Il sonno di Endimione nella poesia di Friedrich Hölderlin

Abstract

The article explores Friedrich Hölderlin's reinterpretation of the myth of Endymion. Contrary to ancient tradition, which often associates Endymion's sleep with death, Hölderlin uses the myth to represent awakening and rebirth. The poet does not identify with a sleeping Endymion, but with one who awakens in euphoric springtime joy, an allegory for individual rebirth and the cyclical renewal of nature. Hölderlin views love as a corporeal exchange manifesting in embraces and kisses, thus surpassing the notion of a static and distant love. Through the comparison with the myth, the article demonstrates how Hölderlin reflects on the nature of the divine and poetic experience, incorporating elements of physicality and sensory perception in his representation of the sacred.