The references to the cult of Vesta included in numerous excerpts of Seneca the Elder’s collection of "Controversiae" offer a proof of the technical competence of declaimers in recalling the conditions prescribed by pontifical law for being admitted and kept in this priesthood, of which we are informed by the antiquarian tradition. Furthermore, these passages, which also show the importance recognized from an ethical viewpoint to values such as ‘castitas’ and ‘pudicitia’ in the time of Augustus and Tiberius, can be interpreted in light of some special episodes and dispositions stated by the historiographical tradition which reveal their interest in promoting and consolidating the cult of the Goddess Vesta protector of Rome’s Empire. Beyond the scholastic practice, the same interest is equally shared in the literary sphere by Seneca the Elder, as we can understand from the quotations within his work of excerpts from "Controversiae" dealing with Vestals.
Istituzioni religiose e pratica declamatoria in età augustea e tiberiana: il culto di Vesta in Seneca il Vecchio / I.G. MASTROROSA. - STAMPA. - (2016), pp. 293-307.
Istituzioni religiose e pratica declamatoria in età augustea e tiberiana: il culto di Vesta in Seneca il Vecchio
MASTROROSA, IDA GILDA
2016
Abstract
The references to the cult of Vesta included in numerous excerpts of Seneca the Elder’s collection of "Controversiae" offer a proof of the technical competence of declaimers in recalling the conditions prescribed by pontifical law for being admitted and kept in this priesthood, of which we are informed by the antiquarian tradition. Furthermore, these passages, which also show the importance recognized from an ethical viewpoint to values such as ‘castitas’ and ‘pudicitia’ in the time of Augustus and Tiberius, can be interpreted in light of some special episodes and dispositions stated by the historiographical tradition which reveal their interest in promoting and consolidating the cult of the Goddess Vesta protector of Rome’s Empire. Beyond the scholastic practice, the same interest is equally shared in the literary sphere by Seneca the Elder, as we can understand from the quotations within his work of excerpts from "Controversiae" dealing with Vestals.I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.