Description
Book SynopsisThe aim of this volume is to study Silius’ poem as an important step in the development of the Roman historical epic tradition. The Punica is analyzed as transitional segment between the beginnings of Roman literature in the Republican age (Naevius and Ennius) and Claudian’s panegyrical epic in late antiquity, shedding light on its ‘inclusiveness’ and its peculiar, internal dialectic between antiquarian taste and problematic actualization. This is an innovative attempt to connect epic poems and authors belonging to different ages, to frame the development of the literary genre, according to its specific aims and interests throughout the centuries.
Trade Review"The editors write that they “hope that this collection will continue the discussion of the tradition of historical epic poetry in Rome and open up further avenues of research on Silius Italicus and the Punica in the future” (p. 15). I think they have absolutely succeeded in this regard. [...] To sum up, this book is highly recommended for everyone dealing with Latin literature. I am sure that students and scholars will benefit enormously from this volume and I am confident that Silius Italicus’ poem will continue to reaffirm his position within the academic curriculum." Vicente Flores Militello, BMCR 2023.03.10.
Table of ContentsAbbreviations Notes on Contributors Introduction: Silius Italicus and the Tradition of the Roman Historical Epos Antony Augoustakis and Marco Fucecchi Part 1 The Historical Epic Tradition Silius Italicus and the Conventions of Historical Epic at Rome Gesine Manuwald Silius Italicus between Epos and Historiography Paolo Esposito Part 2 Rethinking Roman ‘Mythical History’ Silius Ciceronianus: Regulus as a Reflection of Cicero in Punica 6 Thomas Baier Silius Italicus and Ovid’s Roman History Raymond Marks Claudian’s Silius Neil W. Bernstein Part 3 Historical Challenges to ‘National’ Epic Silius Italicus as an Interpreter of Virgil: Dido and Anna Sergio Casali Pompey and Aemilius Paulus, or the Epic Genre between Lucan and Silius Italicus Nicola Lanzarone From the Rubicon to the Alps: Re-reading Eumolpus’ Caesar in Light of Silius Italicus’ Hannibal Stefano Poletti Part 4 Viewing Roman History (and Literature) from the Inside Scaevola’s aristeia: A Complementary Reworking of a Historical Source and the Epic Tradition Filippo Fabbri Exul in orbe toto, or, How to Map Future Power in Silius Italicus Clayton A. Schroer Temples of Song in Silius Italicus Alison Keith Romuleos superabit voce nepotes: Remembering Romulus in Silius Italicus Claire Stocks Hannibal Redivivus: Fear and Haunting Memory in Silius Italicus Angeliki N. Roumpou Index Locorum General Index
