THE CHTHONIC DIVINE APPARATUS IN THE PHARSALIA The present article discusses the

Authors

  • Joanna Pypłacz Biblioteka Jagiellońska, Sekcja Starodruków, al. Mickiewicza 22, 30-059 Kraków

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-0319.18.06

Keywords:

Lucan, “Pharsalia”, Erichtho, Medusa, Antaeus

Abstract

The present article discusses the presence and function of chthonic monsters in Lucan’s “Pharsalia”. While two of these, i.e. Antaeus and Medusa, belong to the mythical past and their function is only illustrative, Erichtho, whose name denotes “discord” and “earth”, plays the role of the representative goddess of the chaos and pointlessness of the Civil War. The Thessalian witch impersonates the wrath of the Earth caused by the mutatio solis, mentioned in the invocation, and strongly connected with the Senecan motif of fuga solis. This article has revealed that line 1.49, telluremque nihil mutato sole timentem, which has been the starting point of the whole analysis, anticipates the three chthonic episodes. It has also shown, quite unexpectedly, that this particular line, by equalling rhetorically the results of Nero’s apotheosis and the rise of Caesar, conveys the message that Nero is the moral successor of the same man whose actions Lucan depicts as being the trigger of the chaos described in the “Phrasalia”.

Author Biography

Joanna Pypłacz, Biblioteka Jagiellońska, Sekcja Starodruków, al. Mickiewicza 22, 30-059 Kraków

Dr Joanna Pypłacz graduated in Classics from the Jagiellonian University, where she was awarded an MA in 2005 and a PhD in 2007. She joined the staff of the Jagiellonian Library in 2008. Her fields of research include Greek tragedy, the Golden and Silver Ages of Latin literature, Neo Latin poetry and literary aesthetics.

Published

2015-01-01

How to Cite

Pypłacz, J. (2015). THE CHTHONIC DIVINE APPARATUS IN THE PHARSALIA The present article discusses the. Collectanea Philologica, 18, 65–77. https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-0319.18.06

Issue

Section

Articles