Clades Variana: The Literary Shadows of Teutoburg in Tacitus' Annals
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.
Recommended Citation
Chung, Timothy, "Clades Variana: The Literary Shadows of Teutoburg in Tacitus' Annals" (04/29/16). Senior Symposium. 9.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/seniorsymp/2016/presentations/9
Major
Latin
Advisor(s)
Christopher Trinacty, Classics
Kazim Ali, Creative Writing
Project Mentor(s)
Drew Wilburn, Classics
April 2016
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.
Notes
Session I, Panel 5 - The Oblique, the Graphic, and the (Allegedly) Untranslatable
Moderator: Chris Trinacty, Assistant Professor of Classics