Tacitus, Annals, 15.20-23, 33-45. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary, 2013a
Tacitus, Annals, 15.20-23, 33-45. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary, 2013a
Tacitus, Annals, 15.20-23, 33-45. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary, 2013a
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[<strong>23</strong>]<br />
1 Memmio Regulo et Verginio Rufo consulibus natam sibi ex Poppaea<br />
filiam Nero ultra mortale gaudium accepit appellavitque Augustam dato<br />
et Poppaeae eodem cognomento. locus puerperio colonia Antium fuit,<br />
ubi ipse generatus erat. 2 iam senatus uterum Poppaeae commendaverat<br />
dis votaque publice susceperat, quae multiplicata exolutaque. et additae<br />
supplicationes templumque fecunditatis et certamen ad exemplar Actiacae<br />
religionis decretum, utque Fortunarum effigies aureae in solio Capitolini<br />
Iovis locarentur, ludicrum circense, ut Iuliae genti apud Bovillas, ita<br />
Claudiae Domitiaeque apud Antium ederetur. 3 quae fluxa fuere, quartum<br />
intra mensem defuncta infante. rursusque exortae adulationes censentium<br />
honorem divae et pulvinar aedemque et sacerdotem. atque ipse ut laetitiae,<br />
ita maeroris immodicus egit. 4 adnotatum est, omni senatu Antium sub<br />
recentem partum effuso, Thraseam prohibitum immoto animo praenuntiam<br />
imminentis caedis contumeliam excepisse. secutam dehinc vocem Caesaris<br />
ferunt qua reconciliatum se Thraseae apud Senecam iactaverit ac Senecam<br />
Caesari gratulatum: unde gloria egregiis viris et pericula gliscebant.<br />
<br />
Who were Memmius Regulus <strong>and</strong> Verginius Rufus? Discuss the significance of the<br />
phrase Memmio Regulo et Verginio Rufo consulibus for the genre in which <strong>Tacitus</strong> is<br />
writing.<br />
dato et Poppaeae eodem cognomento: what construction is this?<br />
<br />
Parse dis.<br />
Explain what certamen ad exemplar Actiacae religionis refers to.<br />
<br />
Explain the syntax of quae <strong>and</strong> of quartum intra mensem defuncta infante.<br />
Parse censentium.<br />
<br />
State <strong>and</strong> explain the case of Thraseam.<br />
apud Senecam iactaverit: why do you think Nero would have wanted to tell Seneca in<br />
particular of his mercy towards Thrasea?<br />
Comment on <strong>Tacitus</strong>’ choice of the verb gliscebant here.<br />
Stylistic Appreciation: How in this chapter does <strong>Tacitus</strong> offer us a disturbing snapshot of the<br />
behaviour of the princeps <strong>and</strong> the senators in the reign of Nero?<br />
Discussion Point: ‘O homines ad servitutem paratos!’ (‘Damn these fellows so ready to be<br />
slaves!’): so the emperor Tiberius reproached the senators of his time. Does this chapter<br />
suggest a similarly slavish senate? What factors in Rome’s history <strong>and</strong> constitution led the<br />
senators to behave as they do in this chapter? Why is <strong>Tacitus</strong> so scornful of their conduct? Can<br />
you think of modern contexts – in your school, in society at large – where you might be able to<br />
observe similar forms of behaviour? What are the causes? What the consequences?
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