Αἰῶνος λιταί (Nonn. Dion. 7.1-109)

Aeon’s supplication to Zeus to save mankind in Dion. 7.1-109 is a mosaic of salvation-traditions. This paper bases the exploration of these traditions on philosophical and religious concepts coevally shared by different dogmas. It highlights the Hesiodic features, pro...

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Main Author: Konstantinos Spanoudakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ENS Éditions 2012-07-01
Series:Aitia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/aitia/505
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author Konstantinos Spanoudakis
author_facet Konstantinos Spanoudakis
author_sort Konstantinos Spanoudakis
collection DOAJ
description Aeon’s supplication to Zeus to save mankind in Dion. 7.1-109 is a mosaic of salvation-traditions. This paper bases the exploration of these traditions on philosophical and religious concepts coevally shared by different dogmas. It highlights the Hesiodic features, probably made use through the Orphic Rhapsodic Theogony. It surveys the linguistic and conceptual indications suggesting that Aeon’s supplication might be indebted to Zeus’ appeal to Cronus in the Rhapsodic Theogony to raise up human race. The paper also introduces the notion of “negative” allusion, the employment of a concept, that is, in such a way so as to raise unsaid associations with its historical (i.e. Christian) evolution. Furthermore, it is shown that joy, wine, Prometheus as a creator of man and failed messianic figure, Pandora’s futile consolation of man by introducing the pleasures of love, sacrifice and even the apotheosis of Dionysus at the end of the poem get involved in a covert dialogue with sometimes controversial Christian notions which shape Nonnus’ spiritual world and enliven his poem not as an antiquarian pedantry but as a historically meaningful creation.
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spelling doaj.art-d53dc3682d2b436bbb21e4c9879052ec2022-12-22T02:47:02ZengENS ÉditionsAitia1775-42752012-07-01210.4000/aitia.505Αἰῶνος λιταί (Nonn. Dion. 7.1-109)Konstantinos SpanoudakisAeon’s supplication to Zeus to save mankind in Dion. 7.1-109 is a mosaic of salvation-traditions. This paper bases the exploration of these traditions on philosophical and religious concepts coevally shared by different dogmas. It highlights the Hesiodic features, probably made use through the Orphic Rhapsodic Theogony. It surveys the linguistic and conceptual indications suggesting that Aeon’s supplication might be indebted to Zeus’ appeal to Cronus in the Rhapsodic Theogony to raise up human race. The paper also introduces the notion of “negative” allusion, the employment of a concept, that is, in such a way so as to raise unsaid associations with its historical (i.e. Christian) evolution. Furthermore, it is shown that joy, wine, Prometheus as a creator of man and failed messianic figure, Pandora’s futile consolation of man by introducing the pleasures of love, sacrifice and even the apotheosis of Dionysus at the end of the poem get involved in a covert dialogue with sometimes controversial Christian notions which shape Nonnus’ spiritual world and enliven his poem not as an antiquarian pedantry but as a historically meaningful creation.http://journals.openedition.org/aitia/505ChristianityOrphismPrometheusredemptionsacrificesin
spellingShingle Konstantinos Spanoudakis
Αἰῶνος λιταί (Nonn. Dion. 7.1-109)
Aitia
Christianity
Orphism
Prometheus
redemption
sacrifice
sin
title Αἰῶνος λιταί (Nonn. Dion. 7.1-109)
title_full Αἰῶνος λιταί (Nonn. Dion. 7.1-109)
title_fullStr Αἰῶνος λιταί (Nonn. Dion. 7.1-109)
title_full_unstemmed Αἰῶνος λιταί (Nonn. Dion. 7.1-109)
title_short Αἰῶνος λιταί (Nonn. Dion. 7.1-109)
title_sort αἰῶνος λιταί nonn dion 7 1 109
topic Christianity
Orphism
Prometheus
redemption
sacrifice
sin
url http://journals.openedition.org/aitia/505
work_keys_str_mv AT konstantinosspanoudakis aiōnoslitainonndion71109