Thecla's Hymn (Symp. 285-292) - Did Methodius of Olmypus Imitate Plato?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/CC.18.2015.18.09Keywords:
Methodius of Olympus, Thecla’s hymn, mystical marriage, Song of Songs, epithalamiumAbstract
Thecla's Hymn (Symp. 285-292) - Did Methodius of Olmypus Imitate Plato?
In this article the author analyses the literary sources of Thecla’s hymn from Methodius of Olympus’ Symposium. It is obvious that Methodius took over his concept of the treaty on chastity from Plato’s Symposium, but in the end of the work, or Thecla’s Hymn, is closer to Origen, from whom he borrowed the concept of mystical marriage of the Church and of the soul. In the hymn there are some common motifs with Song of Songs, especially with regard to the allegorical interpretation of love. The hymn is not Platonic, but it is a poetic summary of philosophical discussion, and praise and glory to Christ.
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References
Sources
Méthode d’Olympe, 1963, Le Banquet, H. Musurillo, V.-H. Debidour (éd.), Paris (Sources Chrétiennes 95).
Origèn, 1991, Commentaire sur le Cantique des Cantiques, t. I (Texte de la version Latine de Rufin), L. Bresard, H. Crouzel, M. Borret (éd.), Paris (Sources Chrétiennes 375).
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