Suetonius’ Famous Courtesans

This chapter reconstructs the work attested by the sixth-century writer John Lydus as Suetonius’ Famous Courtesans, a title which has long been used as evidence for the biographer’s prurient interests. Misconceptions about the work are refuted first, followed by a survey of what is known about ancient courtesan literature in general. It is argued that the Famous Courtesans was not in fact a collection of biographies at all, but rather a scholarly work on female characters who appear in Roman poetry. Possible fragments identified from the work are examined, and new ones proposed. This study has important implications for the way in which the Romans viewed Roman poetry, especially its depictions of women, as well as for the closeness and interrelation of Suetonius’ biographical and scholarly endeavours.

Art · Closeness · Literature · Poetry · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classics

• Structure and Persuasion in Suetonius’ De Vita Caesarvm

  Open Access•Phoebe Garrett•Ramus•2018

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