Citation

Utard R. Revue Belge de Philologie et de Histoire 2015; 93(1): 81-100.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015)

DOI

10.3406/rbph.2015.8648

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The episode which recounts the collective suicide of Vulteius and his men in Book IV of the Pharsalia (IV, 448-581) is marked by both an epic and a tragic colouring. Yet the act of bravery of these men, at the cost of a voluntary death, which certainly brings them glory as much in the eyes of their companions as of their opponents, is denounced by Lucan as the ascendancy and embodiment of furor. This engenders nothing other than an act of fratricide, another image of the nefas of civil wars.

Language: en