Myth, animalization, and anthropomorphization of plants

Abstract

In this article, we will look at three sections of works from Latin agrarian literature. These works are book II of Virgil’s Georgics, book X of Columella’s De re rustica, and book XV of Rutilius Palladius’ Opus agriculturae. In fact, when examined retrospectively, these authors are not only quoting each other, but also using similar compositional techniques. In general, the sections of Virgil’s, Columella’s, and Palladius’ works on which we will comment are poetic and give vivacity to botanical themes, most notably through the use of myth, animalization, or attributing “human features” to plants. As a result, they spin a web in which similar writing techniques coexist within a tradition rather than in isolation.