De rio lamacento a corrente cristalina: a transformação do espaço e da paisagem em Silvas 4.3

Abstract

The inauguration of the Via Domitiana provided Statius with a new reason to dedicate a poem to the Emperor: Silvae 4.3. The piece celebrates this event described by a number of different voices. The voice of Volturnus, the river of Capua, is most relevant in this composition, embodying the impact suffered by the Italian space and landscape. This point has attracted different interpretations, suggesting to some a magnificent eulogy of the Emperor, and to others a hidden critique to the enterprises’ hubristic character and, therefore, to his mentor. In the present paper, I propose an approach from a generic point of view, analysing the use of traditional topics such as space and landscape.