The Somniale Danielis (Somnia Danielis), translated as The Dreams of Daniel is a manual explaining the meanings of dreams.[1] Originally written in Latin, the book was dedicated to the prophet Daniel from the Old Testament, but Daniel is not attributed as the author of the dream book.[2] An explanation for the dedication is that Daniel was considered a father of dream sciences, and his prophetic visions served as inspiration for the arts of dream interpretation. One of the main sources for the contents of the book is the Oneirocritica of Artemidorus.
Somniale Danielis
Author
Unknown; various.
Language
Latin, Arabic, Vernacular.
Genre
Dream manual
The Somniale Danielis was very important during the Middle Ages for explaining dreams, specifically in the identification of meaning and transferable knowledge. Although the Church attempted various bans on divination, the interpretation of dreams through dream books was popular. The first manuscript, according to scholars, was likely written in the 5th century, and the text was repeatedly distributed and remained popular until the sixteenth century.[2] The vernacular works of literary figures such as Dante and Boccaccio used the Somniale Danielis as inspiration to create relatable stories based on dream narratives for popular audiences.[2]
The Somniale Danielis has a basic glossary layout, in which key terms corresponded directly to the main theme or content of the dream. The words were arranged alphabetically, followed by concise interpretation of the dream. Examples of the glossary include references to specific creatures, objects, events etc., often paired with whether the vision should be interpreted as positive or negative. The Somniale Danielis also contained tests by which the importance of the dream could be ascertained. These tests included questioning such as the time of night they dreamed or if they had overeaten before bed.[3] The manuscripts were often colour-coded, for example the subject of the dream would be written in red, while the explanation would be written in black.
The structure takes influence from Greek manuscripts, especially Oneirocritical texts. The Somniale Danielis was translated into Arabic and European vernaculars, and thousands of unique versions are believed to have existed, though most are assumed lost.
Interpretation and significanceedit
Historical study of the dream manual has aimed at comparing local editions of the manual in aim to isolate unique cultural features of a given location, to establish the manuals as “witnesses of a popular culture”.[4] The Somniale Danielis is perceived to collate traditional beliefs that were once transmitted orally. Historians have tried to recreate and reinterpret the culture of the lower classes of European populations by attempting to understand the dreams of people and the meanings they imparted on society. It is believed that what was included in the manuals tended to be things which were important to that given society, so by investigating each individual manuscript of the Somniale Danielis, we can learn more about the popular culture of the Middle Ages, not just as geographically homogeneous, but as specific to particular regions, or in some cases to particular towns or communes. Scholarly consensus also believes that dream manuals are one of the few pieces of literature of the Middle Ages which transcended class, and are applicable to all levels of the social strata.
Further readingedit
Artemidorus. 1975. The Interpretation of Dreams (Oneirocritica). Translation and commentary by Robert J. White. Park Ridge: Noyes Press.
Cappozzo, Valerio. 2018. Dizionario dei sogni nel Medioevo. Il Somniale Danielis in manoscritti letterari [The Medieval Dream Dictionary. The Somniale Danielis in Literary Manuscripts]. Biblioteca dell'«Archivum Romanicum» - Serie I: Storia, Letteratura, Paleografia. Florence: Leo S. Olschki. https://en.olschki.it/libro/9788822264954
Fischer, Steven R. 1982. The Complete Medieval Dreambook. A Multilingual, Alphabetical Somnia Danielis Collation. Bern, Frankfurt am Main: Lang.
Fischer, Steven R. 1983. Dreambooks and the Interpretation of Medieval Literary Dreams. Archiv für Kulturgeschichte 65: 1-20.
Kruger, Steven F. 1992. Dreaming in the Middle Ages. Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature, 14. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lamoreaux, John C. 2002. The early Muslim tradition of dream interpretation. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Lawrence T. Martin, 1981, Somniale Danielis: an edition of a medieval Latin dream interpretation handbook. Bern.
Referencesedit
^"Medieval dreambook: Somnia Danielis". The British Library. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
^ abcValerio, Cappozzo. Editions of the "Somniale Danielis" in medieval and humanist literary miscellanies. Vol. 73-10A(E). Indiana University. [Bloomington, Indiana]. ISBN9781267369703. OCLC 881504373.
^Wyss, Edith; Ruvoldt, Maria (2005-10-01). "The Italian Renaissance Imagery of Inspiration: Metaphors of Sex, Sleep and Dreams". The Sixteenth Century Journal. 36 (3): 853. doi:10.2307/20477513. ISSN 0361-0160. JSTOR 20477513.
^Valerio, Cappozzo. Editions of the "Somniale Danielis" in medieval and humanist literary miscellanies. Vol. 73-10A(E). Indiana University. [Bloomington, Indiana]. pp. vii. ISBN9781267369703. OCLC 881504373.
Valerio, Cappozzo. 2018. Dizionario dei sogni nel Medioevo. Il Somniale Danielis in manoscritti letterari [The Medieval Dream Dictionary. The Somniale Danielis in Literary Manuscripts]. Biblioteca dell'«Archivum Romanicum» - Serie I: Storia, Letteratura, Paleografia. Florence: Leo S. Olschki. https://en.olschki.it/libro/9788822264954
External linksedit
Medieval dreambook: Somnia Danielis
January 01, 1970
somniale, danielis, somnia, danielis, translated, dreams, daniel, manual, explaining, meanings, dreams, originally, written, latin, book, dedicated, prophet, daniel, from, testament, daniel, attributed, author, dream, book, explanation, dedication, that, danie. The Somniale Danielis Somnia Danielis translated as The Dreams of Daniel is a manual explaining the meanings of dreams 1 Originally written in Latin the book was dedicated to the prophet Daniel from the Old Testament but Daniel is not attributed as the author of the dream book 2 An explanation for the dedication is that Daniel was considered a father of dream sciences and his prophetic visions served as inspiration for the arts of dream interpretation One of the main sources for the contents of the book is the Oneirocritica of Artemidorus Somniale DanielisAuthorUnknown various LanguageLatin Arabic Vernacular GenreDream manual The Somniale Danielis was very important during the Middle Ages for explaining dreams specifically in the identification of meaning and transferable knowledge Although the Church attempted various bans on divination the interpretation of dreams through dream books was popular The first manuscript according to scholars was likely written in the 5th century and the text was repeatedly distributed and remained popular until the sixteenth century 2 The vernacular works of literary figures such as Dante and Boccaccio used the Somniale Danielis as inspiration to create relatable stories based on dream narratives for popular audiences 2 Contents 1 Contents and structure 2 Interpretation and significance 3 Further reading 4 References 5 External linksContents and structure editThe Somniale Danielis has a basic glossary layout in which key terms corresponded directly to the main theme or content of the dream The words were arranged alphabetically followed by concise interpretation of the dream Examples of the glossary include references to specific creatures objects events etc often paired with whether the vision should be interpreted as positive or negative The Somniale Danielis also contained tests by which the importance of the dream could be ascertained These tests included questioning such as the time of night they dreamed or if they had overeaten before bed 3 The manuscripts were often colour coded for example the subject of the dream would be written in red while the explanation would be written in black The structure takes influence from Greek manuscripts especially Oneirocritical texts The Somniale Danielis was translated into Arabic and European vernaculars and thousands of unique versions are believed to have existed though most are assumed lost Interpretation and significance editHistorical study of the dream manual has aimed at comparing local editions of the manual in aim to isolate unique cultural features of a given location to establish the manuals as witnesses of a popular culture 4 The Somniale Danielis is perceived to collate traditional beliefs that were once transmitted orally Historians have tried to recreate and reinterpret the culture of the lower classes of European populations by attempting to understand the dreams of people and the meanings they imparted on society It is believed that what was included in the manuals tended to be things which were important to that given society so by investigating each individual manuscript of the Somniale Danielis we can learn more about the popular culture of the Middle Ages not just as geographically homogeneous but as specific to particular regions or in some cases to particular towns or communes Scholarly consensus also believes that dream manuals are one of the few pieces of literature of the Middle Ages which transcended class and are applicable to all levels of the social strata Further reading editArtemidorus 1975 The Interpretation of Dreams Oneirocritica Translation and commentary by Robert J White Park Ridge Noyes Press Cappozzo Valerio 2018 Dizionario dei sogni nel Medioevo Il Somniale Danielis in manoscritti letterari The Medieval Dream Dictionary The Somniale Danielis in Literary Manuscripts Biblioteca dell Archivum Romanicum Serie I Storia Letteratura Paleografia Florence Leo S Olschki https en olschki it libro 9788822264954 Fischer Steven R 1982 The Complete Medieval Dreambook A Multilingual Alphabetical Somnia Danielis Collation Bern Frankfurt am Main Lang Fischer Steven R 1983 Dreambooks and the Interpretation of Medieval Literary Dreams Archiv fur Kulturgeschichte 65 1 20 Kruger Steven F 1992 Dreaming in the Middle Ages Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature 14 Cambridge Cambridge University Press Lamoreaux John C 2002 The early Muslim tradition of dream interpretation Albany State University of New York Press Lawrence T Martin 1981 Somniale Danielis an edition of a medieval Latin dream interpretation handbook Bern References edit Medieval dreambook Somnia Danielis The British Library Retrieved 2019 02 23 a b c Valerio Cappozzo Editions of the Somniale Danielis in medieval and humanist literary miscellanies Vol 73 10A E Indiana University Bloomington Indiana ISBN 9781267369703 OCLC 881504373 Wyss Edith Ruvoldt Maria 2005 10 01 The Italian Renaissance Imagery of Inspiration Metaphors of Sex Sleep and Dreams The Sixteenth Century Journal 36 3 853 doi 10 2307 20477513 ISSN 0361 0160 JSTOR 20477513 Valerio Cappozzo Editions of the Somniale Danielis in medieval and humanist literary miscellanies Vol 73 10A E Indiana University Bloomington Indiana pp vii ISBN 9781267369703 OCLC 881504373 Valerio Cappozzo 2018 Dizionario dei sogni nel Medioevo Il Somniale Danielis in manoscritti letterari The Medieval Dream Dictionary The Somniale Danielis in Literary Manuscripts Biblioteca dell Archivum Romanicum Serie I Storia Letteratura Paleografia Florence Leo S Olschki https en olschki it libro 9788822264954External links editMedieval dreambook Somnia Danielis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Somniale Danielis amp oldid 1165271681, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
