DOCSLIB.ORG

A Companion to Latin Literature

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Companion to Latin Literature Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page iii A COMPANION TO LATIN LITERATURE Edited by Stephen Harrison Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 4:05am page 14 Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page i A COMPANION TO LATIN LITERATURE Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page ii BLACKWELL COMPANIONS TO THE ANCIENT WORLD This series provides sophisticated and authoritative overviews of periods of ancient history, genres of classical literature, and the most important themes in ancient culture. Each volume comprises between twenty-five and forty concise essays written by individual scholars within their area of specialization. The essays are written in a clear, provocative and lively manner, designed for an international audience of scholars, students and general readers. ANCIENT HISTORY LITERATURE AND CULTURE Published Published A Companion to the Ancient Near East A Companion to Latin Literature Edited by Daniel C. Snell Edited by Stephen Harrison A Companion to the Hellenistic World In preparation Edited by Andrew Erskine A Companion to Ancient Epic In preparation Edited by John Miles Foley A Companion to the Archaic Greek World A Companion to Greek Tragedy Edited by Kurt A. Raaflaub and Edited by Justina Gregory Hans van Wees A Companion to Classical Mythology A Companion to the Classical Greek World Edited by Ken Dowden Edited by Konrad Kinzl A Companion to Greek and Roman A Companion to the Roman Republic Historiography Edited by Nathan Rosenstein and Edited by John Marincola Robert Morstein-Marx A Companion to Greek Religion A Companion to the Roman Empire Edited by Daniel Ogden Edited by David Potter A Companion to Greek Rhetoric A Companion to the Roman Army Edited by Ian Worthington Edited by Paul Erdkamp A Companion to Roman Rhetoric A Companion to Late Antiquity Edited by William J. Dominik and Edited by Philip Rousseau Jonathan Hall A Companion to Byzantium A Companion to Classical Tradition Edited by Elizabeth James Edited by Craig Kallendorf A Companion to Roman Religion Edited by Jo¨rg Ru¨pke Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page iii A COMPANION TO LATIN LITERATURE Edited by Stephen Harrison Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page iv # 2005 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JF, UK 550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia The right of Stephen Harrison to be identified as the Author of the Editorial Material in this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. First published 2005 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A companion to Latin literature / edited by Stephen Harrison. p. cm. — (Blackwell companions to the ancient world. Ancient history) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-631-23529-9 (alk. paper) 1. Latin literature—History and criticism—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Latin literature—Themes, motives—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Authors, Latin—Biography—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 4. Rome—Intellectual life—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 5. Rome—In literature—Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Harrison, S. J. II. Series. PA6004.C66 2004 870.9’001—dc22 2004005855 A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. Set in 10.5/13 Galliard by Kolam Information Services Pvt. Ltd, Pondicherry, India Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by TJ International, Padstow, Cornwall The publisher’s policy is to use permanent paper from mills that operate a sustainable forestry policy, and which has been manufactured from pulp processed using acid-free and elementary chlorine-free practices. Furthermore, the publisher ensures that the text paper and cover board used have met acceptable environmental accreditation standards. For further information on Blackwell Publishing, visit our website: www.blackwellpublishing.com Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page v Contents List of Figures viii Chronological Table ix Notes on Contributors xii Preface xvi Reference Works: Abbreviations xvii Introduction: Constructing Latin Literature 1 Stephen Harrison PART IPERIODS 13 1 The Early Republic: the Beginnings to 90 BC 15 Sander M. Goldberg 2 The Late Republican/Triumviral Period: 90–40 BC 31 D. S. Levene 3 The Augustan Period: 40 BC–AD 14 44 Joseph Farrell 4 The Early Empire: AD 14–68 58 Roland Mayer 5 The High Empire: AD 69–200 69 Bruce Gibson Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page vi vi Contents PART II GENRES 81 6 Narrative Epic 83 Philip Hardie 7 Didactic Epic 101 Monica Gale 8 Roman Tragedy 116 Elaine Fantham 9 Comedy, Atellane Farce and Mime 130 Costas Panayotakis 10 Pastoral 148 Stephen Heyworth 11 Love Elegy 159 Roy Gibson 12 Satire 174 Llewelyn Morgan 13 Lyric and Iambic 189 Stephen Harrison 14 Epigram 201 Lindsay C. Watson 15 The Novel 213 Stephen Harrison 16 Dialogues and Treatises 223 J. G. F. Powell 17 Historiography and Biography 241 Christina Shuttleworth Kraus 18 Oratory 257 D. H. Berry 19 Epistolography 270 Catharine Edwards PART III THEMES 285 20 Decline and Nostalgia 287 Stephen Harrison Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page vii Contents vii 21 Art and Text 300 Jas´ Elsner 22 The Passions 319 Robert A. Kaster 23 Sex and Gender 331 A. M. Keith 24 Friendship and Patronage 345 David Konstan 25 Romans and Others 360 Yasmin Syed 26 Marriage and Family 372 Susan Treggiari 27 Slavery and Class 385 Thomas Habinek 28 Centre and Periphery 394 Alessandro Barchiesi Bibliography 406 Index 444 Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page viii Figures 21.1 Funerary altar of Aulus Servilius Paulianus and Aulus Servilius Paulinus 301 21.2 Cinerary grave altar of T. Statilius Aper and Orchivia Anthis 304 21.3 The sarcophagus of Junius Bassus from Rome 306 21.4 Detail of the fragment of the poetic inscription from the lid of the Bassus sarcophagus 307 21.5 Illustrated fragment from a small-format or ‘pocket’ papyrus book-roll 308 21.6 The Roman Vergil 310 21.7 The Vatican Vergil 311 Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page ix Chronological Table of Important Dates in Latin Literature and History to AD 200 Full descriptions of the works of authors referred to here only by name are to be found in the ‘General Resources and Author Bibliographies’ section in the introduction (pp. 3–12). Dates given are usually consistent with the information in the Oxford Classical Dictionary (1996). ‘Caesar’ is the term used for the future Augustus between his adoption in Julius Caesar’s will (44) and his assumption of the name ‘Augustus’ in 27, rather than ‘Octavian’, a name he never used. Full accounts of the historical periods covered here are to be found in volumes 8–11 of the Cambridge Ancient History (1989–2000). The Early Republican period (beginnings to 90 BC) Key literary events Key historical events c. 240–after Livius Andronicus active 264–41 First Punic War (Rome wins) 207 BC as poet/dramatist 218–201 Second Punic War (Rome wins) c. 235–204 Naevius active as poet/ 200–146 Rome conquers Greece; Greek dramatist cultural influence on Rome c. 205–184 Plautus active as dramatist 149–146 Third and final Punic War (Rome conquers Carthage) 204–169 Ennius active as poet/dramatist ?200 Fabius Pictor’s first history 122–106 War against Jugurtha in North of Rome (in Greek) Africa (Rome wins) c. 190–149 Literary career of Cato 91–88 Social War in Italy (over issue 166–159 Plays of Terence produced of full Roman citizenship for 125–100 Lucilius active as satirist Latin communities) Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page x x Chronological Table of Important Dates in Latin Literature and History The late Republican/Triumviral period (90–40 BC) Key literary events Key historical events 81 BC Cicero’s first preserved speech 88–80 Civil wars between Sulla and (Pro Quinctio); literary career Marius; dictatorship of Sulla continues until death 73–1 Revolt of Spartacus in 43 BC 58–49 Julius Caesar’s Gallic campaigns 49–45 Civil War between Julius Caesar and Pompey 50s BC Poetry of Lucretius and Catullus; 44 Assassination of Julius Caesar Caesar’s Gallic Wars 43 Caesar becomes consul 40s BC Work of Sallust (dies c. 35); Gallus 43–40 Sporadic civil war in Italy begins poetical career 42 Defeat of Julius Caesar’s assassins at Philippi The Augustan period (40 BC–14 AD) Key literary events Key historical events ?38 BC Virgil’s Eclogues published 38–36 Renewed civil war against S. Pompey 35 BC Horace, Satires 1 published 32–30 Caesar fights and defeats Antony and 30 BC Horace, Satires 2 and Epodes Cleopatra at Actium and Alexandria published 29 Triple triumph of Caesar 30s–AD 17 Livy’s history published 27 ‘Restoration of republic’: Caesar 29 BC Virgil, Georgics published assumes title of ‘Augustus’ 20s BC Earliest elegies of Propertius, 18–17 Moral legislation of Augustus Tibullus and (later) Ovid 17 Augustus celebrates Saecular Games published 12 Augustus becomes pontifex ?23 BC Horace, Odes 1–3 published maximus (head of state religion) ?19 BC Deaths of Virgil and AD 4 Tiberius becomes final heir Tibullus of Augustus ?16 BC Propertius, Book 4 published AD14 Death of Augustus, succession of Tiberius 13 BC Horace, Odes 4 published 8 BC Death of Horace AD 8 Ovid banished to Romania Before and after AD 14 Manilius active Harrison / Companion to Latin Literature Final 1.10.2004 3:19am page xi Chronological Table of Important Dates in Latin Literature and History xi The early Empire (14–68 AD) Key literary events Key historical events AD 17 Deaths of Ovid and Livy AD 37 Death of Tiberius; accession of 20s/30s Phaedrus and Velleius active Gaius (Caligula) c.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Herodotus' Reputation in Latin Literature from Cicero to the 12Th
    CHAPTER 9 Herodotus’ Reputation in Latin Literature from Cicero to the 12th Century Félix Racine Introduction Herodotean scholarship has paid little attention to the reception of the Histories in the Latin West before the Renaissance. Arnaldo Momigliano’s sem- inal article “The Place of Herodotus in the History of Historiography”, to take a celebrated example, considers in turn ancient Greek views on Herodotus and those of Renaissance scholars, but has little to say on Latin opinions save those of Cicero.1 And why should it not be so? Few Western readers of Herodotus are known from the Imperial era, and virtually none from the Middle Ages. A closer look at the evidence reveals a more nuanced picture of the vicis- situdes of Herodotus’ name in the West, and of stories originally found in his Histories. Let us consider the 12th-century French scholar Peter Comestor (“The Voracious”, so named from the many books he avidly read), who wrote an exegetical and historical commentary on the Scriptures, the Historia Scholastica. Comestor’s source material was broad indeed—it included classi- cal and Christian authors (in Latin; he knew very little Greek) and his historical horizon embraced not only Sacred history but also classical Rome, Greece and Persia. Inserted between a discussion of the Book of Habakkuk and the end of the Babylonian Captivity is an account of Cyrus’ life focusing on his birth and childhood, much altered since its first telling by Herodotus. The story came to Peter Comestor through Pompeius Trogus’ Philippic History, abridged by Justin in the 4th century (Just.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Gallo-Roman Relations Under the Early Empire by Ryan Walsh A
    Gallo-Roman Relations under the Early Empire By Ryan Walsh A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Ancient Mediterranean Cultures Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2013 © Ryan Walsh 2013 1 Author's Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract This paper examines the changing attitudes of Gallo-Romans from the time of Caesar's conquest in the 50s BCE to the start of Vespasian's reign in 70-71 CE and how Roman prejudice shaped those attitudes. I first examine the conflicted opinions of the Gauls in Caesar's time and how they eventually banded together against him but were defeated. Next, the activities of each Julio-Claudian emperor are examined to see how they impacted Gaul and what the Gallo-Roman response was. Throughout this period there is clear evidence of increased Romanisation amongst the Gauls and the prominence of the region is obvious in imperial policy. This changes with Nero's reign where Vindex's rebellion against the emperor highlights the prejudices still effecting Roman attitudes. This only becomes worse in the rebellion of Civilis the next year. After these revolts, the Gallo-Romans appear to retreat from imperial offices and stick to local affairs, likely as a direct response to Rome's rejection of them.
    [Show full text]
  • Cas Cl 230: the Golden Age of Latin Literature
    CAS CL 230: THE GOLDEN AGE OF LATIN LITERATURE In Workflow 1. CASCL Chair ([email protected]; [email protected]) 2. CAS Dean ([email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; jessmroh; lcherch; [email protected]; [email protected]) 3. GEC SubCommittees ([email protected]) 4. University Gen Ed Committee Chair ([email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]) 5. Final Approval ([email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]) Approval Path 1. Mon, 30 Oct 2017 14:00:40 GMT MEGHAN ELIZABETH KELLY (mekel): Approved for CASCL Chair New Proposal Date Submitted: Mon, 30 Oct 2017 12:21:14 GMT Viewing: The Golden Age of Latin Literature Last edit: Mon, 30 Oct 2017 12:21:14 GMT Changes proposed by: mekel Section One – Provenance of Proposal Proposer Information Name Title Email School/College Department Name Leah Kronenberg Assoc. Prof. [email protected] CAS Classical Studies Section Two – Course or Co-Curricular Activity Identifiers What are you proposing? Course College College of Arts & Sciences Department CLASSICAL STUDIES Subject Code CAS CL - Classical Studies Course Number 230 Course/Co-curricular Title The Golden Age of Latin Literature Short Title Gold Latin Lit This is: A New Course Did you participate in a CTL workshop for the development of this activity? No Bulletin (40-word) Course Description An in-depth exploration in English of some of the greatest poets from Ancient Rome, including Catullus, Virgil, and Ovid. Examines the Romans' engagement with Greek literature and the development of their own "Classics," from personal love poetry to profound epic. Prerequisites,
    [Show full text]
  • Roman Literature from Its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age
    The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by John Dunlop This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license Title: History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I Author: John Dunlop Release Date: April 1, 2011 [Ebook 35750] Language: English ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF ROMAN LITERATURE FROM ITS EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE AUGUSTAN AGE. VOLUME I*** HISTORY OF ROMAN LITERATURE, FROM ITS EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE AUGUSTAN AGE. IN TWO VOLUMES. BY John Dunlop, AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF FICTION. ivHistory of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I FROM THE LAST LONDON EDITION. VOL. I. PUBLISHED BY E. LITTELL, CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA. G. & C. CARVILL, BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 1827 James Kay, Jun. Printer, S. E. Corner of Race & Sixth Streets, Philadelphia. Contents. Preface . ix Etruria . 11 Livius Andronicus . 49 Cneius Nævius . 55 Ennius . 63 Plautus . 108 Cæcilius . 202 Afranius . 204 Luscius Lavinius . 206 Trabea . 209 Terence . 211 Pacuvius . 256 Attius . 262 Satire . 286 Lucilius . 294 Titus Lucretius Carus . 311 Caius Valerius Catullus . 340 Valerius Ædituus . 411 Laberius . 418 Publius Syrus . 423 Index . 453 Transcriber's note . 457 [iii] PREFACE. There are few subjects on which a greater number of laborious volumes have been compiled, than the History and Antiquities of ROME.
    [Show full text]
  • CLA Classics
    College of Arts and Sciences CLA Classics COURSES IN CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION (No knowledge of Greek or Latin expected.) CLA 100 ANCIENT STORIES IN MODERN FILMS. (3) This course will view a number of modern films and set them alongside ancient literary texts which have either directly inspired them or with which they share common themes. In the first part of the course, we will consider the relationship between ancient Greek epic, tragic, and comic literature and the modern cinema. In the second part, we will look at a number of ways in which the city of Rome has been treated as both a physical place and as an idea or ideal in the works of both ancient Romans and modern film-makers. CLA 131 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FROM GREEK AND LATIN. (3) Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes as found in medical terminology. Primarily for pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-nursing and pre- veterinary students, but others will be admitted for help in vocabulary building. CLA 135 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY. (3) The Greek myths studied both from the standpoint of their meaning to the Greeks and Romans and from the standpoint of their use in later literature and in everyday life. Fulfills Gen Ed Inquiry, Humanities. CLA 190 INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT. (3) This course introduces students to both the role religion can play in human experience and the principles of the interpretation of historical, especially religious, texts by exploring the literary, historical, and cultural dimensions of the Christian Bible, the New Testament. The scholarly and academically rigorous exploration of sacred texts and religion in general, outside the realm of denominational belief, stretches back nearly 200 years, to the time of the birth of such disciplines as archaeology, anthropology, sociology, cultural history, and folkloric studies, all of which contribute to the modern discipline of biblical studies and the historical-critical method of interpretation.
    [Show full text]
  • Aristocratic Identities in the Roman Senate from the Social War to the Flavian Dynasty
    Aristocratic Identities in the Roman Senate From the Social War to the Flavian Dynasty By Jessica J. Stephens A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Greek and Roman History) in the University of Michigan 2016 Doctoral Committee: Professor David Potter, chair Professor Bruce W. Frier Professor Richard Janko Professor Nicola Terrenato [Type text] [Type text] © Jessica J. Stephens 2016 Dedication To those of us who do not hesitate to take the long and winding road, who are stars in someone else’s sky, and who walk the hillside in the sweet summer sun. ii [Type text] [Type text] Acknowledgements I owe my deep gratitude to many people whose intellectual, emotional, and financial support made my journey possible. Without Dr. T., Eric, Jay, and Maryanne, my academic career would have never begun and I will forever be grateful for the opportunities they gave me. At Michigan, guidance in negotiating the administrative side of the PhD given by Kathleen and Michelle has been invaluable, and I have treasured the conversations I have had with them and Terre, Diana, and Molly about gardening and travelling. The network of gardeners at Project Grow has provided me with hundreds of hours of joy and a respite from the stress of the academy. I owe many thanks to my fellow graduate students, not only for attending the brown bags and Three Field Talks I gave that helped shape this project, but also for their astute feedback, wonderful camaraderie, and constant support over our many years together. Due particular recognition for reading chapters, lengthy discussions, office friendships, and hours of good company are the following: Michael McOsker, Karen Acton, Beth Platte, Trevor Kilgore, Patrick Parker, Anna Whittington, Gene Cassedy, Ryan Hughes, Ananda Burra, Tim Hart, Matt Naglak, Garrett Ryan, and Ellen Cole Lee.
    [Show full text]
  • A COMPANION to the ROMAN ARMY Edited By
    ACTA01 8/12/06 11:10 AM Page iii A COMPANION TO THE ROMAN ARMY Edited by Paul Erdkamp ACTA01 8/12/06 11:10 AM Page i A COMPANION TO THE ROMAN ARMY ACTA01 8/12/06 11:10 AM Page ii BLACKWELL COMPANIONS TO THE ANCIENT WORLD This series provides sophisticated and authoritative overviews of periods of ancient history, genres of classical lit- erature, and the most important themes in ancient culture. Each volume comprises between twenty-five and forty concise essays written by individual scholars within their area of specialization. The essays are written in a clear, provocative, and lively manner, designed for an international audience of scholars, students, and general readers. Ancient History Published A Companion to the Roman Army A Companion to the Classical Greek World Edited by Paul Erdkamp Edited by Konrad H. Kinzl A Companion to the Roman Republic A Companion to the Ancient Near East Edited by Nathan Rosenstein and Edited by Daniel C. Snell Robert Morstein-Marx A Companion to the Hellenistic World A Companion to the Roman Empire Edited by Andrew Erskine Edited by David S. Potter In preparation A Companion to Ancient History A Companion to Late Antiquity Edited by Andrew Erskine Edited by Philip Rousseau A Companion to Archaic Greece A Companion to Byzantium Edited by Kurt A. Raaflaub and Hans van Wees Edited by Elizabeth James A Companion to Julius Caesar Edited by Miriam Griffin Literature and Culture Published A Companion to Catullus A Companion to Greek Rhetoric Edited by Marilyn B. Skinner Edited by Ian Worthington A Companion to Greek Religion A Companion to Ancient Epic Edited by Daniel Ogden Edited by John Miles Foley A Companion to Classical Tradition A Companion to Greek Tragedy Edited by Craig W.
    [Show full text]
  • Greek and Roman Biography
    Greek and Roman Biography (190:612) Dr. Thomas J. Figueira Dept. of Classics, Ruth Adams Bldg. DC History, Van Dyck Hall, CAC LSH-312, LC: Phone: 848-445-4037 Hist. Off., Van Dyck 202, 848-932-8118 Classics Off. Hrs.: W 3:50-4-40 History Office Hrs.: 1:00-1:50 (VD 202) Course Website on SAKAI 932-7905 (Dept. messages/general inform.) 932-9797 (Dept. messages/general info.) Meetings: W 4 (5:00-7:40, RAB-003) E-mail: [email protected] The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the genre of ancient biographical writing, which is a sub-genre of historiography. Our understanding of Greek and Roman biography is shaped by the later development of genre when compared to other forms of historiography. That emergence has had the effect of leaving obscure the early stages of its evolution, especially in the late classical and Hellenistic periods. The most important surviving Greek and Latin biographical works are relatively late, deriving from the period of the Roman Empire. Here the figures of Suetonius and, first and foremost, Plutarch stand on eminences of the highest cultural importance for western civilization. The material covered in this course is aligned with the reading for Ancient History and Interdisciplinary track option of the MA and PhD. programs of the Department of Classics. Texts: Many of the main readings (in both Greek and Latin) for the course either can be downloaded from the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae or from the Perseus online archive or can be acquired by purchase or by borrowing from Rutgers libraries (in the editions as noted on the course bibliography).
    [Show full text]
  • Vespasian and His Predecessors in Tacitus's Histories Cynthia Damon University of Pennsylvania, [email protected]
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Departmental Papers (Classical Studies) Classical Studies at Penn 2006 Potior utroque Vespasianus: Vespasian and His Predecessors in Tacitus's Histories Cynthia Damon University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.upenn.edu/classics_papers Part of the Classics Commons Recommended Citation Damon, C. (2006). Potior utroque Vespasianus: Vespasian and His Predecessors in Tacitus's Histories. Arethusa, 39 (2), 245-279. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/are.2006.0012 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. http://repository.upenn.edu/classics_papers/54 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Potior utroque Vespasianus: Vespasian and His Predecessors in Tacitus's Histories Abstract The iH stories are threaded through with incidents that allow a comparison between two or more principes. Readers need to be alert to such passages, for Vespasian was preceded by three emperors who got as far as he did but failed to keep their footing there. In essence, Tacitus tells the stories of fall (Galba, Otho, Vitellius) and rise (Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian) three times each, and uses the failures of Vespasian's predecessors to help explain Vespasian's success. Given what remains of the Histories (the last two weeks of Galba, the three months of Otho's principate, Vitellius's uprising against Galba, his defeat of Otho, and his eight-month principate, the Flavian uprising against and defeat of Vitellius, and Vespasian's first eight or so months as princeps in absentia), we can see only how Vespasian succeeded in establishing himself. As to how far, according to Tacitus, success carried into the rest of his decade in power, we are in the dark.
    [Show full text]
  • Post-Antique Latin Full Page
    THE IMPORTANCE OF POST-ANTIQUE LATIN How Should We Teach the Full Legacy of Latin Literature? To say that Latin literature did not end with the Romans would be an understatement. In fact the Ro- man contribution to Latin, however fundamental, is a mere beginning. Th e amount of surviving Latin literature writt en in Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the late fi fth century ce is almost inconceivably larger than the surviving corpus of literature left by the Romans themselves. Th is heritage of post-Roman Latin literature was anything but a sterile idiom reserved for a few reclu- sive monks. Th e very pulse of western European civilization, as it developed through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, moved primarily to the rhythms of Latin prose and poetry. Th e language of Caesar and Cicero performed new functions and came to be used in ways unimag- ined by the ancient Romans. Latin became the vehicle for sciences as refi ned as ballistics and hydro- dynamics. Latin exclusively provided the academic and philosophical vocabulary for the expression of Europe’s most sophisticated thoughts. Latin was the language in which fundamental concepts, such as gravity and the heliocentric solar system, received their fi rst coherent expression. Latin, along with some revived terms from ancient Greek, supplied the language of botany and zoology. Latin was the in- ternational language of cartography, geography, history, and ethnography, the sciences through which the discoveries of Renaissance explorers gradually became part of the consciousness of European civi- lization. Latin, and not any of the nascent national tongues, was the primary linguistic vehicle for all of this before about 1750 ce.
    [Show full text]
  • Polybius and Livy on the Allies in the Roman Army
    POLYBIUS AND LIVY ON THE ALLIES IN THE ROMAN ARMY Paul Erdkamp* From the fourth or third century until the beginning of the rst century bc, Rome’s armies were also the armies of her allies. The socii and nomen Latinum raised at least half of the soldiers that fought wars for Rome. The Italic allies were clearly distinguished from the non-Italic troops, such as Cretan archers or Numidian horsemen, by the fact that they were governed by the formula togatorum. This can be concluded from their ‘de nition’ in the lex agraria from 111 bc: socii nominisve Latini quibus ex formula togatorum milites in terra Italia imperare solent. The formula togatorum is seen as a de ning element, distinguishing the Latin and Italic peoples from Rome’s overseas allies. Although in the second century bc a con- sciousness of Italy as a political and cultural unity gradually emerged, it was still referred to as a military alliance of Roman citizens and allies at the end of that century.1 The beginnings of this system remain in the dark, due to the inadequacies of our sources. The foedus Cassianum between Rome and the Latin League (traditionally dated to 493 bc) supposedly established a federal army under Roman command, but next to nothing is known about its functioning. The participation of the allied peoples was based on the treaties between their communities and Rome. The position of the Latin colonies was slightly different, because their obligations were probably based on the lex coloniae governing each Latin colony.2 We may assume that the role of the allies was re-de ned * I wish to thank John Rich, Luuk de Ligt and Simon Northwood for their many valuable comments.
    [Show full text]
  • Cato the Censor and the Beginnings of Latin Prose
    Cato the Censor and the Beginnings of Latin Prose Cato the Censor and the Beginnings of Latin Prose FROM POETIC TRANSLATION TO ELITE TRANSCRIPTION Enrica Sciarrino THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS · COLUMBUS Copyright © 2011 by The Ohio State University. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sciarrino, Enrica, 1968– Cato the Censor and the beginnings of Latin prose : from poetic translation to elite tran- scription / Enrica Sciarrino. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8142-1165-6 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8142-1165-8 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-8142-9266-2 (cd-rom) 1. Latin prose literature—History and criticism. 2. Cato, Marcus Porcius, 234–149 B.C.—Criticism and interpretation. I. Title. PA6081.S35 2011 878'.01—dc22 2011006020 This book is available in the following editions: Cloth (ISBN 978-0-8142-1165-6) CD-ROM (ISBN 978-0-8142-9266-2) Cover design by Mia Risberg. Text design by Jennifer Shoffey Forsythe. Typeset in Times New Roman. Printed by Thomson-Shore, Inc. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials. ANSI 39.48-1992. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Preface and Acknowledgments vii List of Abbreviations xi Chapter 1 Situating the Beginnings of Latin Prose 1 Chapter 2 Under the Roman Sun: Poets, Rulers, Translations, and Power 38 Chapter 3 Conflicting Scenarios: Traffic in Others and Others’ Things 78 Chapter 4 Inventing Latin Prose: Cato the Censor and the Formation of a New Aristocracy 117 Chapter 5 Power Differentials in Writing: Texts and Authority 161 Conclusion 203 Bibliography 209 Index Locorum 229 General Index 231 Preface and Acknowledgments his book treats a moment in Roman cultural history that in the last decade or so has become one of the most contentious areas of dis- T cussion in classical scholarship.
    [Show full text]