«I am black and beautiful, like the tents of Kedar, like the skins of Solomon» (Ct. 1,5): beauty and ugliness in the Commentary to the Canticle of Origen

Abstract

The chief aim of this paper is to explore the use of the notions of “beauty” and “ugliness” in the Commentary on the Song of Songs by Origen of Alexandria (185-254), with focus on his exegesis of Song 1,5: «I am black and beatiful, o daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon». In this regard, after an introductory section, this paper consists of two main sections. The first section is devoted to the controversy between Origen and the Platonist Celsus about the notions of “beauty” and “ugliness” of Jesus Christ, which will contribute to the understanding of the Alexandrine’s interpretation of Song 1,5. The second section is entirely dedicated to Origen’s reading of Song 1,5, with focus on the contrast between the “beauty” and the “blackneess”/“ugliness” of the bride, namely, the soul/Church of heathens. The conclusion is that the notions of “beauty” and “ugliness”, used by Origen both in the Against Celsus and in the Commentary on the Song, stand for the degree of access of the soul/Church of heathens to the Revelation and, therefore, of her communion with Christ.