Original scientific paper
Marulić’s allegorizing in 16th chapter of Davidias
Miroslav Palameta
Abstract
The work demonstrates how Marulić, through verses of 16th chapter, left recognisable traces of allegorizing which involves a reading of a Biblical text in light of Christian doctrine, following the model set by Christian doctrine authorities.
His tropological exposition, as contained in his prose „Tropologica Davidiadis expositio,“ follows the same principle; it strengthens the traces as found in verses and are complemented by the latter. Most frequently, he uses metaphorical propositions in which etymology of some personal names is interpreted in light of Christian teaching values, having in mind that the names already figure as lexicalized metaphors.
Revealing the arcane meaning of David’s psalms, in 16th chapter Marulić presents an abbreviated life of Christ in fifty-odd hexameters; Marulić recognized in psalms the Holy Scripture (Baat Sheba) and The law of gospels (Salomon), bringing to fore again the connection between the Old and the New Testament. In the last chapter, as a foundation of Christian teaching and exegesis, such views denote a rich repertoire of similar loci and plots as found throughout the Davidias. Hence, the work relates this to the arcane meaning of the number of chapters – the Christian fathers assigned to number 14 the symbol of inherent connection between the New and the Old Testament, of Decalogue and the four gospels.
This analysis demonstrates that Marulić interprets Jewish King David as an Ur-form of Christ himself and in his verses draws David’s profile in accordance with the Christian ethics. As the assessment applies to the remaining thirteen chapters, one can conclude that, in lyricizing about David, Marulić in fact tells a story about Christ. This is also supported by the eulogy from the conclusion of the Davidias, in which a Biblical hero is identified with the Christ in Heaven.
The work also demonstrates that the conclusion of the 16th chapter has a manneristic form. Composed of a hymnal eulogy to the hero and acknowledgment to the Holy Spirit who granted the poet’s pleas from the prelude, revealing to him the arcane meanings of the Biblical text, the ending serves as a return to the fundamental assumptions of Christian exegesis.
Keywords
Marulić; Davidias; allegorizing; codes; tropology; patrology
Hrčak ID:
148777
URI
Publication date:
30.11.2015.
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