The myth of Proserpina in Latin Literature and in Art from Anquity to the Renaissance
On-line Course in Latin, 17th May – 28th June, 2023.
The myth of Proserpina, regina Erebi in the noted words of Vergil, has enjoyed continual treatment in literature and art from antiquity to our own time.
After an introduction on the Homeric Hymn to Demeter and the story surrounding its rediscovery in the Eighteenth century, the first part of this course will center on reading and discussing in Latin salient excerpts from the Metamorphoes and the Fasti of Ovid as well as the De raptu Proserpinae of Claudian. The second part of the course will examine the allegorical readings of the myth in the Middle Ages up to the time of Dante and Boccaccio. Parallel to this, the course will also explore the large number of Latin authors between the Fifteenth to the Sixteenth Century who studies the geography, history, and mythology of Enna and the nearby Lake Pergusa where, according to tradition, Pluto abducted the young Proserpina to fashion her into his spouse in the underworld.
Throughout the sessions, ample attention will given to the portrayal of this myth in painting (Rubens, Veronese, Peruzzi, Tintoretto, Pietra da Cortona) and in sculpture (Bernini, Girardon, Powers).
The course will take place in seminar format via zoom (meeting) every Wednesday from 17:00 to 19:00 CET.
Each lesson will be conducted entirely in Latin.
Each session will be recorded and made available until 1st September 2023.
Program schedule
When | Topic |
I. Wednesday, 17th May, h. 17:00-19:00 CET | Greetings and an Introduction to the Course
Distribution and orientation of course materials The Homeric Hymn to Demeter and its rediscovery in the Modern Era Proserpina in Cicero’s In Verrem |
II. Wednesday, 24th May, h. 17:00-19:00 CET | Proserpina in Ovid’s Metamorphoses (part 1) |
III. Wednesday, 31st March, h. 17:00-19:00 CET | Proserpina in Ovid’s Metamorphoses (part 2)
Proserpina in Ovid’s Fasti |
IV. Wednesday, 7th June, h. 17:00-19:00 CET | Claudian’s De raptu Proserpinae (part 1) |
V. Wednesday, 14th June, h. 17:00-19:00 CET | Claudian’s De raptu Proserpinae (part 2) |
VI. Wednesday 21st June, h. 17:00-19:00 CEST | Medieval readings of the myth (13th-14th century) |
VII. Wednesday 28th June, h. 17:00-19:00 CEST |
The rediscovery of the myth of Proserpina in Renaissance Europe (15 th -17 th )
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Last day to Register: 16th May 2023