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date: 05 November 2024

Statius, Publius Papiniuslocked

, Roman poet

Statius, Publius Papiniuslocked

, Roman poet
  • Denis Feeney

Extract

Roman Poet born between 45 ce and the early 50s in the distinctively Greek city of Naples (*Neapolis). Statius was the son of a man who had a glittering career first as a professional poet on the Greek festival circuit (see agōnes), and then as a teacher in Naples and in Rome, where the family moved when Statius was in his teens (Silv. 5. 3). Although Statius did not follow either of these careers, his debt to his father's inheritance is manifest particularly in the Silvae, where the often impromptu praise-displays of the Greek festivals blend with the Roman tradition of friendship poetry to produce something new in Latin literature. Popular from a young age as a poet in Rome, he may have composed a *pantomime libretto for Paris, Domitian's favourite (executed ce 83: Juv. 7. 82–7). He was victorious in the poetry competition at Domitian's annual Alban games (prob. March 90), but suffered a mortifying failure in the much more prestigious Capitoline Games, almost certainly later in the same year (Silv.

Subjects

  • Latin Literature

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