Alchemical Hands in the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

Why It Matters for the Hypnerotomachia

The HP contains numerous pseudo-hieroglyphic inscriptions that Poliphilo encounters on monuments, obelisks, and architectural surfaces. These are Renaissance inventions inspired by Horapollo's Hieroglyphica, not authentic Egyptian writing, but they function as hermeneutic puzzles within the narrative.

Why It Matters in Scholarship

Curran (1998) situates the HP's hieroglyphs within fifteenth-century humanist Egyptology. Priki analyzes their narrative function, arguing they serve as structural devices within the dream journey rather than mere antiquarian decoration. The hieroglyphs influenced the later emblem tradition.

Key Passages / Evidence

• ... 1992), PP.419-66, esp. PP.433-4, 438-9; Patricia F. Brown, '''Renovatio'' or "Conciliato"? How Renaissances happened in Venice', in Alison Brown, ed., Language and Images if Renaissance Italy... [Word_Image_1998_jan_vol_14_iss_1_2_Curran_Brian_A_The_Hypnerotomachia_Poliphili]
• ... Phantasiebilder ausschmückte, wie er seine beachtenswerten archäologischen Kenntnisse zur Beschreibung ersonnener Kunst- werke verwandte, machte er seinen Zeitgenossen den Eindruck, daß die... [Georg_Leidinger_Albrecht_Dürer_und_die_Hypnerotomachia_Poliphili_Oldenbourg_Wiss]
• ... this accentuates the recurring pattern outlined above, concluding the series of sacra/sacerrima with a glorified image both of the gods of love and of the united couple, before returning... [The_Narrative_Function_of_Hieroglyphs_in]

Source Documents

Georg_Leidinger_Albrecht_Dürer_und_die_Hypnerotomachia_Poliphili_Oldenbourg_Wiss; The_Narrative_Function_of_Hieroglyphs_in; Word_Image_1998_jan_vol_14_iss_1_2_Curran_Brian_A_The_Hypnerotomachia_Poliphili