Marcus annaeus lucanus 3 november 39 ad 30 april 65 ad, better known in english as lucan. I sing of a worse than civil war, of war fought between kinsmen over pharsalias plains, of wickedness deemed justice. Pharsalia aka the civil war by lucan marcus annaeus lucanus a. Lucan s pharsalia, volume 1 paperback august 11, 2011 by lucan creator see all 15 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. It breaks off with caesar trapped in alexandria by the egyptians. Though the subject of this unfinished masterpiece is historical, many of its features are characteristic of epic poetry.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally. This newly annotated, free verse translation conveys the full force of lucan s writing and his grimly realistic view of the subject. Civil war also known as the pharsalia must stand as a contender for the weirdest and craziest epic poem of all time. Lucan s epic poem on the civil war between caesar and pompey, unfinished at the time of his death, stands beside the poems of virgil and ovid in the first rank of latin epic. In his epic the civil war, lucan 3965 ce carries us from caesars fateful crossing of the rubicon, through.
The latter is the work to which the pharsalia is most naturally compared and, although lucan frequently appropriates ideas from vergils epic, he often inverts them in order to undermine their original, heroic. Emathia was apart of macedonia, but the word is used loosely for thessaly or macedonia. Pharsalia edition 1 by lucan 97808014876 paperback. Literally translated into english prose with copious notes. It pays particular attention to lucan s inheritance from virgils augustan epic and response to its challenge. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important. Annaeus lucanus was a poet during neros reign, and the poem is dedicated to him. There were many who dreamed at the time that the disasters of the civil war were being compensated by. Book i summarises the background to the civil war between caesar and pompey and takes the narrative as far as caesars crossing of the rubicon and the outbreak of panic in the city of rome, including many signs and portents.
Lucan, the civil war pharsalia loeb classical library. The pharsalia of lucan, book 1, like new used, free. Accessible book, campaigns, criticism and interpretation, early works to 1800, facsimiles. Lucan s great poem, pharsalia, recounts events surrounding the decisive battle fought near pharsalus in 48 b. Complete summary of christopher marlowes lucans first book pharsalia. Pharsalia, civil war by marcus annaeus lucanus full text. Caesar sends curio to sicily and sardinia, and proceeds to rome, 46128. Book i the civil war begins book ii pompey in retreat book iii conflict in the mediterranean book iv victory for caesar in spain book v caesar the dictator in illyria book vi thessaly. He is regarded as one of the outstanding figures of the imperial latin period, known in particular for his epic pharsalia. Lucan, a first century roman poet, wrote a long epic though unfinished called pharsalia, chronicling the civil war between the general pompey the great and julius caesar. Though the subject of this unfinished masterpiece is historical, many of its features are characteristic. Dramatic episodes of the civil wars by lucan 39 65, translated by j. Complete summary of christopher marlowes lucan s first book pharsalia. The pharsalia of lucan, book 1, isbn 0461852403, isbn 9780461852400, like new used, free shipping in the us seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
This paper examines the poetic qualities of caesars speech in two episodes from lucan s pharsalia and argues that caesar attempts to rival lucan in the poetic representation of romes past. Over 14 million journal, magazine, and newspaper articles. Cato collects the defeated forces and retreats to africa, 2664, and is joined by cornelia, 61140. Pharsalia, volume 1 by lucan meet your next favorite book. Index of pharsalia, civil war next part 2 pharsalia aka the civil war by lucan marcus annaeus lucanus a. The crossing of the rubicon wars worse than civil on emathian plains. Whilst, in rome, lucan s parents were able to afford a good education for their son. Lucans pharsalia book i lines 1165 a new translation with text and commentary by e. This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by douglas b.
The epic poem pharsalia on the war between julius caesar and pompey is considered lucan s magnum opus, although it remained unfinished at his death, stopping abruptly in the middle of the 10th book. The unfinished pharsalia narrates the roman civil wars first phase, which ended almost thirty years later in the victory of caesars grandnephew octavius augustus, over the forces of mark anthony and the egyptian queen cleopatra at the naval battle of actium. Meeting of pompeius sons, and lamentations of cornelia and the army, 141224. Pharsalia vol 1 originally written in latin, approximately a. Wars worse than civil on emathian 1 plains, and crime let loose we sing. Erictho is a witchthe witch, in fact and her underworld sequence at the end of book vi has been called both the worst and the best section in the book. Lucans pharsalia book i lines 1 165 a new translation with text and commentary by e. Written during the reign of nero, lucans civil war was arguably the last great epic poem written in antiquity at least in the west. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. His youth and speed of composition set him apart from other poets. Book i the crossing of the rubicon wars worse than civil on emathian 1 plains, and crime let loose we sing. It pays particular attention to lucan s inheritance from virgils augustan epic and response to. Lucan was heavily influenced by latin poetic tradition, notably ovids metamorphoses and vergils aeneid. Although the work has been generally known through most of history as the pharsalia, modern scholarship tends to agree that this was not lucan s choice for a.
Armies akin embattled, with the force of all the shaken earth bent on the fray. Contemporary venetian blindstamped calf, covers with multiple frames enclosing central panel with geometric design formed by small floral tools, upper cover with early vellum supralibros featuring a. Read the fulltext online edition of the pharsalia of lucan. This paper examines the poetic qualities of caesars speech in two episodes from lucans pharsalia and argues that caesar attempts to rival lucan in the poetic representation of romes past. Dramatic episodes of the civil wars by lucan free ebook. Christopher marlowes poems lucans first book summary and. Pharsalia book 1 poem by marcus annaeus lucanus poem hunter. Lines that have explanatory notes have the line number in brackets at the end of the line. Although incomplete, it is often considered the greatest epic poem of the silver age of latin literature, and it tells the story of the civil war between julius caesar and the forces of the roman senate led by pompey the great.
Civil war by lucan goodreads meet your next favorite book. The title given by posterity to the poem refers to the battle of pharsalus, which took. Lucan conveys this by using a simile book 1, lines 1517 that compares caesar to a thunderbolt. The civil war pharsalia lucan harvard university press. I recommend reading the introduction below first, then reading through the commentary posts in order. There are aspects of both stoicism and epicureanism in pharsalia, neither obviously dominating. I sing of a worse than civil war, of war fought between kinsmen over pharsalia s plains, of wickedness deemed justice.
Pharsalia is an 1814 plantation where weddings, tours, and events are hosted. The poem as we have it is unfinished nero ordered lucan to commit suicide at the age of 25, but whats left is a fairly complete story of the war between julius caesar and. But having defeated nero in a poetry contest he was interdicted from further recitals or publication. Marcus annaeus lucanus marcus annaeus lucanus poems. Pharsalia, civil war by marcus annaeus lucanus part 1 out of 6. Pharsalia book 1 poem by marcus annaeus lucanus poem. They lived in roman spain, but before lucan s first birthday, his parents decided to move to the capital. Sep 15, 2016 the pharsalia, also known as on the civil war and the civil war, is a roman epic poem by the poet lucan, telling of the civil war between julius caesar and the forces of the roman senate led by. The cilicians wish to desert, but are recalled by cato. Of wars across emathian plains, worse than civil wars, 1. Civil war is the only surviving work of lucan, a roman writer from the 1st century. Later, it came to be called the pharsalia, the name of the battle where pompey met defeat.
Mar 20, 2012 erictho is a witchthe witch, in fact and her underworld sequence at the end of book vi has been called both the worst and the best section in the book. The poem is popularly known as the pharsalia, largely due to lines 9856 in book 9, which read, pharsalia nostra vivet our pharsalia shall live on. Annaeus mela and nephew of seneca, was born at corduba cordova in spain and was brought as a baby to rome. In 60 ce at a festival in emperor neros honour lucan praised him in a panegyric and was promoted to one or two minor offices. The soldiers demand a battle, and are supported by cicero in a speech, 53101. By 65 he was composing the tenth book but then became involved in the unsuccessful plot of piso against. Marcus annaeus lucanus was born into a wealthy family. The eve of the battle of pharsalia and the dream of pompeius, lines 152. And burst asunder, to the common guilt, a kingdoms. Lucan skilfully adapts virgils aeneid and the traditional elements of the epic genre often by inversion or negation as a kind of negative compositional model for his new anti. Its definitely one of the most extreme, if only because lucan comes off as exceptionally selfconscious, piling on the gratuitous horrors far beyond the point where most anyone would stop. Located within beautiful orchards and vineyards at the foot of depreist mountain in nelson county, virginia, pharsalia is a flower farm offering gorgeous local flowers to brides and designers.