The Poetic Structure of Silius Italicus' Punica (Books I-V)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/CC.20.2019.22.04Keywords:
improba virtus, epics, prolepsis, ekphrasis, aetiology, panegyricAbstract
Poetic Structure of Silius Italicus' Punica (Books I-V)
As concerns their poetic structure, the first five books of Silius’ Punica are very differentiated and complicated. However, all the events of the represented world concentrate around Hannibal and his improba virtus. Historical and mythological ekphrases are connected with Hannibal’s deeds. Aetiological stories seem to be invented by Silius himself. The panegyrical elements refer mainly to Domitian. Prolepses especially deserve to be noticed. Silius is influenced by learned Hellenistic poets, as well as Roman authors, mainly Ennius, Vergil, Lucan, Valerius Flaccus. In fact the author of the Punica can be described as poeta doctus.
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