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Chapter 11 - Was Memmius a Good King?

from Part V - Worldviews

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2020

By
Joseph Farrell
Edited by
Donncha O'Rourke
Donncha O'Rourke
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh
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Summary

Lucretius’ choice of addressee has engaged a number of critical responses, both historicizing and literary-critical. This chapter assesses what is distinctive about Lucretius’ approach to C. Memmius (taken to be the praetor of 58 BC and unsuccessful consular candidate of 53 BC) through comparison with the theory and practice of Epicureanism in contemporary sources, chiefly Philodemus. In the context of Memmius’ disgrace and exile to Athens, Lucretius’ invectives against ambition and similar vices take on an especially mordant character – a frank criticism that contrasts with Philodemus’ more deferential treatment of C. Calpurnius Piso, especially in On the Good King According to Homer. This difference suggests that Lucretius chose Memmius as his addressee for the very reason that this corrupt and failed Roman politician was far from being a promising disciple and badly in need of Epicurean teaching.

Keywords

C. MemmiusC. Calpurnius PisoPhilodemuspatronagepolitical corruptioncivil warVenusloveAthens
Type
Chapter
Information
Approaches to Lucretius
Traditions and Innovations in Reading the <I>De Rerum Natura</I>
 , pp. 219 - 240
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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