Lucretius Franco-Hibernicus: Dicuil's <em>Liber de Astronomia</em> and the Carolingian Reception of <em>De Rerum Natura</em>
Fabio Tutrone
Since its coinage in the nineteenth century, concept of Carolingian renaissance has been primarily based on revival classical texts promoted by Charlemagne and his successors. Among positive consequences classicism is careful—if discreet—preservation text Lucretius's De Rerum Natura, which survives three valuable ninth-century manuscripts. Whereas rigorous philological studies these manuscripts have offered, little attention paid to their role in, connection with, reception Lucretius literature. It generally assumed that for Carolingians DRN was essentially a source grammatical metrical usage, extensive efforts made distinguish between direct indirect quotations Lucretian lines. In present paper, I shall adopt different approach, starting from observation diffusion Europe coincided with an increasing interest content. argue deeper understanding can be achieved if one overcomes dichotomies usually maintained Quellenforschung, as such tend overshadow historically culturally specific features early medieval practice imitatio. By endorsing perspective intertextual studies, theory, rhetorical criticism, point out so far unrecognized imitatio Lucretii astronomical work (Liber de Astronomia) Irishman Dicuil, whose allusions Lucretius—particularly cosmological treatment Book 5, so-called 'apology' 1 (921–50 = 4.1–25), calf argument 2 (352–66)—are representative peculiarities reading culture.
Illinois classical studies