Books 1 to 3 together after january 93, book 4 in 95, book 5 posthumously, probably in or after 96. The poems deal with consolation, description, and end with an exhortation to statius wife to move with him to naples. Shackleton baileys edition, which replaced the earlier loeb classical library edition by j. Not all of the poems featured in a given book are addressed to that.
In his teens he moved to rome, and there, some years later, he embarked on his own career in poetry. Books may well have been published as a unit see coleman, op. During this period at naples, statius maintained his relations with the court and his patrons, earning himself another invitation to a palace banquet silv. The silvae as shorter poems of occasion are well worth the read. The silvae were probably composed by statius between 8996 ce. As often on such matters van dam, silvae, book ii n. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. My reading follows the progress of the poem, as it first outlines the quality of the domain as a whole, then examines aspects of what a visitor might encounter. In the preface to each book of his collected poems, the silvae, statius writes in the apologetic mode. The verse is light in touch, with a distinct pictorial quality. Maecius celer is known only from statius and the acts of the arval. On the topos of encountering friends in the underworld, see h.
Classical texts library statius, thebaid book 1 statius, thebaid 1. He was the author of a collection of dedicatory poems known as the silvae, the epic thebaid in twelve books. Statiuss silvae, thirtytwo occasional poems, were written probably between 89 and 96 ce. Represents the first fulllength english language commentary on book 2 of statius thebaid juxtaposes the newly edited full latin text with an accessible translation and extensive contextualizing introduction. The book is notable for its concern with statius himself one poem is a lament for his father, who was himself a poet and a teacher. Statius, thebaid 2 edited with an introduction, translation, and commentary edited by kyle gervais.
Tydeus slaughters the thebans and escapes to argos, causing adrastus and polyneices to declare war on thebes book 3. This new edition deals with book 5 of statius silvae, which has often been neglected in thematic treatments of the poets work. Mozley 1 but not to the perfidious lord of the aonian palace comes the repose of slumber in the twilight hours, although for the dank stars long travail yet remain till dawn. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The silvae several times praises parthenopaeus, one of the seven against thebes, whose name refers to his feminine features. One of statius consolatory strategies hinges on a correspondence of amorous senses that continues postmortem and is free of any petty jealousy.
Here the poet congratulates friends, consoles mourners, offers thanks, admires a monument or artistic object, and describes a memorable scene. This edition of book 5 of statius silvae includes an introduction, translation, and full literary and cultural commentary, enabling readers to engage with the work of this learned and increasingly popular poet. Critical and exegetical commentary on statius silvae, i. Prefatory notes 152 statius to his friend pollius 154 1. I need not justify to you at least, dearest pollius, so deserving of the quiet to which you cling so faithfully, the temerity of these little pieces, since you know that many of them were suddenly born at your side, and you were frequently troubled by my pens audaciousness, when you led me into your eloquences sanctuary, and i. No wandering foreign general shakes campanias fields in perfidious war. Unlike the silvae, statius thebaid was read and admired throughout the middle. Prologue statius to his friend, lucius arruntius stella, greetings ive thought long and hard, my stella, given how knowledgeable and distinguished you are in whatever of our pursuits you follow, as to whether i should gather these things together for publication, works that rose one by one from my heart, flowing in sudden fire and lovely haste from my pen. In the prose preface to his third book of occasional verse silvae, statius also reveals that earinus is now a freedman, and that silvae 3. Statius first three books of the silvae seem to have received some criticism, and in response he composed a fourth book at naples, which was published in 95. I dont think ive begun any little work of mine without invoking the divinity of our great emperor, but this book owns to three such pieces, and what greater tribute to you than that the fourth is by way of honouring you. He was the author of a collection of dedicatory poems known as the silvae, the epic thebaid in twelve books, and the unfinished achilleid. Statius silvae, thirtytwo occasional poems, were written probably between.
Statius silvae and the poetics of intimacy arethusa 40. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. He featured both in chaucers house of fame as stace and in dantes divine comedy, where he is called il dolce poeta. These last two works relate the stories of the seven against thebes and the youth of achilles respectively. In the final poem of the third book of his silvae, statius famously urges his wife. Book 4 was published later, and although the chief stylistic features of the silvae. Publius papinius statius was a roman poet who flourished in the late c1st a. I read the oxford u press translation of the thebiad, the epic poem from statius, and found it even in translation a great poem. Publius papinius statius lived from the 40s to the mid90s c. The silvae, with probable composition dates of 89 to 96, appeared in three installments. Mozley, is now reissued with corrections by christopher a.
Book 4, letter 3 of the silvae of statius, translated by slater, d. Silvae, thirtytwo occasional poems, were written probably between 89 and 96 ce. A new verse translation of one of the most important literary works of firstcentury rome. The first published collection of silvae books were. Statius, achilleid book 1 theoi classical texts library. None of the books of the silvae is dedicated to domitian.
With the exception of a poem on the unscripted death of a lion in the colosseum, book ii of statius silvae is largely domestic in theme. Statius stresses the confidence he now has in his silvae and pollius help in their composition. This essay presents a detailed literary analysis of statiuss silvae 1. Volume i, silvae loeb classical library edition 1 by. One poem celebrates the emperors dedicating a minions blond tresses to the god asclepius 3.
Statius compliments domitian for passing a law forbidding the creation of eunuchs. Where, for instance, shackleton bailey accuses statius of a clangorous mistake when he says, in his description of atedius meliors oddly shaped plane tree, that its underwater branches struggle sub auras 2. Statius stresses the confidence he now has in his silvae and pollius. Publius papinius statius is the author of the thebaid 3. It reflects the more private side of roman culture, its pleasures, houses, gardens, friendships, and personal losses. I dont think ive begun any little work of mine without invoking the divinity of our great emperor, but this book owns to three such pieces, and what greater tribute to you than that the. Statius, thebaid book 3 theoi classical texts library. In the fourth book the argive forces gather, commanded by the seven champions adrastus, polyneices, amphiaraus, capaneus, parthenopaeus, hippomedon, and tydeus and march to thebes, but at nemea, bacchus.
Statius, thebaid book 1 theoi classical texts library. Bilingual onomastics and the arrangement of statius, silvae 2. Martials six poems on earinus are all found in his ninth book of epigrams. Classical texts library statius, achilleid book 1 lines 1559 statius, achilleid 1. Published near the end of statius life, the silvae is a collection of witty and engaging occasional poems, but beyond their verbal artistry lies their importance as social documents, contemporary witnesses to the roman world during the reign of domitian. Quis duri silicis, the emperors road, roman poets of the silver age, classical literature and history, english translation and notes, ancient roman authors and historians, free ebook, open source texts, on. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. The first three books seem to have been published together after 93 ce. Statius silvae, thirtytwo occasional poems, were written probably between 89 and 96 ce. Ive contrived a book, dearest marcellus, that i can dedicate to your loyal affection.