Rome, the Cosmos, and the Emperor in Seneca's Natural Questions

Abstract

This paper examines the political content and context of Seneca's Natural Questions. It argues that, on the one hand, Rome is marginalized in the context of the immensity of the cosmos; and philosophy is elevated above traditional Roman pursuits, including political activity and historical writing. But at the same time the work is firmly anchored in its Roman geo-political context; Seneca situates himself in a long and continuing tradition of investigation of the natural world, where Roman writers can stand alongside Greeks and others; and the current emperor Nero is presented not just as princeps and poet, but as sponsor of geographical and scientific investigation.

In Praise of Meliboeus: Calpurnius Siculus and Columella

“…14 Sarpe 1819: 35-6. The terminus post quem of 62 derives from the Campanian earthquake of 62 or 63, mentioned at 6.1.1-3; for a recent discussion, see Hine 2006: 68-72. 15 B. Schröder 1991Vinchesi 2014: 318. Meliboeus not only writes prose works (which are his main claim to fame), but also poetry (which qualies him for the service Corydon requests from him).…”

In the Land of the Giants: Greek and Roman Discourses on Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields

“…Forbes (1963) 47-60 gathers ancient discussions of volcanoes; ancient literary representations of vesuvius are usefully discussed by sebesta (2006); stärk (1995) offers far-reaching investigations of ancient and modern literary representations of campania and discusses accounts of Vesuvius' destructive and beneficial qualities at 227-36. Hine (2002) stresses the possibility that popular ideas about volcanoes and earthquakes could have made their way into ancient literary and philosophical discussions of the phenomena. virgil's descriptions of volcanic phenomena are discussed by sullivan (1972) and Johnston (1996).…”

“…3. on the date for the earthquake, see Hine (2006) 68-72. on the eruption of 79, see sigurdsson, cashdollar, andsparks (1982) andsigurdsson, carey, cornell, andPescatore (1985).…”