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Ominous Swans in Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius (1.5)

Ominous Swans in Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius (1.5) The opening chapters of Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius of Tyana present readers with a series of signs foreshadowing the future character of the text’s protagonist. This article addresses a little discussed omen at Apollonius’ birth: the appearance of swans who set up a chorus around the future philosopher’s mother, startling her and bringing on his birth, before departing, apparently on their annual migration. This curious avian episode is, on closer inspection, laden with evocations, which have so far been only partially explored: of the god Apollo, and of the philosophers Pythagoras, Plato and Socrates, specifically as Apollonian philosophers. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Mnemosyne Brill

Ominous Swans in Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius (1.5)

Mnemosyne , Volume 70 (5): 17 – Sep 13, 2017

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References (36)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0026-7074
eISSN
1568-525X
DOI
10.1163/1568525X-12342212
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The opening chapters of Philostratus’ Life of Apollonius of Tyana present readers with a series of signs foreshadowing the future character of the text’s protagonist. This article addresses a little discussed omen at Apollonius’ birth: the appearance of swans who set up a chorus around the future philosopher’s mother, startling her and bringing on his birth, before departing, apparently on their annual migration. This curious avian episode is, on closer inspection, laden with evocations, which have so far been only partially explored: of the god Apollo, and of the philosophers Pythagoras, Plato and Socrates, specifically as Apollonian philosophers.

Journal

MnemosyneBrill

Published: Sep 13, 2017

Keywords: Philostratus; Life of Apollonius ; omens; Plato; Pythagoras; swan

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