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Document Details : Title: The Praise of Porridge Author(s): RUSSELL, James R. Journal: Le Muséon Volume: 116 Issue: 1-2 Date: 2003 Pages: 137-179 DOI: 10.2143/MUS.116.1.346 Abstract : The 16th-century Armenian cleric and poet Minas of Tokat/Eudokia wrote a humorous encomium to «herisa», an Armenian porridge of wheat and meat eaten in the winter days before Lent. The poem mentions the lewd Abeghat{ogh (“Monks' Leave”), with its blasphemous parody of Christian Easter rites; and employs in particular the words «mort{e zt{ot{ovn», “Flay the Stammerer!” which one argues is in reference to an ancient survival of a rite cognate to Roman Lupercalia, which was celebrated at the same time of the year. The social importance of Carnival is also discussed, as well as the situation of the Armenians of Galicia — for it was at Lvov that Minas wrote of his hunger. |
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