Echoes of an Iberian Pluto in Bandello
2024; Oxford University Press; Volume: 71; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1093/notesj/gjae073
ISSN1471-6941
Autores Tópico(s)Historical and Literary Analyses
ResumoBANDELLOIn his Geographies, Strabo notes that the ancient Iberian city of Tartessus is associated with Hades. 1 Strabo is only one of many classical authorities, dating back to Homer, who connects the mythological god of the underworld to the Iberian Peninsula.The correlation is likely due to the prosperous mines which were located in the vicinity of the Iberian Peninsula. 2Mythographers reinforced the connection between Pluto and wealth etymologically by drawing attention to the similarities between the names of Pluto and Plutus, the Greek god of riches. 3 In early modern literature, Pluto's association with wealth and riches is well attested. 4 Less obvious (to me) is any literary association with Iberia.By comparison, Proserpina-Pluto's consort-has a terrestrial connection to Sicily, since this is where she resided at the time of her abduction. 5 Proserpina's geographical association with Sicily is also well attested in late medieval and early modern literature. 6 With respect to Matteo Bandello's 22nd Novella, at least one critical study has detected echoes of the myth of Proserpina in the ritual death and rebirth of Fenicia, and the Novella's Sicilian locale.
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