Recusatio and praise to Domitian in Statius’ epic proemia (Theb. 1.1 45; Ach. 1.1-19)

Abstract

In this paper, the proemia to Statius’ epic poems, Thebaid (1.1-45) and Achilleid (1.1-19) are analyzed as dedications to Domitian. We argue that the proemia are central to these works, since it is through them that Statius builds the ideal scenography underlying the imperial praise and the justification of his choice of mythological themes. Through the use of the concepts of éthos and scenography, we analyze the proemia and argue that the poet’s excusatio, as it appears in the poems, contributed to determine his poetic place and to shape his éthos as a poet-client.