In vino poesis. Quelques reflexions sur les motifs sympotiques dans les Foricenia sive Epigrammatum libellus de Jan Kochanowski
In Vino Poesis. Some Reflections on Sympotic Motifs in Jan Kochanowski’s Foricenia sive Epigrammatum libellus

Summary/Abstract: The very title of the collection of poems, Foricenia, is associated with banquets, and conviviality is the dominant feature of its composition. Following this convention, the poet also presents himself in several poems as a comedy parasite. In the Foricenia, the traditional sympotic motifs appear, as well as references to the ancient debate about whether wine or water is the source of inspiration. Wine, of course, wins, and Kochanowski joins the ranks of the poietai oinopotai. It is interesting to note the play on contrasts between the words calor and frigus, using their literal meaning (physical sensations of heat or cold) or their metaphorical meaning (calor as the heat that brings inspiration, and frigus as a style error). The collection ends with an epigram that engages in a humorous dialogue with Catullus’ work and underlines the sympotic nature of the Foricenia.

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