The Shadows of Poetry: Vergil in the Mind of Augustine

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University of California Press, Sep 1, 2023 - Literary Criticism - 273 pages
Imperial ceremony was a vital form of self-expression for late antique society. Sabine MacCormack examines the ceremonies of imperial arrivals, funerals, and coronations from the late third to the late sixth centuries A.D., as manifest in the official literature and art of the time. Her study offers us new insights into the exercise of power and into the social, political, and cultural significance of religious change during the Christianization of the Roman world.

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Contents

Their Renowned Poet
xvii
The Scent of a Rose Language and Grammar between Pagans and Christians
41
The Tears Run Down in Vain Emotions Soul and Body
85
Gods of Our Homeland The Nature of True and False Worship
128
The High Walls of Rome The City on Earth and the Heavenly City
171
Epilogue
221
Select Bibliography
229
Index of Ancient and Late Antique Texts
247
General Index
251
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Page 5 - Hanc olim veteres vitam coluere Sabini, hanc Remus et frater, sic fortis Etruria crevit scilicet et rerum facta est pulcherrima Roma, septemque una sibi muro circumdedit arces.
Page 129 - ARMA virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris Italiam fato profugus Lavinaque venit litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto vi superum, saevae memorem lunonis ob iram, multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem 5 inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum Albanique patres atque altae moenia Romae.
Page 28 - ... suscipit Anchises atque ordine singula pandit. 'principio caelum ac terras camposque liquentes lucentemque globum Lunae Titaniaque astra Spiritus intus alit, .totamque infusa per artus mens agitat molem, et magno se corpore miscet.
Page 36 - ... exercet sub sole labor, cum gentis adultos educunt fetus, aut cum liquentia mella stipant et dulci distendunt nectare cellas, aut onera accipiunt venientum, aut agmine facto ignavum fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent ; 435 fervet opus redolentque thymo fragrantia mella. "o fortunati, quorum iam moenia surgunt ! " Aeneas ait et fastigia suspicit urbis.
Page 18 - Sicelides Musae, paulo maiora canamus! non omnis arbusta iuvant humilesque myricae: si canimus silvas, silvae sint consule dignae. Ultima Cumaei venit iam carminis aetas; magnus ab integro saeclorum nascitur ordo.
Page 28 - ... esse apibus partem divinae mentis et haustus . 220 aetherios dixere ; deum namque ire per omnes terrasque tractusque maris caelumque profundum ; hinc pecudes, armenta, viros, genus omne ferarum, quemque sibi tenues nascentem arcessere vitas ; scilicet huc reddi deinde ac resoluta referri omnia, nec morti esse locum, sed viva volare sideris in numerum atque alto succedere caelo.
Page 103 - Lethaeumque domos placidas qui praenatat amnem. hunc circum innumerae gentes populique volabant ; ac velut in pratis ubi apes aestate serena floribus insidunt variis, et candida circum lilia funduntur ; strepit omnis murmure campus. horrescit visu subito causasque requirit 710 inscius Aeneas, quae sint ea flumina porro, quive viri tanto complerint agmine ripas.
Page 1 - Olympo. Illo Vergilium me tempore dulcis alebat Parthenope, studiis florentem ignobilis oti, Carmina qui lusi pastorum audaxque iuventa, 565 Tityre, te patulae cecini sub tegmine fagi.
Page 117 - Ergo exercentur poenis, veterumque malorum Supplicia expendunt. Aliae panduntur inanes Suspensae ad ventos ; aliis sub gurgite vasto Infectum eluitur scelus, aut exuritur igni.
Page 175 - haec nemora indigenae Fauni Nymphaeque tenebant gensque virum truncis et duro robore nata, 315 quis neque mos neque cultus erat, nec iungere tauros aut componere opes norant aut parcere parto, sed rami atque asper victu venatus alebat.

About the author (2023)

Sabine G. MacCormack is Professor of History at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

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