The Fragility of Power

Statius, Domitian and the Politics of the Thebaid

Nonfiction, History, Ancient History, Rome, Fiction & Literature, Poetry, Literary Theory & Criticism
Cover of the book The Fragility of Power by Stefano Rebeggiani, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Stefano Rebeggiani ISBN: 9780190882921
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: September 10, 2018
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Stefano Rebeggiani
ISBN: 9780190882921
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: September 10, 2018
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

Statius' narrative of the fraternal strife of the Theban brothers Eteocles and Polynices has had a profound influence on Western literature and fascinated generations of scholars and readers. This book studies in detail the poem's view of power and its interaction with historical contexts. Written under Domitian and in the aftermath of the civil war of 69 CE, the Thebaid uses the veil of myth to reflect on the political reality of imperial Rome. The poem offers its contemporary readers, including the emperor, a cautionary tale of kingship and power. Rooted in a pessimistic view of human beings and human relationships, the Thebaid reflects on the harsh necessity of monarchical power as the only antidote to a world always on the verge of returning to chaos. While humans, and especially kings, are fragile and often the prey of irrational passions, the Thebaid expresses the hope that an illuminated sovereign endowed with clementia (mercy) may offer a solution to the political crisis of the Roman empire. Statius' narrative also responds to Domitian's problematic interaction with the emperor Nero, whom Domitian regarded as both a negative model and a secret source of inspiration. With The Fragility of Power, Stefano Rebeggiani offers thoughtful parallels between the actions of the Thebaid and the intellectual activities and political views formulated by the groups of Roman aristocrats who survived Nero's repression. He argues that the poem draws inspiration from an initial phase in Domitian's regime characterized by a positive relationship between the emperor and the Roman elite. Statius creates a number of innovative strategies to negotiate elements of continuity between Domitian and Nero, so as to show that, while Domitian recuperated aspects of Nero's self-presentation, he was no second Nero. Statius' poem interacts with aspects of imperial ideology under Domitian: Statius' allusions to the stories of Phaethon and Hercules engage Domitian's use of solar symbols and his association with Hercules. This book also shows that the Thebaid adapts previous texts (in particular Lucan's Bellum Civile) in order to connect the mythical subject of its narrative with the historical experience of civil war in Rome in 69 CE. By moving past recent solely aesthetic readings of the Thebaid, The Fragility of Power offers a serious and thoughtful addition to the recent scholarship in Statian studies.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Statius' narrative of the fraternal strife of the Theban brothers Eteocles and Polynices has had a profound influence on Western literature and fascinated generations of scholars and readers. This book studies in detail the poem's view of power and its interaction with historical contexts. Written under Domitian and in the aftermath of the civil war of 69 CE, the Thebaid uses the veil of myth to reflect on the political reality of imperial Rome. The poem offers its contemporary readers, including the emperor, a cautionary tale of kingship and power. Rooted in a pessimistic view of human beings and human relationships, the Thebaid reflects on the harsh necessity of monarchical power as the only antidote to a world always on the verge of returning to chaos. While humans, and especially kings, are fragile and often the prey of irrational passions, the Thebaid expresses the hope that an illuminated sovereign endowed with clementia (mercy) may offer a solution to the political crisis of the Roman empire. Statius' narrative also responds to Domitian's problematic interaction with the emperor Nero, whom Domitian regarded as both a negative model and a secret source of inspiration. With The Fragility of Power, Stefano Rebeggiani offers thoughtful parallels between the actions of the Thebaid and the intellectual activities and political views formulated by the groups of Roman aristocrats who survived Nero's repression. He argues that the poem draws inspiration from an initial phase in Domitian's regime characterized by a positive relationship between the emperor and the Roman elite. Statius creates a number of innovative strategies to negotiate elements of continuity between Domitian and Nero, so as to show that, while Domitian recuperated aspects of Nero's self-presentation, he was no second Nero. Statius' poem interacts with aspects of imperial ideology under Domitian: Statius' allusions to the stories of Phaethon and Hercules engage Domitian's use of solar symbols and his association with Hercules. This book also shows that the Thebaid adapts previous texts (in particular Lucan's Bellum Civile) in order to connect the mythical subject of its narrative with the historical experience of civil war in Rome in 69 CE. By moving past recent solely aesthetic readings of the Thebaid, The Fragility of Power offers a serious and thoughtful addition to the recent scholarship in Statian studies.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book Mystics by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book By All Means Necessary by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Sacred Power, Sacred Space by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Fundamentalist U by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book The Sense of Agency by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Death or Liberty by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book The Secret Garden - With Audio Level 3 Oxford Bookworms Library by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Women in the Classical World : Image and Text by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Why History Matters by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Behavioral Ecology of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Tales of the Quantum by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book Ecological Networks by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book The Spaces Between Us by Stefano Rebeggiani
Cover of the book China in the 21st Century:What Everyone Needs to Know by Stefano Rebeggiani
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy