Article ID: CBB639599503

«Armonia rerum» in John Scottus’ Aulae sidereae (2017)

unapi

The paper examines John Scottus’ poem «The Starry Temple» (c. 869/77), supposedly written in response to Charles the Bald’s plans to construct at Compiègne a new church which could rival Aachen’s Palatine Chapel. By means of sophisticated poetical imagery John Scottus proposes multilayer vision of the harmonic universe the hearth of which constitutes an ideal temple. It is shown that arithmology, the sacred history, and eschatology are interwoven in Aulae sidereae’s worldview. The poem’s sources are under consideration. It is stated that John Scottus deliberately draws parallels between Charles’ church and the Biblical temple of Solomon. Among his sources are Bede’s "De tabernaculo" and "De templo," as also Alcuin’s verse inscriptions for the altars and churches dedicated to Virgin Mary. Affinity between Aulae sidereae’s prologue and philosophical hymns of Late Antiquity is indicated: Proclus’ Hymn to Helios, Synesius’ Letter to Paeonius and Hymn IX are observed here. Insular traits of Eriugena’s vocabulary appear in a set expression titania lampas, which might have been borrowed from Aldhelm of Malmesbury. Close lexical parallels between Aulae sidereae’s astronomical prologue and Martianus Capella’s "De nuptiis" are poined out. It is suggested also that verses 82-92 of the "Aulae Sidereae" may allude to Lucretius’ prologue to the "De Rerum Natura." Among topics discussed is the cosmic harmony manifest in the order of things, which sings along ("concinit") to what is told by Scripture ("mundus gestans symbola Christi"); as also the harmony of the octaves ("octonus numerus divinos symfonat actus") which is symbolized by the harp of King David ("nabla sonorum"). It is argued that the templum ("aedes," "domus"), dedicated to the Mother of God ("dei genitrix") and consecrated on Christmas Day, becomes in John Scottus’ poetical masterpiece a symbol and image of harmonically structured universe and emblematizes at once the starry temple of the Sun ("aula sidera"), the transcendent House of the Wisdom of God ("aula superna," "remota domus"), the Bethleem’s manger ("sancta domus"), and the Heavenly Jerusalem as "visio pacis." The figure of King Charles seated on his lofty throne is loaded with symbolism too: he is presented as an ideal ruler and a personification of the visible Sun, Kings David and Solomon, Christ, and Charlemagne.

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Authors & Contributors
Stuckrad, Kocku von
Gasparri, Giuliano
Akopyan, Ovanes
Moiso, Marta
Mary Suzanna Kelly
Alfred B. Sears
Concepts
Cosmology
Natural philosophy
Astronomy
Science and religion
Neoplatonism
Celestial mechanics
Time Periods
Renaissance
17th century
Early modern
Medieval
16th century
18th century
Places
Europe
Italy
England
Florence (Italy)
Sweden
Denmark
Institutions
Jesuits (Society of Jesus)
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