42 research outputs found
Recensions
Obra ressenyada: Giampera ARRIGONI, Le donne in Grecia. Rotna-Bari: Larerza, 1985
Theatrical background in Xenophon's Ephesiaca
Xenophon of Ephesus is normally considered a less cultivated writer in comparison to other authors of Greek love novels. Nevertheless, in Ephesiaca many references to Ancient tragedy are to be found, as well as to other theatrical performances. This paper studies the dramatic background of the novel and the literary context in which it was written
A Catalan Mephistopheles: the Theater of Vicenç Baruta Valls
Un autor català del segle xix, Vicenç Baruta Valls, escrivà Mefistòfeles, una
obra en vers que era una paròdia del Faust de Gounod, i que s’estrenà a Barcelona
el 1877. Baruta estrenà altres composicions teatrals amb èxit i participÃ
en revistes literà ries. L’exposició cultural de Viena de 1892 es fa ressò de
la importà ncia del teatre català i esmenta, entre altres, aquest autor.A 19th century Catalan author, Vicenç Baruta Valls, wrote Mefistòfeles, a play
in verse and a parody of Gounod’s Faust. It was performed in Barcelona in
1877. Baruta wrote other successful plays and participated in many literary
journals. In Vienna’s 1892 Cultural Exhibition, where the importance of
Catalan theatre is made apparent, this author is mentioned, among others.Humanidade
Philosophy for the Body, Food for the Mind
Ancient Greek philosophers stressed the importance of asceticism, in order to increase wisdom, sometimes reaching the point of starvation. Neglecting one’s own body by strict ascetic practices, which included a very poor and limited diet, led to a higher status at the philosophical level and was a way to ideal perfection. Food or rather the refusal of it played a crucial role in their philosophy. Ancient biographers tell us about this struggle against material needs, whereas at the same time some comic texts bear witness to the contrast with ordinary people’s way of eating. When Christianity took over ancient civilization and became the dominant ideology, the ideal of perfection focused on salvation and union with God. In order to attain this divine union, which recalled the original perfection before sin, all passions should be controlled, especially sex and food. Depriving the body from almost any nourishment was the safest way to attain a full development of the soul and a perfect knowledge of God. In the West, the ideal of perfection has changed throughout history up to the present, from ancient philosophy to spiritual salvation, purity or even aesthetic excellence, all of which are subjective concepts of perfection to be attained by individuals through despising material food, sometime to the point of starvation
Thinking about the Political Situation in Catalonia
Catalan Separatism is, above all, a peaceful movement for self-government, defending the capacity for taking decisions as a nation, as a State, in an inclusive way. It defends sovereignty in all aspects, including income generated in Catalonia, and the distribution of wealth. The Spanish transition after 1975 failed to encourage the construction of a pluralist State, and the autonomic framework has proved to be unsatisfactory. The reluctance of some parties in the government to give more autonomy to Catalonia, especially in the last ten years, and to recognise it as a nation, has led to a significant increase in Catalan independence supporters. Extreme right-wing movements have emerged recently, defending the unity of Spain and attacking democracy, not only in Catalonia, and their sometimes violent riots are tolerated more permissively by Spanish authorities than actions in favour of Catalan prisoners on remand. The conflict is a challenge to the idea of Spain as it is now and also an occasion to think about what kind of political framework Europe offers to its members. Europe should perhaps offer more flexibility to communities having different languages and cultures, and therefore, the Catalan crisis is an opportunity to imagine a new European order
La tradició grega del culte de Cebrià d'Antioquia i Santa Justina a Catalunya
El culte de Cebrià d’Antioquia i santa Justina té l’origen en un text grec apòcrif del segle IV i des dels inicis s’ha confós amb la biografia de sant Cebrià , bisbe de Cartago. A Catalunya hi ha diverses esglésies antigues dedicades a un dels dos, i no sempre queda clara la diferència. Alguns dels goigs cantats en honor del sant donen testimoni de l’antiga llegenda oriental i de la confusió amb el bisbe. Aquà es presenta una proposta d’identificació d’una mà rtir desconeguda que apareix al retaule de sant Cebrià de Cabanyes, del segle XV
La sabidurÃa de las mujeres: magia y medicina
This paper analyses the constant intersection between magic and medicine in Ancient Greek women's knowledge. This kind of wisdom fits into popular knowledge and can be already found in mythology with characters like Circe, Medea or Pasifae. All these women belong to Helios' family and they are closer to the divine world than to the human one, witches that know magic potions and healing remedies. These feminine activities stand beyond the city religion and their field of activity is restricted to family and acquaintances, to the domestic ambit. On the other hand, their most requested services must have been love potions but also everything related to birth and feminine health.El artÃculo analiza la constante intersección entre magia y medicina en la sabidurÃa de las mujeres de la Grecia antigua. Este tipo de conocimiento se enmarca dentro de la sabidurÃa popular y está presente ya en la mitologÃa con personajes como Circe, Medea o PasÃfae. Son mujeres que pertenecen a la familia de Helios y están más cerca del mundo divino que del humano, hechiceras que conocen filtros mágicos y remedios curativos. Estas actividades femeninas quedan fuera de la religión ciudadana y su radio de acción se limita a familia y conocidos, confinado al ámbito doméstico. Por otro lado, los servicios más solicitados a las hechiceras debÃan ser los filtros de amor pero también todo lo relacionado con el parto y la salud femenina