The mythic landscape is scattered of springs, whose name is linked to the fate of a series of well-known female figures, as Aretusa and Cyane in Sicily or Egeria in Rome. This paper focuses on the aquatic myths as paradigmatic of the relationship between sexes. The Greek and Roman literatures transmit many stories of girls, who are the protagonists of an erotic transgression and who are, in the end, transformed into the water of a spring. From the examination of these storylines, some themes of great cultural relevance come to light: the ancient regulation of sexual sphere, the concept of the female purity, the relationship between myth and geographical space.
Aretusa e altre ninfe d'acqua. Rifrazioni mitiche della giusta maniera d'amare
MACRI', SONIA
2012-01-01
Abstract
The mythic landscape is scattered of springs, whose name is linked to the fate of a series of well-known female figures, as Aretusa and Cyane in Sicily or Egeria in Rome. This paper focuses on the aquatic myths as paradigmatic of the relationship between sexes. The Greek and Roman literatures transmit many stories of girls, who are the protagonists of an erotic transgression and who are, in the end, transformed into the water of a spring. From the examination of these storylines, some themes of great cultural relevance come to light: the ancient regulation of sexual sphere, the concept of the female purity, the relationship between myth and geographical space.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.