#and Marsilio was a very flamboyant letter writer. that man loved love. but he only wrote to a select few Like That | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thiswaycomessomethingwicked · 2 years ago

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Reading Cavalcanti’s first speech in Ficino’s book on Palto’s Symposium and it’s basically just Cavalcanti being like “look, it’s ok that Marsilio and I refer to each other as lovers and soulmates and Unique Friends and go on about how our souls were made for each other and have been joined as one by God, and other plethora of marital imagery, because it’s Love and Love is an Ideal and I promise (cross my heart, hope to die) that we’re not doing the dirty with each other. Purely a spiritual love. So that makes it ok.”

The 15th century neo-platonic no-homo is strong in this one.

#Marsilio calls Cavalcanti his lover repeatedly in his letters and talks about the union of their souls #and Marsilio was a very flamboyant letter writer. that man loved love. but he only wrote to a select few Like That #and only Cavalcanti is ever referred to as My Unqiue Friend #and I do believe it wasn’t physical - that their love was purely spiritual #more because I don’t think Ficino went to bed at all - if you know what I mean #cavalcanti did as he left behind a few natural daughters when he died #but he and Ficino were utterly devoted to each other #it’s really quite sweet #Marsilio ficino #Giovanni Cavalcanti #15th century #obscure early modern florence blogging #early modern italy #early modern period #history

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