Clades Variana: The Literary Shadows of Teutoburg in Tacitus' Annals

Presenter Information

Timothy Chung, Oberlin CollegeFollow

Location

King Building 341

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-29-2016 1:30 PM

End Date

4-29-2016 2:30 PM

Abstract

Tacitus’ treatment of the Battle of Teutoburg Forest in Annals 1.61-62 is a graphic and gruesome account of one of Rome’s greatest military defeats. As the language seems to be particularly evocative of the literary traditions of epic poetry and ancient tragedy, I argue that Tacitus invites an interpretation of his historical narrative under a literary lens, particularly as it applies to the figure Germanicus Caesar. Such an approach enriches our reading of Annals and provides insight into Tacitus’ intent to disparage the rule of the Julio-Claudians.

Notes

Session I, Panel 5 - The Oblique, the Graphic, and the (Allegedly) Untranslatable
Moderator: Chris Trinacty, Assistant Professor of Classics

Major

Latin

Advisor(s)

Christopher Trinacty, Classics
Kazim Ali, Creative Writing

Project Mentor(s)

Drew Wilburn, Classics

April 2016

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Apr 29th, 1:30 PM Apr 29th, 2:30 PM

Clades Variana: The Literary Shadows of Teutoburg in Tacitus' Annals

King Building 341

Tacitus’ treatment of the Battle of Teutoburg Forest in Annals 1.61-62 is a graphic and gruesome account of one of Rome’s greatest military defeats. As the language seems to be particularly evocative of the literary traditions of epic poetry and ancient tragedy, I argue that Tacitus invites an interpretation of his historical narrative under a literary lens, particularly as it applies to the figure Germanicus Caesar. Such an approach enriches our reading of Annals and provides insight into Tacitus’ intent to disparage the rule of the Julio-Claudians.