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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1 Ceterum Nero usus est patriae ruinis extruxitque domum in qua<br />
haud proinde gemmae et aurum miraculo essent, solita pridem et luxu<br />
vulgata, quam arva et stagna et in modum solitudinum hinc silvae inde<br />
aperta spatia et prospectus, magistris et machinatoribus Severo et Celere,<br />
quibus ingenium et audacia erat etiam quae natura denegavisset per<br />
artem temptare et viribus principis inludere. 2 namque ab lacu Averno<br />
navigabilem fossam usque ad ostia Tiberina depressuros promiserant<br />
squalenti litore aut per montes adversos. neque enim aliud umidum<br />
gignendis aquis occurrit quam Pomptinae paludes: cetera abrupta aut<br />
arentia ac, si perrumpi possent, intoler<strong>and</strong>us labor nec satis causae. Nero<br />
tamen, ut erat incredibilium cupitor, effodere proxima Averno iuga conisus<br />
est; manentque vestigia inritae spei.<br />
<br />
Analyse the design of Nero usus est patriae ruinis extruxitque domum, thinking<br />
particularly about the contrasts <strong>Tacitus</strong> is drawing.<br />
State <strong>and</strong> explain the case of miraculo. What does the subjunctive essent indicate here?<br />
What type of dative is quibus?<br />
<br />
Parse depressuros.<br />
How does <strong>Tacitus</strong>’ choice <strong>and</strong> position of words in squalenti litore aut per montes<br />
adversos convey the difficulty of this project?<br />
Stylistic Appreciation: How does <strong>Tacitus</strong> underscore the extravagance <strong>and</strong> vanity of Nero’s<br />
building programme after the fire?<br />
Discussion Point: What are we to make of the contrast between ars <strong>and</strong> natura in this chapter?<br />
Have you encountered this polarity elsewhere in the classical world? Was it admirable to be<br />
an incredibilium cupitor? Is it admirable now? Nero was the last emperor of his dynasty (the<br />
Julio-Claudians); the emperors of the next (Flavian) dynasty built all over Nero’s great rus in<br />
urbe. Why do you think they did this? How might the fact that the dynasty to which Nero<br />
belonged ended <strong>with</strong> his death have affected our underst<strong>and</strong>ing of him?
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