Statius and Virgil : the Thebaid and the reinterpretation of the Aeneid / Randall T. Ganiban.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ganiban, Randall Toth, 1966-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Virgil--Influence.

Virgil.

Virgil. Aeneis.

Statius, P. Papinius (Publius Papinius). Thebaid.

Statius, P. Papinius.

Epic poetry, Latin--History and criticism.

Epic poetry, Latin.

Physical Description:

x, 258 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Summary:

At the end of the Thebaid, Statius enjoins his epic "not to compete with the divine Aeneid but rather to follow at a distance and always revere its footprints." The nature of the Thebaid's interaction with the Aeneid is, however a matter of great debate. This book argues that the Thebaid reworks themes, scenes, and ideas from Virgil in order to show that the Aeneid's representation of monarchy is inadequate. It also demonstrates how the Thebaid's fascination with horror, spectacle, and unspeakable violence is tied to Statius' critique of the moral and political virtues at the heart of the Aeneid. Professor Ganiban offers both a new way to interpret the Thebaid and a largely sequential reading of the poem.

Contents:

2 Oedipus' curse 24

3 Horror, prophecy, and the gods 44

4 Hypsipyle's narrative of nefas 71

5 Bacchus and the outbreak of war 96

6 Dis and the domination of hell 117

7 Delay and the rout of Pietas 152

8 Spectacle, crime, and monarchy at Thebes 176

9 Pietas, burial, and clementia in a world of nefas 207

Index locorum 249.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-242) and indexes.

ISBN:

0521840392

9780521840392

OCLC:

71347524