Tacitus on Titus? Visit to the Temple of Venus at Paphos

This article deals with Titus? visit to the temple of Venus at Paphos in the second book of Tacitus? Historiae. I argue that apart from its other literary intentions already mentioned by scholars, this digression implicitly connects Titus not only with Aeneas but also with Julius Caesar. Titus? affair with Berenice that recalls Caesar?s affair with Cleopatra, Tacitus? allusions to Lucan?s De Bello Civili where Caesar?s visit to the tomb of Alexander the Great is described, the ?????Motiv and fortuna?s favour that characterise both Roman generals, all contribute to connect Titus with Caesar and allow the reader to view a parallel between the Flavian and the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Furthermore, the particular digression allows the historian to present certain aspects of his work and his historiographic practices and to reinforce his credibility

The dialogue between the Mytileneans and Pompey in Lucan's "De Bello Civili" (8,109-158)

This article comments upon the episode of the dialogue between the Mytileneans and Pompey in Lucan's De Bello Civili (8,109-158) and its multiple poetic purposes are investigated. I argue that the episode in question has a significant structural value, since Lucan's emphasis on the islanders' loyalty and Pompey's reaction should be connected not only with the similar stance of the Lariseans in the previous book or the perfidy of the Egyptians later in the work, but also with many other passages and themes of the epic (as e.g. Caesar's greed, his presence at Amyclas' hut, the virtues of vetus Roma, the absence of an important tomb for Pompey). In this way the particular episode allows the poet to highlight tragic elements in Pompey's portrayal and more generally traits of his image that are in contrast with those of Caesar's, while at the same time facilitates Lucan's attempt to hint at his poetic immortality

The Dialogue Betweenthe Mytileneans and Pompey in Lucan’s De Bello Civili (8,109-158)

This article comments upon the episode of the dialogue between the Mytileneans and Pompey in Lucan’s De Bello Civili (8,109-158) and its multiple poetic purposes are investigated. I argue that the episode in question has a significant structural value, since Lucan’s emphasis on the islanders’ loyalty and Pompey’s reaction should be connected not only with the similar stance of the Lariseans in the previous book or the perfidy of the Egyptians later in the work, but also with many other passages and themes of the epic (as e.g. Caesar’s greed, his presence at Amyclas’ hut, the virtues of vetus Roma, the absence of an important tomb for Pompey). In this way the particular episode allows the poet to highlight tragic elements in Pompey’s portrayal and more generally traits of his image that are in contrast with those of Caesar’s, while at the same time facilitates Lucan’s attempt to hint at his poetic immortality.This article comments upon the episode of the dialogue between the Mytileneans and Pompey in Lucan’s De Bello Civili (8,109-158) and its multiple poetic purposes are investigated. I argue that the episode in question has a significant structural value, since Lucan’s emphasis on the islanders’ loyalty and Pompey’s reaction should be connected not only with the similar stance of the Lariseans in the previous book or the perfidy of the Egyptians later in the work, but also with many other passages and themes of the epic (as e.g. Caesar’s greed, his presence at Amyclas’ hut, the virtues of vetus Roma, the absence of an important tomb for Pompey). In this way the particular episode allows the poet to highlight tragic elements in Pompey’s portrayal and more generally traits of his image that are in contrast with those of Caesar’s, while at the same time facilitates Lucan’s attempt to hint at his poetic immortality

The Reference to Archaic Roman Tragedy in Persius’ First Satire

The parody of Accius and Pacuvius in Persius’ first satire (1, 76-78) is spoken by the satirist’s interlocutor, who attacks the roughness of the archaic diction in favour of the smoothness that dominates the neoteric poetry of Persius’ day. However, the poet does not defend archaic tragedy. Besides, frequent targets of Persius’ literary criticism, such as the high style, the search for divine and artificial inspiration, the motif of the deplorable heroine, the adherence to mythological themes and the slavish mimesis of Greek models, do exist even in archaic tragedy. Consequently, despite its stylistic differences, the particular genre shares remarkable similarities with the neo-Callimachean poetry of the Neronian period. Persius formulates the question of his aduersarius in such a way that these similarities are revealed implicitly and thus the satirist’s condemnation of the poetic model of Accius and Pacuvius appears in harmony with the rest of his literary programme.La parodie d’Accius et de Pacuvius dans la première satire de Perse (1, 76-78) est énoncée par l’interlocuteur du satiriste qui attaque l’aridité de la diction archaïque au profit de la douceur qui domine la nouvelle poésie du temps de Perse. Toutefois, le poète ne défend pas la tragédie archaïque. Ainsi, de fréquentes cibles de la critique littéraire de Perse, tels que le style élevé, la recherche de l’inspiration divine et artificielle, le motif de la pauvre héroïne, l’adoption de thèmes mythologiques et la mimesis servile de modèles grecs, existent déjà dans la tragédie archaïque. En conséquence, en dépit de différences stylistiques, le genre particulier partage des traits remarquables avec la poésie inspirée de Callimaque à la période néronienne. Perse formule la question de son adversaire de telle manière que ces similitudes apparaissent implicitement et, dès lors, la condamnation par le satiriste du modèle poétique d’Accius et de Pacuvius se trouve en harmonie avec le reste de son programme littéraire.Tzounakas Spyridon. The Reference to Archaic Roman Tragedy in Persius’ First Satire. In: L'antiquité classique, Tome 77, 2008. pp. 91-105

Tacitus on Titus’ Visit to the Temple of Venus at Paphos

This article deals with Titus’ visit to the temple of Venus at Paphos in the second book of Tacitus’ Historiae. I argue that apart from its other literary intentions already mentioned by scholars, this digression implicitly connects Titus not only with Aeneas but also with Julius Caesar. Titus’ affair with Berenice that recalls Caesar’s affair with Cleopatra, Tacitus’ allusions to Lucan’s De Bello Civili where Caesar’s visit to the tomb of Alexander the Great is described, the πόθοςMotiv and fortuna’s favour that characterise both Roman generals, all contribute to connect Titus with Caesar and allow the reader to view a parallel between the Flavian and the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Furthermore, the particular digression allows the historian to present certain aspects of his work and his historiographic practices and to reinforce his credibility