heroic body, flavian ideal: a reading of Valerius flaccus’ Argonautica

Authors

  • Natan Henrique Taveira Baptista

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14393/artc-v21-n38-2019-50160

Keywords:

argonautica, Valerius Flac-cus, heroic body

Abstract

In this article, the representations of the heroic body in Valerius Flaccus’ argonautica are interpreted, and then located politically in the newly initiated Principality of Vespasian. First, the contributions that the examination of the mythological epic genre, especially its factual and fictional components, offer for Historical Epistemology are presented. Then, the mythopoetic aspects related to the Valerian heroic body, from the agonistic and emulative spirit of the literary tradition in Classics, are investigated and analyzed. Finally, it is concluded that the construction of the hero by Flaccus, as well as his corporal dimension, are based first on athletic, martial and expansionist virtues, such as boldness, honor, fame and glory. Thus, Flaccus renews the epic hero to the context of the Flavian rise, when the emphasis on military abilities was expected, since the then current government had ascended by the mastery of this skill. The conclusion is therefore that the Valerian epic and the heroic ideal of Jason, in particular, allude and promote the new regime and the newly founded dynasty.

 

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Author Biography

Natan Henrique Taveira Baptista

Doutorando pelo Programa de Pós-graduação em História da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes). Bolsista da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (capes). Coorganizador do livro Ludus: poesia, esporte, educação. Vitória: PPgl, 2018.

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Published

2019-06-12

How to Cite

Taveira Baptista , N. H. . (2019). heroic body, flavian ideal: a reading of Valerius flaccus’ Argonautica. ArtCultura, 21(38), 73–89. https://doi.org/10.14393/artc-v21-n38-2019-50160

Issue

Section

Dossiê: História & poesia épica