Réécriture et reformulation des topiques descriptifs du ġazal homoérotique dans le Nasīm al-ṣabā (La brise du vent d’est) d’Ibn Ḥabīb al-Ḥalabī (m. 1377)

Abstract

In his work entitled Nasīm al-ṣabā (The Breeze of the East Wind), Ibn Ḥabīb al-Ḥalabī (d. 1377) dedicates a chapter to the description of a young man (ġulām). This chapter is characterized by the presence of two parts which differ from a stylistic point of view. This paper deals with the central part of the chapter, which is entirely descriptive. The description of the ephebe in this central part shows great detail both descriptively (regarding the physical features of the ephebe) and thematically (regarding the topics used). In this part, the descriptive topics of the ephebe present in the classical homoerotic ġazal are transposed and reformulated in saǧ‘ (rhymed prose). A salient feature in these descriptions is the connection often made between the ephebe and nature which seems to constitute the main subject throughout the Nasīm al-ṣabā.