Apocolocyntosis

Apocolocyntosis

by Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Epub (Kobo), Epub (Adobe)
Publication Date: 19/11/2019

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In "Apocolocyntosis," Lucius Annaeus Seneca offers a satirical and poignant examination of the deification of the Roman Emperor Claudius, blending elements of both comedy and tragedy within a unique literary framework. Written in a highly ironic style, this work utilizes vivid imagery, sharp wit, and philosophical reflection to critique the pretensions of power and the absurdities of imperial rhetoric. Set against the backdrop of the early Roman Empire, the text employs the device of a mock-heroic epic, engaging with themes of mortality, hubris, and the farcical nature of divine acknowledgment, as it mischievously imagines the afterlife journey of Claudius following his death. Seneca, a Stoic philosopher and statesman, drew upon his profound understanding of ethics, politics, and human nature to craft this work. His own experiences in the tumultuous political landscape of Rome, including his relationships with various emperors and his eventual forced suicide, inform the sardonic tone and incisive critiques present in "Apocolocyntosis." This interplay between personal reflection and broader societal commentary reveals Seneca'Äôs deep engagement with the moral and philosophical dilemmas of his time. This text serves as an essential exploration for those interested in Roman literature, philosophy, and history. Readers searching for a fascinating blend of humor and stark commentary on the human condition will find in "Apocolocyntosis" not only an entertaining narrative but also a thought-provoking dissection of the nature of power and its consequences.

ISBN:
4057664096401
4057664096401
Category:
Classical history / classical civilisation
Format:
Epub (Kobo), Epub (Adobe)
Publication Date:
19-11-2019
Language:
English
Publisher:
GoodPress
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, statesman, philosopher, advocate and man of letters, was born at Cordoba in Spain around 4 BC. He rose to prominence in Rome, pursuing a career in the courts and political life, for which he had been trained, while also acquiring celebrity as an author of tragedies and essays.

Falling foul of successive emperors (Caligula in AD 39 and Claudius in AD 41), he spent eight years in exile, allegedly for an affair with Caligula's sister. Recalled in AD 49, he was made praetor and was appointed tutor to the boy who was to become, in AD 54, the emperor Nero. On Nero's succession, Seneca acted for some eight years as an unofficial chief minister.

The early part of this reign was remembered as a period of sound government, for which the main credit seems due to Seneca. His control over Nero declined as enemies turned the emperor against him with representations that his popularity made him a danger, or with accusations of immorality or excessive wealth. Retiring from public life he devoted his last three years to philosophy and writing, particularly the Letters to Lucilius.

In AD 65 following the discovery of a plot against the emperor, in which he was thought to be implicated, he and many others were compelled by Nero to commit suicide. His fame as an essayist and dramatist lasted until two or three centuries ago, when he passed into literary oblivion, from which the twentieth century has seen a considerable recovery.

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