In the Image of the Ancestors: Narratives of Kinship in Flavian Epic

291 Pages·2016·1.4 MB·English

by  Neil Bernstein

IN THE IMAGE OF THE ANCESTORS:
NARRATIVES OF KINSHIP IN FLAVIAN EPIC
PHOENIX
Journal of the Classical Association of Canada
Revue de la Société canadienne des études classiques
Supplementary Volume XLVIII
NEIL W. BERNSTEIN
In the Image
of the Ancestors:
Narratives of Kinship
in Flavian Epic
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS
Toronto Buffalo London
©University of Toronto Press Incorporated 2008
Toronto Buffalo London
www.utppublishing.com
Printed in Canada
ISBN 978-0-8020-9879-5
Printed on acid-free paper
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Bernstein, Neil W., 1973–
In the image of the ancestors: narratives of kinship in Flavian epic /
Neil W. Bernstein.
(Phoenix. Supplementary volume; XLVIII)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8020-9879-5
1. Valerius Flaccus, Gaius, 1st cent. 2. Statius, P. Papinius (Publius Papinius).
3. Silius Italicus, Tiberius Catius. 4. Epic poetry, Latin – History and criticism.
5. Kinship in literature. 6. Family in literature. 7. Rome – History –
Flavians, 69–96. I. Title. II. Series: Phoenix. Supplementary volume
(Toronto, Ont.); XLVIII
PA6050.B47 2008 873'.01093552 C2008-901774-9
University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial assistance to its
publishing program of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario
Arts Council.
University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial support for its
publishing activities of the Government of Canada through the Book
Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP).
Leonard and Danielle Bernstein, parentibus optimis
Yi-Ting Wang and Hannah Wang Bernstein, uxori filiaeque carissimis
Quid, inquam, annos Patrocli et Achillis inquirere ad rem existimas perti-
nere? Quaeris Ulixes ubi errauerit potius quam efficias ne nos semper erre-
mus? Non uacat audire utrum inter Italiam et Siciliam iactatus sit an extra
notum nobis orbem (neque enim potuit in tam angusto error esse tam lon-
gus): tempestates nos animi cotidie iactant et nequitia in omnia Ulixis mala
inpellit. Non deest forma quae sollicitet oculos, non hostis; hinc monstra
effera et humano cruore gaudentia, hinc insidiosa blandimenta aurium,
hinc naufragia et tot uarietates malorum. hoc me doce, quomodo patriam
amem, quomodo uxorem, quomodo patrem, quomodo ad haec tam honesta
uel naufragus nauigem.
Seneca, Epistles 88.6–7
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 3
1 Kinship as Narrative 7
2 Valerius’ Argonautica: Kinship and Power 30
3 Statius’ Thebaid 64
kinship as destiny 64
kinship and gender 85
4 Statius’ Achilleid: Nature and Nurture 105
5 Silius’ Punica: Kinship and the State 132
6 From Family to Nation: Descent and Ethnicity in Flavian Epic 160
7 The Poetics of Kinship 193
Notes 205
Works Cited 245
Index Locorum 265
General Index 271
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Several friends, colleagues, and mentors read chapters or entire drafts of this
book as it was taking shape and generously offered valuable commentary. For
their gifts of time, expertise, and support, warmest thanks to Antony
Augoustakis, Neil Coffee, William Dominik, Randall Ganiban, Micaela Janan,
Alison Keith, Martha Malamud, Raymond Marks, Mark Masterson, Carole
Newlands, Francis Newton, and Jennifer Rea.
I would like to thank my colleagues in the Department of Classics &
World Religions at Ohio University: James Andrews, Thomas Carpenter,
Elizabeth Collins, Steve Hays, Lynne Lancaster, Loren Lybarger, William
Owens, Ruth Palmer, and George Weckman. They exemplify the spirit of
collegiality in all that they do, and I am deeply grateful for their constant
support and encouragement. The participants in the Ohio University Clas-
sics, Medieval, and Renaissance Colloquium also offered extremely helpful
criticism of an early version of chapter 4. My thanks in particular to
Andrew Escobedo, Beth Quitslund, and Miriam Shadis.
I would like to thank Suzanne Rancourt, Jonathan Edmondson, Richard
Ratzlaff, and Barbara Czarnecki for providing an efficient and responsive
editorial and publication process. Steven Palmer offered timely help with
the preparation of the index. I gratefully acknowledge the support of the
Department of Classics & World Religions and the College of Arts & Sciences
at Ohio University in granting me a release from teaching duties in fall
quarter 2006. The Loeb Classical Library Foundation, the Department of
Classics & World Religions at Ohio University, and the Ohio University
Office of Research and Sponsored Programs furnished financial assistance
toward the subvention for this book’s publication. An earlier version of the
first half of chapter 3 appeared at TAPA 133.2 (2003): 353–79.
My greatest thanks are due to my family. Grates persoluere dignas non
opis est nostrae. I dedicate this book to them with all my love and gratitude.
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