A learned man and a patriot : the reception of Cicero in the early imperial period
This thesis is a literary study of how the life and works of Marcus Tullius Cicero were received in the century that followed his death. There are two ways of understanding the importance of such a study: the first is to think of it as a vital first step in assessing Cicero's impact on European thought and literature; the second is to see it as a study of how the people of early imperial Rome interacted with their Republican past. In order to provide a broad overview of this subject, I have chosen to focus on three separate areas of imperial literature which together provide a representative snapshot of Roman literary activity in this period. The period in question is essentially an extended Augustan age: beginning with Cicero's death ending in the reign of Tiberius. The first area of imperial literature under consideration is historiography. This section begins with a consideration of Sallust's decision to downplay Cicero's role in defeating the Catilinarian Conspiracy, ultimately concluding that this is authorial posturing on Sallust's part, a reflection of Cicero's importance in the years immediately following his death. This is followed by a chapter on the presence of Ciceronian allusions in Livy, arguing
Sillett, Andrew James
Classical literature--History and criticism--Early works to 1800 ; Rome--History--Republic ; 265-30 B.C.--Historiography ; Literature and society--Rome ; Rome--History--Augustus ; 30 B.C.-14 A.D ; Rome--History--Tiberius ; 14-37
A learned man and a patriot : the reception of Cicero in the early imperial period. This thesis is a literary study of how the life and works of Marcus Tullius Cicero were received in the century that followed his death. There are two ways of understanding the importance of such a study: the first is to think of it as a vital first step in assessing Cicero's impact on European thought and literature; the second is to see it as a study of how the people of early imperial Rome interacted with their Republican past. In order to provide a broad overview of this subject, I have chosen to focus on three separate areas of imperial literature which together provide a representative snapshot of Roman literary activity in this period. The period in question is essentially an extended Augustan age: beginning with Cicero's death ending in the reign of Tiberius. The first area of imperial literature under consideration is historiography. This section begins with a consideration of Sallust's decision to downplay Cicero's role in defeating the Catilinarian Conspiracy, ultimately concluding that this is authorial posturing on Sallust's part, a reflection of Cicero's importance in the years immediately following his death. This is followed by a chapter on the presence of Ciceronian allusions in Livy, arguing
learn man reception cicero literary study life_work cicero receive century follow death two_way importance study first think vital first_step assess cicero impact european thought literature second see study people early_imperial rome interact republican past order_provide broad overview subject chosen focus three_separate area imperial literature together provide representative snapshot roman literary activity period period question essentially extend augustan age beginning cicero death end_reign tiberius first area imperial literature consideration historiography section begin consideration sallust decision downplay cicero role defeat conspiracy ultimately conclude authorial sallust part reflection cicero importance year immediately_follow death follow presence allusion livy argue