![]() |
Wiener Studien Band 124/2011Zeitschrift für Klassische Philologie, Patristik und lateinische Tradition
|
![]() |
Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
Tel. +43-1-515 81/DW 3420, Fax +43-1-515 81/DW 3400 https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at, e-mail: verlag@oeaw.ac.at |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
DATUM, UNTERSCHRIFT / DATE, SIGNATURE
BANK AUSTRIA CREDITANSTALT, WIEN (IBAN AT04 1100 0006 2280 0100, BIC BKAUATWW), DEUTSCHE BANK MÜNCHEN (IBAN DE16 7007 0024 0238 8270 00, BIC DEUTDEDBMUC)
|

Wiener Studien 124/2011, pp. 279-295, 2011/11/07
Zeitschrift für Klassische Philologie, Patristik und lateinische Tradition
The late-antiquity libellus known as Cena Cypriani (Cena) represents an odd form of intellectual and perhaps convivial entertainment, wherein readers and listeners are made aware of biblical episodes through its story. Literarily, the Cena can be considered as a unique result arising from the mixture of Greek and Latin works from both the Classical era and Late Antiquity. Only during the Early Middle Ages, such work was attributed to Saint Cyprian and, for this reason, began circulating in the Carthaginian martyr’s body of writings. Nevertheless, the fate of this Early Medieval script is not connected solely to the auctoritas Cypriani. Indeed, the Cena circulated in the Carolingian scriptoria as disputatio, used as a means of teaching the Bible while also helping to amuse its readers and listeners. During Charles the Bald’s imperial coronation (875), the Cena was required to be read in Rome, where most likely it was unknown to the public. Subsequently, John Inmonides transformed the text into a well known rhythm composed for the convivial entertainment of the Carolingian sovereign and that of Pope John VIII.