This article offers an interpretation of the talking magpie which welcomes guests at the entrance to Trimalchio’s house (Petronius, Satyrica, 28.9), arguing that the bird’s greeting should be reconstructed as a form of wordplay, as is signaled in the text through a figure of sound. This hitherto unrecognized pun is interpreted as an example of Trimalchio’s sense of humor, and as a sort of motto marking the entrance to Trimalchio’s world.
L'uccello parlante di Trimalchione
F Guidetti
2021
Abstract
This article offers an interpretation of the talking magpie which welcomes guests at the entrance to Trimalchio’s house (Petronius, Satyrica, 28.9), arguing that the bird’s greeting should be reconstructed as a form of wordplay, as is signaled in the text through a figure of sound. This hitherto unrecognized pun is interpreted as an example of Trimalchio’s sense of humor, and as a sort of motto marking the entrance to Trimalchio’s world.File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
