I Doni della Zucca. A Festivity of Fresh Cucurbits in the Arabic Tradition

This paper explores the rich cultural, symbolic, and technical dimensions of cucurbits – gourds, melons, and cucumbers – through a cross-cultural lens, focusing particularly on Arabic scientific and magical traditions. While these fruits have long held significance in Mediterranean antiquity and were later embraced in early modern European literature (notably by Anton Francesco Doni), their elusive classification and diverse nomenclature have complicated botanical and historical identification.