The Sense of Two Endings: How Virgil and Statius Conclude.

This essay examines the relationship between the conclusions of Virgil's Aeneid and the Thebaid of Statius. Its argument centers on the later poet's elimination of eroticism and emphasis on clementia. Virgil's Dido and Pallas are replaced by Parthenopaeus, and private violence yields to universal mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Illinois Classical Studies Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 85 - 150
Main Author:	PUTNAM, MICHAEL C. J.
Format:	Article
Published:	University of Illinois Press Spring2016
Subjects:	Aeneid Virgil, 70 B.C.-19 B.C. Vegio, Maffeo Eroticism in literature Theseus, King of Athens (Mythological character)
Online Access:	View this record in EBSCOhost

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Summary:	This essay examines the relationship between the conclusions of Virgil's Aeneid and the Thebaid of Statius. Its argument centers on the later poet's elimination of eroticism and emphasis on clementia. Virgil's Dido and Pallas are replaced by Parthenopaeus, and private violence yields to universal mourning. In conclusion I propose a linkage between Parthenopaeus, Parthenope, and the two poets, each with special connections to the Siren's city.