On Two Expressions for the New Moon in Latin

Authors

  • Maria N. Kazanskaya Institute for Linguistic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences; 9, Tuchkov per., St. Petersburg, 199004, Russian Federation; St. Petersburg State University, 7–9, Universitetskaya nab., St. Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu20.2019.105

Abstract

The article examines two expressions for the new moon in Latin, luna silens and luna sicca (or sitiens). Despite the unusual imagery behind the choice of these epithets, the expressions appear  in unremarkable, technical contexts (mostly, in works on agriculture by Cato, Columella,  Pliny the Elder) and denote this particular phase of the lunar cycle without any indication  that the metaphors were perceived by speakers. The paper aims at explaining this paradox.  It is shown that neither of these expressions was based on superstitions or popular lore. They  reflected, in fact, an attempt to present the phase of the lunar cycle when the moon is invisible  in contrast to other visible phases, which are easier to identify. Thus, luna silens was created by  opposition to luna crescens “the waxing moon”, as denoting the moment before active, visible  growth will begin. Luna sicca, on the other hand, was created by opposition to luna plena, “the  full moon”, where the moon would be imagined as a vessel, gradually filled to its fullness by  white light. Finally, luna sitiens was an expression, synonymic to luna sicca, created by analogy  with luna silens. While these expressions were used as terms without any artistic effect,  Augustan poets seem to have recognized their poetic potential and, on some occasions, put it  to use (in particular, Verg. Aen. 2, 255 and Prop. 2, 17, 15).

Keywords:

new moon, luna silens, luna sicca (sitiens), Cato, Pliny the Elder, Columella, agricultural lore, Vergil, Propertius

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Published

2019-06-25

How to Cite

Kazanskaya, M. (2019). On Two Expressions for the New Moon in Latin. Philologia Classica, 14(1), 68–83. https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu20.2019.105

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2019)

Section

Orbis Romanus

License

Articles of "Philologia Classica" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.

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