Quaestiones Oralitatis

Tmesis as a Correlate of Prosodic Phrasing in Homer

2024-12-13T10:03:04+01:00

Both univerbation and de-univerbation are evidenced in Homeric epic. Syntactical considerations shed a light on the exact status of the adposition: preverb, adverb, or preposition. Approaching tmesis from a performative perspective contributes to the categorization of adpositions. Its main contribution, however, is the acknowledgement of the minor phonological phrase as the adposition’s scope. Together with the observance of metrical-rhythmical restrictions on word end in Homer’s hexameter, the minor-phrase boundaries show that the analysis of adpositions in the Iliad and the Odyssey as in tmesi respects the adpositions’ adverbial use. Rhythmical rearrangement resulted in higher valuation of adpositions’ prepositive character, especially at positions of frequent word end, but maintains the minor phrase as adpositions’ scope in performance.

Trójfunkcyjność greckiej bogini świtu

2024-12-13T10:16:30+01:00

The aim of the article is to present the Greek Goddess of Dawn Eos as a transfunctional figure. In Homer’s epics the scope of her activity is limited. The goddess herself appears in the narrative primarily in descriptions of the arrival of a new day. However, analysis of written and archaeological materials shows that Eos held greater importance in an earlier Greek belief system, but over time she lost the original distinctive features of the Goddess of Dawn in favor of more active characters, including Hera and Aphrodite. The sources and the proposed research procedure also lead to the conclusion that the abstract Goddess of Victory participated in the acquisition of features previously reserved for the Goddess of Dawn.

Akka Larencja – kobieta pogranicza

2024-12-13T10:31:56+01:00

In this article we analyze various versions of the myth of Acca Larentia preserved in the works of ancient annalists, historians, poets, and writers. This mysterious figure, which appears in various creations in literature, plays the role of a caring nurse of Romulus and Remus, a heir of wealthy Tarutius or a beautiful and noble prostitute who leaves her property to the Roman people. She is also presented as the mother of twelve brothers, who after the death of one of them and his replacement by Romulus, founded the college of priests called the Arval Brothers. Despite such different and seemingly inconsistent versions of the myth, for ancient Romans, Acca Larentia remains a figure with a coherent and congruent image. This character combines elements of the original agrarian culture with elements of other myths, which create a figure manifesting many features merged during the long process of shaping her personality. All of them reflect the parts of history and identity of the Romans that remain important for them despite the essential changes in their circumstances and manner of living.

Selected Features of Oral Transmission Preserved in the Mahāvastu

2024-12-13T10:38:20+01:00

The article lists and describes selected features of oral transmission as preserved in the Mahāvastu – a Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit biography of the Buddha belonging to the Vinayapitaka of the Mahāsāmghika-Lokottaravādins: the principle of waxing syllables, recurrent formulaic phrases, and repetitions.

When a Fresco Speaks: the Epigraphs in San Fiorenzo’s Church (Bastia di Mondovì – CN)

2024-12-13T11:31:22+01:00

The epigraphs in the fresco cycle of the church of San Fiorenzo in Bastia (1466) are edited for the first time in this article. And for the first time, a classification of epigraphs according to their function is proposed here. Epigraphs can be subdivided into three groups with regard to their role in the figurative pattern: they can in fact fulfill a documentary, explanatory or narrative role in relation to the images with which they are associated. The epigraphs that we define as documentary have the purpose of attesting and making known information about the work (pictorial, sculptural, architectural, mosaic…) in which they are inserted. The inscriptions that we could call explanatory identify the figures they are associated with. The epigraphs with a ‘narrative’ function are more interesting: we have defined them in this way because they give voice to the characters with whom they are associated, who in this way converse with other painted figures or address their message to the beholder.

Between Black Knives and Blessing Puffs: Traditional Healings in Georgia

2024-12-13T11:09:41+01:00

The magic practices that we will meet during the following pages refer to the mountain areas of Agiara (independent region of Georgia). The focus of the research consisted in investigating the magical dimension still present in the Georgian population. The interviews that are the essence of this work were carried out in a research campaign and were essentially concentrated in two very distinct realities: Batumi and the countryside of Xelvachauri which is eleven kilometres from the city. In the following pages we will analyze the complex systems of interaction between magic, society and religion. We are happy to be able to bring these revelations because untill now, no in-depth studies had been made in this area regarding this issue.