Disjecta membra

Disjecta membra

Disjecta membra is Latin for “scattered members” and is used to refer to surviving fragments of ancient pottery, manuscripts and other cultural objects, and even fragments of ancient poetry. It is derived from "disjecti membra poetae," referring to the limbs of a dismembered poet, a phrase used by the Roman author Horace.[1]

Disjecta membra (fragment of ancient Greek pottery)

Contents

Pottery

Scholars have long referred to fragments of ancient Greek pottery as "disjecta membra." They have studied fragments of ancient Greek pottery in institutional collections, and have attributed many such pieces to the artists who made them. In a number of instances they have been able to identify fragments now in different collections that belong to the same vase.[2]

Poetry and writings

Fragments of ancient writing, especially ancient Latin poetry found in other works are commonly referred to as disjecta membra.[3]

Ancient and medieval manuscripts

Isolated leaves or parts of leaves of ancient or medieval manuscripts are also called disjecta membra. Scholars have been able to identify fragments now held in different libraries that originally belonged to the same manuscript.

References

  1. ^ Oxford English Dictionary
  2. ^ Aaron J. Paul, "Fragments of Antiquity: Drawing Upon Greek Vases," Harvard University Art Museums Bulletin, Vol. V, No. 2 (Spring 1997), pp.. 4, 10.
  3. ^ Dictionary.com

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  • Disjecta membra — (lat., »zerstreute Glieder«), ein ungenaues Zitat aus Horaz (»Sat.« I, 4, 62), wo es disjecti membra poetae heißt zur Bezeichnung für Dichterworte, deren Versmaß zerstört ist, die aber trotzdem den Dichtergeist erkennen lassen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • disjecta membra — scattered remains (especially literary), from Horace s Latin phrase disjecti membra poetae limbs of a dismembered poet …   Etymology dictionary

  • disjecta membra — [dis jek′tə mem′brə] pl.n. [L] scattered parts or fragments, as of an author s writings …   English World dictionary

  • Disjecta membra — disiecta membra beziehungsweise membra disiecta (lat.) bedeutet „versprengte Glieder“ und ist ein feststehender Ausdruck für die Bezeichnung der aus ihrer ursprünglichen organischen Ordnung gerissenen Teile eines Ganzen. Er wird fachsprachlich… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • disjecta membra — /dis jek teuh mem breuh/ scattered members; disjointed portions or parts: applied to fragments of poetry or fragmentary quotations. [ < L, alter. of disjecti membra poetae limbs of a dismembered poet, a phrase in Horace] * * * …   Universalium

  • disjecta membra — [dɪsˌdʒɛktə mɛmbrə] plural noun scattered fragments, especially of written work. Origin L., alt. of disjecti membra poetae (used by Horace) limbs of a dismembered poet …   English new terms dictionary

  • disjecta membra — n.pl. scattered remains; fragments, esp. of written work. Etymology: L, alt. of disjecti membra poetae (Horace) limbs of a dismembered poet …   Useful english dictionary

  • disjecta membra — scattered members; scattered portions or parts (in Literature); verbal fragments …   English contemporary dictionary

  • disjecta membra —    scattered fragments ; scattered or disjointed quotations …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • Membra disjecta — disjecta membra beziehungsweise membra disjecta (lat.) bedeutet „versprengte Glieder“ und ist ein feststehender Ausdruck für die Bezeichnung der aus ihrer ursprünglichen organischen Ordnung gerissenen Teile eines Ganzen. Er wird fachsprachlich… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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