Publius Papinius Statius, Thebaid

Neil Bernstein (Ohio University)

Ed. by Sophia Papaioannou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Jula Wildberger (The American University of Paris)

Dates

c.080- c.092

Places

Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire) (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Epic

Resources

The best known work of the poet Publius Papinius Statius (c. 45-96 CE), the Thebaid is an epic poem written in twelve books of Latin hexameter verse (9741 lines). The subject is the mythical war between the brothers Polynices and Eteocles for the throne of the Greek city of Thebes. In book 1, Oedipus curses his sons Eteocles and Polynices and condemns them to fight for his throne. The brothers agree to alternate yearly rule of the city. Polynices leaves Thebes for Argos, whose king Adrastus welcomes him and engages him to his daughter Argia. The couple are married in book 2, along with Polynices’ new-found friend Tydeus who marries Adrastus’ other daughter Deipyle. Tydeus then proceeds to Thebes to demand the throne from …

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2035 words

Citation: Bernstein, Neil. "Thebaid". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 February 2013 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=34879, accessed 22 November 2024.]

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