Cyprian Gallo

CYPRIAN GALLO. - Under this name Peiper published in 1891 a Heptateuch, a paraphrase in hexameters of the first seven books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges. The work had previously been known to us only in certain parts, attributed by editors to St. Cyprian of Carthage and to Juvencus. The author's name is established by the best manuscripts. The date, taking into account that Cyprian imitates Claudian and is imitated by Claudius Marius Victor, oscillates between 400 and 450. The place of origin of the codices and the linguistic peculiarities suggest Gaul.

The titles in the catalogues and the fragments show that the poem also paraphrased various other historians of the Old Testament. Brewer maintained that the author of the Heptateuch, an Italian from the north rather than a Gaul, is identical with the presbyter Cyprian to whom St. Jerome sent, around 415-18, epistle 140, and is also the author of the poems Ad Senatorem, De Sodoma, De Iona, and particularly of the Caena Cypriani. Such identifications are not considered certain.

The poet versifies only the narrative parts of the Bible, following a pre-Jerome Latin version and adhering pedantically to the text. Inspiration makes itself felt rarely. The canticles are paraphrased in lyric meter (Phalaecian hendecasyllable). He willingly imitates pagan and Christian poets and prose writers, in the first place Virgil. He makes wide use of alliteration and allows himself many prosodic licenses.

Michele Pellegrino