The Literature of Pompeii

Location

King Building 243

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-27-2018 1:00 PM

End Date

4-27-2018 2:20 PM

Abstract

In this paper, I explore the larger literary context of C.I.L. 5296, a Latin graffito from Pompeii describing a female homoerotic relationship. I investigate the ways in which the graffito incorporates common literary tropes found among poets in the early Roman Empire, while examining its place and function within the social context of Pompeii. My analysis of diction and syntax reveals the social perception of the graffito and demonstrates how its author depicted and was influenced by Roman literary tropes. By considering the graffito as single piece of cultural evidence within a larger literary landscape, it becomes possible to expose any originality expressed by the author and allows us to gain a fuller understanding of the variety of Roman literature.

Keywords:

graffito, Pompeii, homoerotic, Latin literature

Notes

Session III, Panel 9 - Cross-Cultural | Languages
Moderator: Kirk Ormand, Nathan A. Greenberg Professor of Classics

Major

Latin Language and Literature; Material Physics

Advisor(s)

Drew Wilburn, Classics
Jason Stalnaker, Physics and Astronomy

Project Mentor(s)

Drew Wilburn, Classics

April 2018

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Apr 27th, 1:00 PM Apr 27th, 2:20 PM

The Literature of Pompeii

King Building 243

In this paper, I explore the larger literary context of C.I.L. 5296, a Latin graffito from Pompeii describing a female homoerotic relationship. I investigate the ways in which the graffito incorporates common literary tropes found among poets in the early Roman Empire, while examining its place and function within the social context of Pompeii. My analysis of diction and syntax reveals the social perception of the graffito and demonstrates how its author depicted and was influenced by Roman literary tropes. By considering the graffito as single piece of cultural evidence within a larger literary landscape, it becomes possible to expose any originality expressed by the author and allows us to gain a fuller understanding of the variety of Roman literature.