Hesperia

As Hesperia (about ancient Greek. Ἑσπέρα, Hespera = west) is (old-) in Greek literature refers to a west-lying country. Mostly today's Italy is meant, occasionally also Hispania . The term is derived from Hesperos , the evening star ; see. Hesperides .

In German-language literature, the hesperia can be found primarily in the classics , for example in Hölderlin's “Brodt und Wein” or in Schiller's Horen . With Hölderlin, an idea of ​​history is expressed as a cultural migration: its mythical metaphor is the train of Dionysus from India to the west. Hölderlin hopes for the realization of a "true culture" as a harmonious bond between man and nature. He hopes that their location will be in Germany, which is why Hesperia stands for Germany in this case.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Friedrich Hölderlin: Complete works and letters in three volumes, Deutscher Klassiker Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1992, volume 1, pp. 494–498, also TB edition