Il linguaggio profetico dell’animale politico. Nodi tematici e linee di sviluppo

Abstract

The essay analyzes the language of selected

prophetical texts from the 14th century focused on several

themes: the prophet as narrator and denuntians; the bond

between history and prophecy; the interchange of certainty,

expectation, emotions; prophecy as political

propaganda. Starting from the definition of the prophet as

denuntians by John of Rupescissa, the study involves the

value of numbers in Rupescissa and Arnaldus of Villanova;

the value of images as prophetical language in Genus

nequam and Ascende calve; the figure of the pastor

angelicus in the Liber de Flore and political propaganda

in the short prophecy called Karolus filius Karoli. Together

with other texts, the Libellus de statu ecclesiae of

Telesphorus of Cosenza shows the link between prophecy

and history.