"De mortibus boum" - the eclogue's last brush. Cover Image

"De mortibus boum" — sielanki ostatnie starcie
"De mortibus boum" - the eclogue's last brush.

Author(s): Maciej Helbig
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Latin literature; pastoral; Endelechius

Summary/Abstract: “Carmen Bucolicum de mortibus boum” was firstly edited in 1586 and from that time it has been published many times. Despite many editions it is still hard to tell who the author was and when the poem was written. Publishers used to give many inconvenient pieces of information, in which two names are being repeated: “Severus Sanctus” and “Endelechius Rhetor”. The main problem is that we cannot tell which one was the composer so editors mixed together two names and created “Severus Sanctus” Endelechius. What’s more the main theme of this poem — attack of terrible pest — disagrees with a pastoral tradition and the question is, whether “De mortibus boum” should be called a bucolic eclogue or not. One thing is sure, this poem is the only preserved example of Christian pastoral poetry and indicates influence of Christianity on Roman literature.

  • Issue Year: 2009
  • Issue No: 6
  • Page Range: 125-135
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Polish