Semiosis of Metaphorical Motive “Book-Wreath” in the Greek Poetry

Abstract

The article is devoted to the genesis and the semantics of the metaphorical motive “book//flower// wreath” in ancient Greek poetry. Based on the first anthology “Garland” by Meleager of Gadara (II–I centuries BC), it reveals the implementation of the key metaphor of the “plexus” in the thematic structure, tectonic composition of the collection and the poetological concept of the compiler. The connection between the plants depicting the epigrammatists’ portraits and the personalities of the later is traced and commented. The authors come to a conclusion about the semantic reverse in the metaphors of the book: a shift from the concept of “grove = book” to “book = wreath”. Refs 32.