Wetness

What struck me this week was the stark similarities and contrasts formed by Prudentius' use of water and "wet" imagery both in his discussion of the luxury as well as that of the Biblical rock.  Like with the blood of Holofernes before, wetting the bedchamber, all of the couches are dripping with old wine and moisture, a phrase that ultimately also picks up on the oil and perfumes mentioned earlier that soak through the turban and purple band.  The luxury and exoticism of the east, so prevalent in Greek literature with the decadence of the Persians, seems to be the theme here, which is startling since at the beginning of the encounter, Luxury actually came from the west of the battlefield.
Returning to the theme of moisture, the "bad sort" of liquid (oils, perfumes, wine) is contrasted strongly with the "Christian"water, exemplified by the rock pouring forth water in the harsh desert.  Why would anyone want to become debauched through the bad liquid anyway?  Well......