (ed., comm.). Blossi Aemilii Dracontii, Romulea VI-VII (Firenze: Felice le Monnier, 2008) (Testi con commento filologico, 18).
Francisco Arevalo, ed., Dracontii Poetae Christiani Saeculi V.: Carmina ex manuscriptis Vaticanis duplo auctiora iis, quae adhuc prodierunt
Dracontius, Hexaemeron
December 15, 2023
dracontius, this, article, about, poet, philosopher, blossius, blossius, aemilius, carthage, christian, poet, flourished, roman, africa, during, latter, part, century, belonged, family, landowners, practiced, lawyer, native, place, after, conquest, country, va. This article is about the poet For the philosopher see Blossius Blossius Aemilius Dracontius c 455 c 505 AD of Carthage was a Christian poet who flourished in Roman Africa during the latter part of the 5th century He belonged to a family of landowners and practiced as a lawyer in his native place After the conquest of the country by the Vandals Dracontius was at first allowed to retain possession of his estates but was subsequently despoiled of his property and thrown into prison by the Vandal king Gaiseric whose triumphs he had omitted to celebrate while he had written a panegyric on a foreign and hostile ruler He subsequently addressed an elegiac poem to the king asking pardon and pleading for release 1 The result is not known but it is supposed that Dracontius obtained his liberty and migrated to northern Roman Italy in search of peace and quiet This is consistent with the discovery at Bobbio of a 15th century MS now in the Biblioteca Nazionale at Naples containing a number of poems by Dracontius the Carmina minora 2 The most important of his works is the De laudibus Dei in three books The account of the creation which occupies the greater part of the first book was at an early date edited separately under the title of Hexameron and it was not till 1791 that the three books were edited by Faustino Arevalo The apology Satisfactio consists of 158 elegiac couplets it is generally supposed that the king addressed is Gunthamund 484 496 The Carmina minora nearly all in hexameter verse consist of school exercises and rhetorical declamations amongst others the fable of Hylas with a preface to his tutor the grammarian Felicianus De raptu Helenae The Rape of Helen Medea and two epithalamia It is also probable that Dracontius was the author of the Orestis Tragoedia a poem of some 1 000 hexameters which in language metre and general treatment of the subject exhibits a striking resemblance to the other works of Dracontius 2 Opinions differ as to his poetical merits but when due allowance is made for rhetorical exaggeration and consequent want of lucidity his works show considerable vigour of expression and a remarkable knowledge of the Bible and of Roman classical literature 2 References edit Curtin D P February 2018 The Apology to Gunthamund King of Vandals Dalcassian Publishing Company ISBN 9781088235096 a b c nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Dracontius Blossius Aemilius Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 4 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 464 465 Endnotes Editions De Deo and Satisfactio ed Arevalo reprinted in Migne s Patrologiae cursus lx Carmina minora ed F de Duhn 1873 On Dracontius generally A Ebert Allgemeine Geschichte der Lit des Mittelalters im Abendlande i 1874 C Rossberg In D Carmina minora 1878 H Mailfait De Dracontii poetae lingua 1902 On the Orestis tragoedia Editions by R Peiper 1875 and C Giarratino Milan 1906 Pamphlets by C Rossberg 1880 on the authorship 1888 materials for a commentary Further reading editLejay Paul 1909 Blossius AEmilius Dracontius In Herbermann Charles ed Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 5 New York Robert Appleton Company Studi draconziani 1912 1996 a cura di Luigi Castagna Napoli Loffredo 1997 A Arweiler Interpreting cultural change Semiotics and exegesis in Dracontius De laudibus Dei in Poetry and Exegesis in Premodern Latin Christianity The Encounter between Classical and Christian Strategies of Interpretation Eds Willemien Otten and Karla Pollmann Leiden and Boston Brill 2007 Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae 87 Luceri Angelo ed Gli epitalami di Blossio Emilio Draconzio Rom 6 e 7 Roma Herder 2007 Biblioteca di cultura romanobarbarica 10 Galli Milic Lavinia ed comm Blossi Aemilii Dracontii Romulea VI VII Firenze Felice le Monnier 2008 Testi con commento filologico 18 Francisco Arevalo ed Dracontii Poetae Christiani Saeculi V Carmina ex manuscriptis Vaticanis duplo auctiora iis quae adhuc prodierunt Dracontius Hexaemeron Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dracontius amp oldid 1185697701, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
