Not an “innocent spectacle”: hunting and venationes in Plutarch’s De sollertia animalium

Abstract

This contribution focuses on Plutarch’s longest text on animals, De sollertia animalium, and proposes to consider more closely its cultural and political context by reassessing the signifi cance of the theme of hunting. The author argues that Plutarch in the dialogue refers to Roman staged beast shows, venationes, and that their criticism constitutes a vital element of the text.