Article
Juvenal renewed in Claudian’sIn eutropium
International Journal of the Classical Tradition
(1996)
Abstract
The quintessentially Roman institution of the consulate saw one eunuch, Eutropius, entered into and then erased from its rolls ina.d. 399. Claudian, poet of the western imperial court, vilified Eutropius's elevation and gloated over his fall in two books of vivid invective. He continually evokes the satires of Juvenal to sharpen and deepen his attack. Over-tones ofSatire 2 help make the scandalous sexuality Claudian attributes to Eutropius, especially in Book 1, portend disaster to the Roman state. The imperial council ofSatire 4 underlies Eutropius's council in Book 2: it centers the epic travesty of Eutrpius's response to rebellion by Gothic troops. Through his, appropriation of Juvenalian language, Claudian appropriates Juvenal's authority for Roman outrage gainst perversions of Roman mores, and renews it in his own age.
Disciplines
Publication Date
1996
DOI
10.1007/BF02678061
Citation Information
Jacqueline Long. "Juvenal renewed in Claudian’sIn eutropium" International Journal of the Classical Tradition Vol. 2 Iss. 3 (1996) p. 321 - 335 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jacqueline_long/10/