Real

Sorgue

River of Provence that flows into the Rhône, mentioned in Par. VIII 59 as a watercourse received on the left hydrographic bank by the Rhône.

Description

The Sorgue is a river of Provence that flows into the Rhône. In the verse of Paradiso VIII 59, Charles Martel indicates his Angevin inheritance by defining Provence as «quella sinistra riva / di Rodano poi ch'è misto con Sorga», that is, the land watered by the Rhône on its left, to the east, after the latter has received the waters of the Sorgue. Such a fluvial periphrasis designates the first territory that would have belonged to Charles as heir of the Angevin house, alongside the other two kingdoms – Naples and Hungary – also indicated through waterways and seas. The only occurrence of the name Sorgue in the Commedia coincides with this passage from Canto VIII of the Paradiso.

In the text

Linked verses

1 verses
CanticaCantoVersoTestoOpen verse
ParadiseCanto VIII59di Rodano poi ch’è misto con Sorga,Open verse