The Vatican Mythographers
Ronald E. Pepin
The Vatican Mythographers offers the first complete English translation of three important sources knowledge about survival classical mythology from Carolingian era to High Middle Ages and beyond. Latin texts were discovered in manuscripts library published together nineteenth century. so-called compiled, analyzed, interpreted, transmitted a vast collection myths for use by students, poets, artists. In terms consonant with Christian purposes, they elucidated fabulous narratives underlying themes works Ovid, Virgil, Statius, other poets antiquity. so doing, provided handbooks that included descriptions ancient rites customs, curious etymologies, and, above all, moral allegories. Thus we learn Bacchus is naked youth who rides tiger because drunkenness never mature, denudes us possessions, begets ferocity; or Ulysses, husband Penelope, passed monstrous Scylla unharmed wise man bound chastity overcomes lust. extensive illustrates how this material was used lessons. To date, have remained inaccessible scholars students without good working Latin. thus fulfills scholarly void. It prefaced an introduction discusses purposes Mythographers, influences on them, their place medieval Renaissance mythography. Of course, it also entertains host stories whose undying appeal captivates, charms, inspires, instructs, sometimes horrifies us. book should wide whole range university courses involving myth.
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