Fraternal Strife among Statius' Gods

Abstract

This thesis investigates the intertextual relationship between Poseidon’s speech in Iliad 15 andthat of Pluto in Book 8 of Statius’ Thebaid. Both gods express anger with their brother Zeus/Jupiter, refer to the mythical drawing of lots for the universe, and allude to the threat of cosmic upheaval from the ensuing conflict. In order to provide essential background for my discussion of the Homeric and Statian speeches, I begin the thesis with an overview of the division myth as envisioned by different authors, tracing its development from the Greek archaic period to the Roman Flavian context. Although Statius borrows numerous elements from the Homeric model, he diverges from his predecessor in his depiction of divine fraternal strife. Whereas the Homeric Poseidon considers himself equal to Zeus as a sharer in the divisions but submits to his brother, Statius’ Pluto admits that he has received the inferior allotment yet challenges his superior brother. The thesis will then conclude by considering how Statius’ reading of the division myth may have been influenced by Rome’s history, which was marred with civil war and concerns over the sharing of power.