Cosa significa ‘trasgredire’? L’opera di Macrobio allo specchio dei Saturnali”

The paper focuses on the relationship between the Roman intellectuals and the space of ritualized transgression, which is represented by the Saturnalia in Macrobius’ Saturnalia. During the Saturnalian time, a group of intellectuals discusses various topics, all of which respond to a single interest: what is a canon? Which role does time play in the creation and in the persistence of a canon ? Given the conventional nature of each canon, is it possible not to follow it, modify it, or question it? The tension between innovation and tradition accounts for the topics selected by the guests and is even reflected in seemingly minor choices, such as the use of certain grammatical forms that may appear incorrect (Sat. i 4, 2-3) or the meaning and origin of the name of the Gastgeber of the symposium, Praetextatus (Sat. i 6).