Nescioquid inopinum intactumque moliens cano... : Compositional aims of De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii by Martianus Capella

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Authors

PETROVIĆOVÁ Katarina

Year of publication 2009
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Graeco-Latina Brunensia
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Web http://www.phil.muni.cz/wff/home/publikace/sborniky/graeco-latina-brunensia
Field Mass media, audiovision
Keywords Literature; Roman Empire; Encyclopedy; Seven Liberal Arts; Martianus Capella
Description In this paper, the composition of a unique educational work 'De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii', written by Martianus Capella probably in the fifth-century Vandal Carthage, is analysed in terms of the author's direct entries into the plot. The main aim of the paper is to show that Martianus' commentaries, which are put forward in the form of dialogues with diverse characters (the reader, the son, Muse, and the personified Satire; Mart. Cap. §1f., §219-222, §575-579, §806-809, §997-1000), do not only serve as a justification of the composition in which a satiric narration presents a serious education matter, but that the commentaries also comply with and highlight his hierarchical understanding of an advanced educational conception aiming at harmony.
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