Magic as an Element of Political Debate in the Historiography and Imperial Biography of the 1st -5th Centuries Ad: A Study of Tacitus, Suetonius and ... (Studies in Classical Literature and Culture)

The book explores the hitherto rarely discussed connection of magic with politics in the writings of Tacitus, Suetonius and Ammianus Marcellinus, offering insight into the way language of magic and ritual pollution is used as means of characterization and historiosophical commentary on the nature of power and political struggle. Religious deviation and innovation, theurgy, necromancy, black and erotic magic, the topoi of an emperor-magician, a semi-divine emperor-healer/saviour and a witch/poisoner, all play an important role in the analyzed texts. Magic is depicted as a way of abusing the official state religion; every such abuse disturbs pax deorum and brings misery on both the perpetrator and the whole state. Cover Series Information Copyright Information Contents Preface 1 Tacitus Introduction 1.1 The year of the four emperors 1.1.1 On pollutae caerimoniae and prodigia 1.1.2 Galba 1.1.3 Otho 1.1.4 Vitellius 1.2 The Flavians 1.3 The Annals. The first hexad 1.3.1 Venus, the foundations of the principate and the language of magic 1.3.2 Augustus and Livia 1.3.3 Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, victims of magic 1.3.4 Tiberius 1.4 The last Julio-Claudians 1.4.1 Claudius and his wives 1.4.2 Nero Conclusions 2 Suetonius Introduction 2.1 Julius Caesar: A preface to the Lives 2.2 Augustus 2.3 Tiberius 2.4 Caligula 2.5 Claudius 2.6 Nero 2.7 Galba, Otho and Vitellius 2.8 Vespasian, Titus and Domitian Conclusions 3 Ammianus Marcellinus Introduction 3.1 Gallus 3.2 Constantius 3.3 Julian 3.4 Valentinian and Valens Conclusions Epilogue Appendix 1 Trials under Tiberius in the Annals Appendix 2 Trials under Claudius in the Annals Appendix 3 Trials under Nero in the Annals Bibliography Index Series Index