A Literary Commentary on Panegyrici Latini VI(7)
An Oration Delivered before the Emperor Constantine in Trier, ca. AD 310

A literary commentary on the oration describing Constantine's break with Tetrarchic ideology and the creation of his new imperial persona.

Catherine Ware (Edited and translated by)

9781107123694, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 December 2020

406 pages
22.4 x 14.8 x 2.5 cm, 0.62 kg

'… a splendid contribution … The work is a milestone in the literary study of late Latin prose.' Geoffrey Harrison, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

The oration presented in this volume is critical to our knowledge of Constantine's early career and covers Maximian's rebellion, Constantine's claim of descent from Claudius II and his vision of Apollo. Written in AD 310, two years before Constantine's capture of Rome and his acceptance of Christianity, the speech gives a unique insight into the evolution of an imperial persona. This commentary examines the literary context of the panegyric and the role of the classical literary and rhetorical tradition in the recreation of Constantine's image. From the outset, the orator praises Constantine as separate from the imperial college: a deus praesens, god manifest, to the people of Gaul. He uses Lucan and Caesar to link Maximian's bid for power with the civil war between Caesar and Pompey while Vergilian allusion associates Constantine with Augustus.

Introduction
Text and Translation
Part I: The Panegyrici Latini
Part II: PL VI(7).

Subject Areas: Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]