A Commentary on Lucan, "De bello civili" IV: Introduction, Edition, and Translation

Paolo Asso

Published by De Gruyter 2010

A Commentary on Lucan, "De bello civili" IV

Introduction, Edition, and Translation

Paolo Asso

Volume 33 in the series Texte und Kommentare

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110216516

Overview
Contents

About this book

Book 4 of Lucan’s epic contrasts Europe with Africa. At the battle of Lerida (Spain), a violent storm causes the local rivers to flood the plain between the two hills where the opposing armies are camped. Asso’s commentary traces Lucan’s reminiscences of early Greek tales of creation, when Chaos held the elements in indistinct confusion. This primordial broth sets the tone for the whole book. After the battle, the scene switches to the Adriatic shore of Illyricum (Albania), and finally to Africa, where the proto-mythical water of the beginning of the book cedes to the dryness of the desert. The narrative unfolds against the background of the War of the Elements. The Spanish deluge is replaced by the desiccated desolation of Africa. The commentary contrasts the representations of Rome with Africa and explores the significance of Africa as a space contaminated by evil, but which remains an integral part of Rome. Along with Lucan’s other geographic and natural-scientific discussions, Africa’s position as a part of the Roman world is painstakingly supported by astronomic and geographic erudition in Lucan’s blending of scientific and mythological discourse. The poet is a visionary who supports his truth claims by means of scientific discourse.

Author / Editor information

Paolo Asso, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.

Reviews

"Although the edition must command a high price in the modern and murky world of academic publishing, the cost is fully merited by the achievement: C.'s Aeneid is a major work of scholarship that demonstrates at each turn impressive editorial tact and a rarely refined sense of the Virgilian. The edition deserves strong commendation."
David Butterfield in: Exemplaria Classica 15 (2011)

Topics

Frontmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	I
Table of Contents Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	VII
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Text and Translation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	37
Commentary
Part I: The Battle of Ilerda 1–401 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	99
Part II: Mutual suicide: Volteius and the Opitergians 402–581 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	189
Part III: Curio in Africa 581–824 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	213
Backmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	295

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Academics, Institutes, Libraries
Pages
- Front matter: 8
- Main content: 333
Keywords: Lucanus; M. Annaeus; Rome (History; Literature); Latin Epic; Flavian Literature; Julius Caesar

eBook

Published: March 26, 2010
ISBN: 9783110216516

Hardcover

Published: March 17, 2010
ISBN: 9783110203851