Virgil refers to a Roman superstition (vulgo) that elms were trees of ill-omen because their fruit seemed to be of no value.Richens, R. H., Elm (Cambridge 1983) p.155 It has been notedRichens, R. H., Elm, Ch.10 (Cambridge, 1983) that two elm-motifs have arisen from classical literature: (1) the 'Paradisal Elm' motif, arising from pastoral idylls and the elm-and-vine theme, and (2) the 'Elm and Death' motif, perhaps arising from Homer's commemorative elms and Virgil's Stygian Elm. Many references to elm in European literature from the Renaissance onwards fit into one or other of these categories.
Virgil refers to a Roman superstition (vulgo) that elms were trees of ill-omen because their fruit seemed to be of no valueRichens R H Elm (Cambridge 1983) p155 It has been notedRichens R H Elm Ch10 (Cambridge 1983) that two elm-motifs have arisen from classical literature (1) the 'Paradisal Elm' motif arising from pastoral idylls and the elm-and-vine theme and (2) the 'Elm and Death' motif perhaps arising from Homer's commemorative elms and Virgil's Stygian Elm Many references to elm in European literature from the Renaissance onwards fit into one or other of these categories