Tag: reception

Reception of Apuleius in Fifth-Century Gaul

The University of Bari is hiring a post-doctoral researcher for the project ‘Tradition and reception of Apuleius’ works in fifth-century Gaul’, with particular attention to Sidonius.

Advertisement here. Applications before 23 March 2024.

‘During the research period, the postdoctoral fellow will be required to trace an articulate picture of the reception and transmission of Apuleius’ texts in fifth-century Gaul. In particular, the research will concern the mentions of Apuleius and his literary output throughout the corpus of Sidonius Apollinaris. Although there is a consensus that he was read and appreciated by Apollinaris and his learned friends (notably Claudianus Mamertus), it is only through an exegesis of Sidonius’ Carmina and Letters that it will be possible to shed light on the linguistic and stylistic reception of Apuleius in the works of Sidonius and his literary circle of friends.’

New Portrait of Sidonius Discovered

A new portrait of Sidonius has come to light. Quite unexpectedly, on the eve of the Feast of St Nicholas of Myra, 5 December, a delicately crafted portrait bust of the Clermontese Saint made its appearence. Its pained expression probably points to the second, tormented phase of the bishop’s life, as Writing to Survive was the only coping strategy left to him. Further research is needed to assess the date and provenance of this fragile, papier-mâché artifact. This find considerably extends the range of visual testimonies to Sidonius’ reception, hitherto practically limited to the artworks preserved in the Prefecture in Lyon.

Full disclosure:
On the eve of the Feast of St Nicholas of Myra, 5 December, Dutch families traditionally gather to celebrate the ‘Goedheiligman’ by anonymously exchanging presents provided with teasing poems, while singing songs, eating seasonal cookies and drinking ‘bisschopswijn’. One present for each family member has to be special. It’s called a ‘surprise’, hiding a simple gift in an elaborate (if ephemeral) casing that represents a characteristic of the person concerned.

My artistically gifted granddaughter Elin (it appeared) was behind the portrait bust of Sidonius. I can’t resist showing it to everybody else who has a weak spot for poor old Sollius. Coming to think of it, it is a piece of popular reception of the Saint, and in no way inferior to those other portraits, the high-brow ones in the Provincial Prefecture in Lyon.

Joop van Waarden, 5 December 2023.

Sidonius Apollinaris 2023 by Elin van Waarden (Instagram @elinvanwaarden)

Sidonius Talking to Ambrose and Bust of Sidonius in Lyon

For other portrayals of Sidonius, see the Gallery page.

Gestalten der Spätantike

Im Rahmen der AG Spätantike wird im Wintersemester 2018/19 folgende Lehrveranstaltung angeboten:

Lateinische Spätantike: Gestalten der Spätantike
Kämpferische Kirchenväter, dichtende Frauen, Päpste, Kaiser und Philosophen: unser Bild der Spätantike wird durch das Wirken und die Werke herausragender Persönlichkeiten geprägt. Das von der Arbeitsgruppe Spätantike veranstaltete Seminar stellt einige von ihnen vor. Daran beteiligt sind Fachleute unterschiedlicher Disziplinen in Erlangen, aber das Seminar wird durch Beiträge auswärtiger Gelehrter aus Deutschland, Italien und Österreich ergänzt.

29 Januar 2019 Maria Jennifer Falcone (Klassische Philologie, Erlangen), Sidonius Apollinaris: Intertextueller Horizont und Fortleben