Claudian, volume 2 (of 2) / With an English translation by Maurice Platnauer

Name: Claudian, volume 2 (of 2) / With an English translation by Maurice Platnauer
Author: Claudius Claudianus

By Claudius Claudianus

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Classics of Literature Poetry

About This Book

The collection assembles Latin poems that praise and defend imperial figures through ornate panegyrics celebrating a general's consulship and an emperor's sixth consulship, narrate campaigns of the Gothic War in epic style, and retell mythic episodes such as the abduction of Proserpine. Shorter occasional pieces offer varied tones. Recurring concerns include military honor, political legitimacy, and divine sanction, expressed in rhetorical flourishes, classical allusion, and vivid imagery that alternates between public panegyric and mythic narrative, combining courtly advocacy with poetic virtuosity.

About the Author

Claudius Claudianus

Claudianus, commonly known as Claudius Claudian, was a prominent Roman poet of the late 4th and early 5th centuries. He is celebrated for his epic poetry and is often regarded as one of the last significant poets of classical antiquity. His works, which include panegyrics and mythological narratives, reflect the political and cultural milieu of his time, particularly the reign of Emperor Honorius. Claudian's poetry is characterized by its vivid imagery and rhetorical skill, making him a key figure in the transition from classical to medieval literature. His notable works include the two-volume collection translated into English by Maurice Platnauer.