Poliphilo
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Poliphilo (literally "Lover of Many Things", from Greek Polú "Many" + Philos "Beloved" [1]) is the protagonist and the narrator of four-fifths of the Renaissance book Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (literally "Poliphilo's Struggle for Love in a Dream").
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[edit] Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
The book begins with Poliphilo, who has spent a restless night because his beloved, Polia (literally "Many Things"), shunned him. Poliphilo is transported into a wild forest, where he gets lost, encounters dragons, wolves and maidens and a large variety of architecture, escapes, and falls asleep once more. He then awakens in a second dream, dreamed within the first. In the dream, he is taken by some nymphs to meet their queen, and there he is asked to declare his love for Polia, which he does. He is then directed by two nymphs to three gates. He chooses the third, and there he discovers his beloved. They are taken by some more nymphs to a temple to be engaged. Along the way they come across five triumphal processions celebrating the union of the lovers. Then they are taken to the island of Cythera by barge, with Cupid as the boatswain; there they see another triumphal procession celebrating their union. The narrative is uninterrupted, and a second voice takes over, as Polia describes his erotomachia from her own point of view.
Poliphilo resumes his narrative after one-fifth of the book. Polia rejects Poliphilo, but Cupid appears to her in a vision and compels her to return and kiss Poliphilo, who has fallen into a deathlike swoon at her feet, back to life. Venus blesses their love, and the lovers are united at last. As Poliphilo is about to take Polia into his arms, Polia vanishes into thin air and Poliphilo wakes up.
[edit] Metaphor
Poliphilo, "Lover of Many Things", is described in the book as particularly interested in buildings and architecture, so much that he is said to have felt "extreme delight," "incredible joy," and "frenetic pleasure and cupidinous frenzy" upon seeing the buildings [2]. It is believed that these buildings signify different features that Poliphilo adores in the world.
[edit] Relations with Francesco Colonna
The first letter of each chapter in the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili assembled together reads: "POLIAM FRATER FRANCISCVS COLVMNA PERAMAVIT", which translates into: "Brother Francesco Colonna loved Polia dearly" [3]. This has led some to believe that Poliphilo represents Francesco Colonna, who was believed to have written the book [4].
