The Mythic Voice of Statius: Power and Politics in the Thebaid

This study examines the thematic design and intent of Statius’s Thebaid and considers the question of its contemporary relevance. It focuses on the central theme of power, how it is exercised on the supernatural and human levels and the consequences of its pursuit and abuse in terms of the human condition. The ensuing discussion explores the political undercurrents of the epic. The discussion is in four main parts: use and abuse of supernatural power; pursuit and abuse of monarchal power; consequences of the abuse of power; and political allusions to contemporary Rome. The views expressed represent a fundamental departure from previous studies and constitute a critical reassessment of the Thebaid . Translations make the book accessible to the Latinless reader.