CP 10. Priapus’ Humorous Doctrina

Abstract

This paper re-examines CP 10 where the phallic god Priapus vigorously apologises for his roughly carved form to some anonymous girl, who comes in his garden and laughs at him. The investigation is based on the most common humour theories of the antiquity (i.e. superiority and incongruity theory), which are used in order to trace further humorous elements other than the sexual humour which runs through the CP and especially CP 10. These elements show that the country god Priapus is not only the funny hortorum custos but also an erudite character whose doctrina can cause further laugh and humour, reflecting thereby the doctrina that characterises the entire collection.