L'omologia ape-ninfa per l'interpretazione della fabula Aristaei

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide some new elements to understand why in Vergil’s Fabula Aristaei (Georg. IV 315-558) we are told the never before coupled myths of Aristaeus and Orpheus, which have the task to explain the aition of bougonia. One key element could be the ancient mythical (i.e. Greek) and linguistic (i.e. Aeagean-Canaanite) homology by which we are shown that the *bee and the *nymph were paired, actually being the same creature (νύμφη-μέλισσα = the honeymaking bee) that only later split into two different features. Given that, Aristaeus and Orpheus would be connected by the very object of their loss (the bees and the nymph Eurydike), but they also undergo a mutual symbolic exchange: Aristaeus comes very closer to be and act like an Orphic initiate, whereas Orpheus changes himself into a bee. Many references to Demeter’s and Dionysus’s mysteries are also involved.