Dante's Griffin and the History of the World: A Study of the Earthly Paradise (Purgatorio, Cantos Xxix-xxxiii)Clarendon Press, 1989 - 330 pages From classical and other sources medieval Europeans had inherited belief in the existence of griffins. In the Garden of Eden, on the summit of the mountain of Purgatory, Dante sees one of these creatures drawing a chariot, which it later joins to the tree of the Fall, making the tree bearleaves and flowers again. This griffin has long been thought to represent Christ, but an examination of medieval griffin-lore and of Dante's own poem shows that this explanation is untenable. This study explores both the intellectual and political concerns and the imaginative world of early fourteenth-century Italy: theology, philosophy, and jurisprudence; folklore and romance; prophecy and millenarianism. It provides a new interpretation of Dante's griffin as a powerful symbol centralto his presentation of the earthly Paradise, mankind's lost ideal of collective happiness on earth. |
Contents
Griffin Lore around the Time of Dante | 15 |
Dantes Griffin | 46 |
SPQR 74 | 110 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
according Alexander already animal Antichrist appear Augustus authority beast Beatrice become Book called canto chariot Christ Christian Church coming course cross crown Dante Dante's death divine Donation of Constantine eagle earth earthly Paradise elected Emperor evil expressed eyes fact final Florence future God's griffin happiness head heaven heavenly Henry human ideal imperial imperium interpreted Italy John justice King kingdoms later lion living mankind meaning medieval Monarchia moral nature original Papacy peace perhaps person political Pope possible present Prince procession prophecy Purg Purgatorio quod reference reggimenti represents restored revealed Roma Roman Roman Empire Rome scene seen Senate sense single stands symbol taken temporal tradition tree true universal Virtues vision whole xxxii