[...] Odores, quos tener e terra divite mittit Arabs. The Function of the Motif of the Perfumed and Wealthy Arab and Fragrant and Rich Arabia in the Works of Roman Poets of the Augustan Period Cover Image

[...] Odores, quos tener e terra divite mittit Arabs. Funkcja motywu wyperfumowanego i zamożnego Araba oraz wonnej i zasobnej Arabii w twórczości poetów rzymskich okresu augustowskiego
[...] Odores, quos tener e terra divite mittit Arabs. The Function of the Motif of the Perfumed and Wealthy Arab and Fragrant and Rich Arabia in the Works of Roman Poets of the Augustan Period

Author(s): Łukasz Libowski
Subject(s): Literary Texts, Studies of Literature
Published by: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II - Instytut Filologii Klasycznej
Keywords: Virgil; Horace; Tibullus; Propercius; Ovid; Arab; Arabia; fragrance; perfume; incense; oils; literary motif

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this article is to determine the function of one of the minor literary motifs present in the Roman literature of the Augustan period, i.e., the motif of the perfumed and wealthy Arab and fragrant and rich Arabia. This goal is achieved here in two steps: first, the appropriate source material is compiled, and then the material is analysed and the conclusions are formulated. The source material in this case is seventeen extracts from Virgil, Horace, Tibullus, Pseudo-Tibullus, Propercius and Ovid. These fragments were divided into those, in which the respective fragrance motif was embedded in the axiological context (sixteen fragments), and those, in which the motif appears in the neutral context (one fragment). Among the first there were separated those, in which the positive axiological context is dealt with (ten fragments), and those, in which the negative axiological context is dealt with (six fragments). The fragments of the first type mention the value of a woman (four fragments), religious activities (three fragments), the Roman land (two fragments) and peace (one fragment), while the fragments of the second type express the worthlessness of wealth (five fragments) and remoteness from the loved person (one fragment). In turn, the analysis was carried out in two steps. First, it was found that Latin poets and writers of the Augustan period use the fragrance motif when they value, whether positively or negatively, people or things or situations, or activities, and that these writers use the motif discussed here to build images that appeal to the public. Secondly, it was established that the Arabic motif is expressed at the same time in a lot of different words, should all the fragments in which it appears, be taken together, and in few words, should each of the fragments should be considered separately.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 14
  • Page Range: 5-29
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Polish