The concept of the goddess Natura-one of the most significant allegorical figures of medieval Latin and vernacular poetry-drew upon many strands of classical and Christian thought, from Plato's <i>Timaeus</i> to Boethius's <i>Consolation of Philosophy</i>. In what is perhaps the best history of the goddess Natura, George Economou provides a full-length study of her philosophical background and the literary traditions that contributed to her image.

Economou's work focuses on the renaissance of the twelfth century, when a new kind of allegory appeared that celebrated and explored the nature of the cosmos. He analyzes the central role that Natura played in the writings of Bernard Silvestris, Jean de Meun, Alain de Lille, and Geoffrey Chaucer. This edition features a new introduction by the author and an updated bibliography.