Accius, Porcius Licinus, and the Beginning of Latin Literature

Bibliographic Data

ID9306914
AuthorsJarrett T Welsh (0000-0002-8492-933X, University of Toronto, corresponding author)
Year2011
Volume101
Pages31-50
Publication date2011-04-27
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Roman Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0075-4358 • E-ISSN: 1753-528X
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0075435811000025
OpenAlexW2038294439
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited21

This paper re-examines the scholarly views about the beginning of Latin poetry that were current in the late second century b.c ., and proposes that the earliest scholars, specifically Accius and Porcius Licinus, marked Livius Andronicus’ hymn to Juno Regina of 207 b.c ., rather than a play in 197 b.c ., as the fountainhead of Latin literature. Those histories would suggest that the dominant interpretation put poetry at the heart of the affairs of the state at war; when in the early 40s b.c . Varro and his contemporaries disproved Accius, they were both bringing out new facts about Livius’ earlier career, and rewriting the history of Latin poetry, so that it had its origins in peace, rather than in war

Art · Hymn · Interpretation (philosophy · Latin Americans · Latin literature · Linguistics · Literature · Poetry · Rewriting · State (computer science · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical and Literary Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History · Philosophy

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