De viribus herbarum (o właściwościach ziół)

• Authors: Emilia Żybert

Title variants

EN

DE VIRIBUS HERBARUM (PROPERTIES OF PLANTS)

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

A hexametrical, anonymous fragment of the didactic poem written in Greek, usually called De viribus herbarum ( II or III AD), contains a magic-medicinal lore concerning 16 plants. Almost each of the herbs has its divine patron who gathered it for the first time or discoverd — which in fact means “established” — its properties. That is the reason of the plants’ miraculous power. Each description of the herb contains common elements: the best time of gathering, name(s) of the plant, a mythical history concerning it, its divine patron(s) and its magic-medicinal powers. The poetical fragment offers also a glimpse into fears of the ancient Greeks concerning believes in the evil eye and harmful demons. It provides many descriptions of medical or homeopathic treatments as well.

Keywords

EN

PLANTS; PROPERTIES; DIVINE PATRON; MAGIC-MEDICINAL POWER

• Publisher: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wroclawskiego
• Journal: Classica Wratislaviensia
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 31
• Pages: 137-153

Contributors

author

Emilia Żybert