Ancient Roman literary gardens : gender, genre, and geopoetics / K. Sara Myers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Myers, K. Sara, 1961- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Latin literature--History and criticism.

Latin literature.

Gardens in literature.

Masculinity--Rome--History.

Masculinity.

Physical Description:

xv, 294 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, [2024]

Summary:

"Beginning with Cicero and Varro and ending with Statius and Pliny the Younger, this chapter offers a chronological investigation of the ways in which real and literary gardens developed from the first century BCE to the first century CE as a means of elite masculine self-representation and the reactions of elite Roman men to the increased social and cultural power of villa and horti estates and their grounds. Gardens served as powerful symbols of wealth and as creative displays of the cultural aspirations of their owners in ways that challenged traditional definitions of gardens and of Roman manliness. Since these large-scale 'gardens' are primarily associated with leisure (otium), authors are concerned with describing and justifying their activities in these sites as befitting Roman masculine ideals. We can trace a change in attitude towards leisure and the private display of wealth, and consequently gardens, largely attributed to changes in the socio-political circumstances of the Roman elite, in the works of Statius and his contemporary Pliny the Younger, who use laudatory descriptions of extensive villas and grounds as a means of expressing social and literary power"-- Provided by publisher.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Myers, K. Sara. Ancient roman literary gardens

ISBN:

9780197773208

0197773206

OCLC:

1432805103