A lion in the snow. Stilicho in Claudian’s De bello Getico

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54103/2035-4797/17764

Keywords:

Claudian; Stilicho; lion; Alaric; Hannibal; Visigoths

Abstract

In 402 A.D. Claudian declaimed in Rome his poem De bello Getico, praising Stilicho shortly after his controversial victory over Alarich at Pollentia. The poem was recited in front of members of the senatorial aristocracy not necessarily well disposed to Stilicho. Focusing on two specific passages the paper examines how Claudian tried to portray him in a favourable light and to justify his actions, playing with mythological synkrisis and cleverly evoking historical memories and traditions well suited to the audience.

Author Biography

  • Isabella Gualandri, University of Milan

    Isabella Gualandri, former Professor of Latin Literature, Milan State University. Main research interest: late Latin literature (Ambrose, Symmachus, Ammianus, Claudian, Prudentius, Avienus, Dracontius, Apollinaris Sidonius).

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Published

2022-04-28

Issue

N. 29 (2021)

Section

Studies by friends and colleagues for Maria Teresa Grassi (part I)

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Copyright (c) 2022 LANX. Journal of the Scuola di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici - Università degli Studi di Milano

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

A lion in the snow. Stilicho in Claudian’s De bello Getico. (2022). LANX. Journal of the Scuola Di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici - Università Degli Studi Di Milano, 246-258. https://doi.org/10.54103/2035-4797/17764