Monstrosity in Claudian

Start - End 
2022 - 2026 (ongoing)
Type 
Department(s) 
Department of Literary Studies
Other institution(s) 
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Research Focus 
Research Period 
Research Language 

Tabgroup

Abstract

The imagery and rhetoric of monstrosity is conspicuous in Claudian’s poems. The poet has composed two verse accounts of the Gigantomachy, one fragmentary in Greek and one incomplete in Latin; moreover, the Gigantomachy theme runs throughout De Raptu Proserpinae.  Apart from these mythological poems, the foes and opponents of Stilicho appear to be monstra. Rufinus, Eutropius, Gildo, Alaric are presented by the poet as monsters that threaten the empire and destabilize the order. This dissertation intends to explore the monstra in Claudians’ poems, alike the characters of myths and historical persons and events of the poet’s era, in order to examine their multiple functions and symbolisms. A comprehensive study is going to allow the reader to interpret the meaning of monstrosity within the macrotext of the poet’s entire work.

 

Joint Phd with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

People

Supervisor(s)

Phd Student(s)

External(s)

Sophia Papaioannou

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens