The paper explores the language of dream reports of Ptolemaios, katochos “recluse” in the Serapeum at Memphis in the 2nd cent. BCE, particularly focusing on the pattern regularly introducing the dream: it includes ἐνύπνιον (as the word for the dream), a predicate of visual perception, and οἴομαι, which marks the transition to the dream narration. As testified by a long-standing tradition of literary and documentary testimonies, the contrast between sight and inference is typical of the Ancient Greek dream mode, from which Ptolemaios accounts nonetheless diverge in the regular use of οἴομαι (instead of δοκέω) for the dreamer’s elaboration of the oneiric vision. Whether such usage may conceal an innovative attitude towards dreams among Memphis Serapeum katochoi will be discussed, respectively considering the lexical choices of the author as well as their morphosyntactic expression.
Dream language and dream ideology. Echoes from the Memphis Serapeum
Bruno C
2023-01-01
Abstract
The paper explores the language of dream reports of Ptolemaios, katochos “recluse” in the Serapeum at Memphis in the 2nd cent. BCE, particularly focusing on the pattern regularly introducing the dream: it includes ἐνύπνιον (as the word for the dream), a predicate of visual perception, and οἴομαι, which marks the transition to the dream narration. As testified by a long-standing tradition of literary and documentary testimonies, the contrast between sight and inference is typical of the Ancient Greek dream mode, from which Ptolemaios accounts nonetheless diverge in the regular use of οἴομαι (instead of δοκέω) for the dreamer’s elaboration of the oneiric vision. Whether such usage may conceal an innovative attitude towards dreams among Memphis Serapeum katochoi will be discussed, respectively considering the lexical choices of the author as well as their morphosyntactic expression.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
