Claudian's In Eutropium, Or, How, When, And Why To Slander A Eunuch Claudian's In Eutropium How, When, And Where To Slander A Eunuch

From A.D. 395 to 404, Claudian was the court poet of the Western Roman Empire, ruled by Honorius. In 399 the eunuch Eutropius, the grand chamberlain and power behind the Eastern Roman throne of Honorius's brother Arcadius, became consul. The poem In Eutropium is Claudian's brilliantly nasty response. In it he vilifies Eutropius and calls on Honorius's general, Stilicho, to redeem this disgrace to Roman honor. In this literary and historical study, Jacqueline Long argues that the poem was, in both intent and effect, political propaganda: Claudian exploited traditional prejudices against eunuchs to make Eutropius appear ludicrously alien to the ideals of Roman greatness. Long sets In Eutropium within the context of Greek and Roman political vituperation and satire from the classical to the late antique period. In addition, she demonstrates that the poem is an invaluable, if biased, source of historical information about Eutropius's career. Her analysis draws on modern propaganda theory and on reader response theory, thereby bringing a fresh perspective to the political implications of Claudian's work.Originally published in 1996.A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value. From A.D. 395 to 404, Claudian was the court poet of the Western Roman Empire, ruled by Honorius. In 399 the eunuch Eutropius, the grand chamberlain and power behind the Eastern Roman throne of Honorius's brother Arcadius, became consul. The poem In Eutropium is Claudian's brilliantly nasty response. In it he vilifies Eutropius and calls on Honorius's general, Stilicho, to redeem this disgrace to Roman honor. In this literary and historical study, Jacqueline Long argues that the poem was, in both intent and effect, political Claudian exploited traditional prejudices against eunuchs to make Eutropius appear ludicrously alien to the ideals of Roman greatness. Long sets In Eutropium within the context of Greek and Roman political vituperation and satire from the classical to the late antique period. In addition, she demonstrates that the poem is an invaluable, if biased, source of historical information about Eutropius's career. Her analysis draws on modern propaganda theory and on reader response theory, thereby bringing a fresh perspective to the political implications of Claudian's work. Originally published in 1996. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value. Cover 1 Title page 4 Contents 7 Preface 10 Abbreviations 16 Introduction: The Eunuch Consul and the Court Poet (1-14) 20 PART ONE: THE LITERARY WORLD OF IN EUTROPIUM 47 1. Structure and Genre (17-50) 48 2. Traditions of Roman Satire (51-63) 116 3. Literary Traditions of Political Invective (65-105) 142 I. Political Contumely in Athens and Rome 143 II. Rhetorical Invective: The Formal Model 168 III. Diverse Contexts of Late Antique Invective 193 4. How to Slander a Eunuch (107-146) 224 I. Graphic Images 224 II. Feminine Motifs 253 III. Class, Corruption, and Competence 278 PART TWO: THE HISTORICAL WORLD OF IN EUTROPIUM 305 5. Date and Reference (149-177) 306 6. Eastern Information at the Western Court (179-191) 363 PART THREE: THE LITERARY AND HISTORICAL WORLDS MEET 389 7. Claudian's Audiences (195-219) 390 I. Identifying Western and Eastern Audiences 391 II. Approaching the Audience: The Problem of Propaganda 404 III. The Myth of Rome 424 8. Stance and Purpose (221-262) 440 I. In Eutropium 1 442 II. In Eutropium 2 488 Conclusion: In Eutropium and the Empire of Rome (263-269) 524 Select Bibliography 538 Editions Of And Commentaries On Claudian 538 Other Works 540 Index of Passages Discussed 576 General Index 581 General,Ancient & Classical,Literary Criticism,Claudian Introduction: The Eunuch Consul And The Court Poet -- Pt. 1. The Literary World Of In Eutropium. Ch. 1. Structure And Genre. Ch. 2. Traditions Of Roman Satire. Ch. 3. Literary Traditions Of Political Invective. Ch. 4. How To Slander A Eunuch -- Pt. 2. The Historical World Of In Eutropium. Ch. 5. Date And Reference. Ch. 6. Eastern Information At The Western Court -- Pt. 3. The Literary And Historical Worlds Meet. Ch. 7. Claudian's Audiences. Ch. 8. Stance And Purpose -- Conclusion: In Eutropium And The Empire Of Rome. Jacqueline Long. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 271-283) And Indexes. From AD 395 to 404, Claudian was the court poet of the Western Roman Empire, ruled by Honorius. The poem "In Eutropium" is his response to the eunuch Eutropius becoming consul. In this study, the author argues that the poem was political propaganda, exploiting prejudices against eunuchs.