Augustusbild im rhetorischen Werk von Seneca Rhetor

Title in English The picture of Augustus in rhetorical writings of Seneca the Elder
Authors

PETROVIĆOVÁ Katarina

Year of publication 2015
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Acta Antiqua Academiae scientiarum Hungaricae
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Web http://www.akademiai.com/doi/pdf/10.1556/068.2015.55.1-4.34
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/068.2015.55.1-4.34
Field Mass media, audiovision
Keywords Seneca Maior; Augustus; declamations; literary picture; freedom of speech
Description In this study, the literary picture of the emperor Augustus is analyzed, as it is depicted in the rhetorical works of Seneca the Elder. Based on both direct and indirect references in Seneca’s collection of the examples of rhetorical tools Oratorum et rhetorum sententiae, divisiones, colores, which is better known as Controversiae and Suasoriae, I call into question the usually accepted idea that Seneca admired Augustus for his respect for freedom of speech. Although Augustus as princeps makes the impression of a noble, clement, and admirable man, the tension and fear his power arouses in orators penetrates his idealized depiction. Summed up, Seneca the Elder perceived Augustus’ time as the period of the loss of democracy and endangered law.

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