Propertius' Elegies are among the most original products of Latin literature. Understanding the poems, however, is complicated by the idiosyncratic language and forms of composition on the one hand and the defective transmission of the texts on the other. The most striking stylistic characteristics are the bold use of metaphor and the combining of often disparate images. The study examines this central aspect and demonstrates that the boldness is not due to the vagaries of textual transmission but can be traced back to Propertius himself.

Thomas Riesenweber, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.