A contribution to the reading of Seneca’s Troades

Abstract

This article proposes a reading of Seneca’s Troades. Mora stands out as the crucial action mechanism of the play. Life is an obstacle to liberation. Mora maris and mora mortis equal winners and losers in grief. Losers are granted the liberation from all their worries and hopes. Winners are haunted by the doubt surrounding the success of their journey. With the departure of ships, mora mortis is transferred from winners onto losers. The reappraisal of questions pertaining to sources is omitted, particularly the parallel with Euripides’ tragedies.