Nature, imperialism, and the ethics of war in Flavian epic

Kozak, Adam Alexander

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/107904 Copy

Description

Title

Nature, imperialism, and the ethics of war in Flavian epic

Author(s)

Kozak, Adam Alexander

Issue Date

2020-04-22

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Augoustakis, Antony

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Augoustakis, Antony

Committee Member(s)

• Bosak-Schroeder, Clara
• Walters, Brian
• Williams, Craig

Department of Study

Classics

Discipline

Classical Philology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Flavian epic
• nature
• natural world
• imperialism
• ecocriticism
• Statius
• Silius Italicus
• Valerius Flaccus
• Thebaid
• Punica
• Argonautica
• forests
• rivers
• ideology
• Latin literature
• Latin epic poetry
• Vespasian
• Domitian
• Tacitus
• Agricola

Abstract

This dissertation argues that Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica, Silius Italicus’ Punica, and Papinius Statius’ Thebaid use human encounters with nature to reflect on the morality of their poems’ central characters. Interactions and conflicts with nature occur at programmatic points in the poems, further indicating their importance for the narratives. This common thread throughout all three epics points to a deeper interest in nature and the unknown beyond the edges of the empire. As such, ecocritical theory and theories of space and place have greatly informed my approach to this topic. By examining encounters with nature such as humans crossing geographical boundaries, cutting down forests, and fighting river gods, Flavian epic is shown to comment on the military exploits of the three Flavian emperors, their interactions with nature while on campaign, and the ideology of their regime.

Graduation Semester

2020-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/107904

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Adam Alexander Kozak

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