Valerius Flaccus and Imperial Latin Epic

Abstract

This book examines the reception of Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica in the epic poems of Silius Italicus (Punica), Statius (Thebaid, Achilleid), and Claudian (De Raptu Proserpinae). In doing so, it sheds new light on the importance of Valerius’ poem within the epic tradition while enhancing our understanding of the intertextual richness of imperial Latin epic. The readings offered in this book also provide new evidence to support the view that Valerius’ Argonautica pre-dates the epic poems composed by Valerius’ Flavian contemporaries, i.e. the Punica, Thebaid, and Achilleid, thereby helping to clarify the literary history of the Flavian period (69–96 ce). By engaging in a wide array of close readings, the author elucidates how Silius, Statius, and Claudian use programmatic allusion to the Argonautica to fashion themselves as Valerius’ epic successors and examines how these poets recycle Valerian material to enrich their texts in numerous ways. Although the author does not ignore combinatorial imitation, the readings offered in this book largely center on points of contact between the Argonautica and the Punica, Thebaid, Achilleid, and De Raptu Proserpinae individually, without widening the focus to include the use of similar language and themes in other authors. This book is intended primarily for scholars of Latin epic poetry, intertextuality, and/or comparative literature. However, because all Greek and Latin is translated it will also be accessible to people generally interested in the Humanities. This may include anyone with interests in classical literature, the poetics of imperial Latin epic, classical mythology, and the mechanics of ancient intertextuality.