Point and periodicity: the style of Velleius Paterculus and other Latin historians writing in the early Principate

Abstract

This paper examines what may be said about the style of Latin historians who were contemporary with the elder Seneca. Most space is devoted to Velleius Paterculus, but also discussed are L. Arruntius, Pompeius Trogus, Cremutius Cordus, Bruttedius Niger, and Aufidius Bassus. There is discussion of the periodic and pointed styles, of poetical language, of the use of clausulae, and of imitation of Sallust and Livy. 'Er [Velleius] will nicht mit Livius verglichen sein (man kann eben nicht Heterogenes vergleichen), sondern mit Nepos einerseits und Florus anderseits: jener schreibt wie ein puer für pueri, dieser wie ein insanus für insani: den Velleius liest man gern von Anfang bis zu Ende, nicht als Menschen oder als Historiker, aber als Schriftsteller, der in der Manier selten kindisch oder absurd wird.' 1  1 Dr C.L. Whitton and Professor A.J. Woodman Norden (1915) 1. 303.  I thank Professor M.C. Scappaticcio for the kind invitation to speak at the conference on the elder Seneca's Histories: since the style in which Seneca composed that work remains unknown, these thoughts on the styles used by his contemporaries were offered as a substitute. I thank also Professor A.J. Woodman for improving an earlier draft of this essay.

Rush Job: Slavery and Brevity in the Early Roman Principate

“…75 In fact this is also a dead ringer for a comparable moment in Ovid's Fasti book 3, where Ovid is poised to pass over the opportunity to memorialise Caesar's death on 15 March, only to have Vesta step in and directly tell him to recall it. 76 For Velleius, however, Caesar does the job himself, and 73 Oakley (2020) makes sure to muscle in on his own inclusion. And the language with which he does so is chillingly redolent of the relationship between master and slave.…”

“…Oakley (2020) 230. 74 On this and two other Velleian moments aligning haste and writing see Bloomer (2011) 101-2.…”

“…Cf. alsoOakley (2020) 214-15. 84 Julius: 2.43, 2.50; Octavian/Augustus: 2.59, 2.123; Tiberius: 2.107; on Caesarian festination and Velleius' mimetic sympathy with it see Bloomer (2011) 111-13.…”