Apollonius, Valerius Flaccus, and Statius: Argonautic Elements in Thebaid 3.499–647

Abstract

I argue that Statius appropriated material from the epics of Apollonius and Valerius Flaccus for his depiction of the vatic activity of Melampus and Amphiaraus and the latter's subsequent confrontation with Capaneus in Thebaid 3. I suggest that Statius modeled the confrontation between Capaneus and Amphiaraus on the neikos that erupts between Idas and Idmon in Apollonius' Argonautica . For the consecutive prophecies of Melampus and Amphiaraus, Statius drew inspiration from the dueling prophecies of Mopsus and Idmon in Valerius' poem. In particular, Statius' allusive gestures function to distinguish his epic project from that of his Flavian predecessor.