Il mito di Piramo e Tisbe negli ultimi canti del "Purgatorio"

In this study, we analyze Dante’s version of the Ovidian myth of Pyramus and Thisbe that appears in two cantos of Purgatorio, XXVII and XXXIII. Specifically, we consider the two similes where aspects of Dante’s love for Beatrice are likened to the ancient tale. These two occurrences differ profoundly in their moral connotation, posing a challenge for a uni fying interpretation. As we discuss, this complexity can be partly unraveled by revising the myth’s traditional symbology in its different sources, from the patristical to the late ancient and medieval ones. Accordingly, we analyze the similes in the two Purgatorio cantos within their textual complexity, delving into the recurrent images (such as the stone, Pyramus’ blood, or the mulberry tree) and their different connotations based on the previous tradition. Further, we present indications that the myth’s role in the final part of the Purgatorio jour ney is present in XXX, XXXI and XXXII cantos, too. Based on specific textual elements com mon to the Ovidian tale (such as the lovers’ nominatio), a parallel can be drawn between the archetypic myth and the events that mark Dante and Beatrice’s love story.