Classics

We will read, translate and comment Suetonius’ lives of Caligula and Nero, with lectures ex cathedra, seminars of invited speakers, talkings of the students.

Students are supposed to have an advanced knowledge of Latin language and Latin literature.

Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars, ed. C. Edwards, Oxford 2008

Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended.

The students will be asked to read, translate and comment two passages from Suetonius' lives of Caligula and Nero. In order to obtain the minium grade, 18/30, the student will have to translate correctly, and to provide a basic commentary. To get the maximum grade, 30/30 cum laude, the student will have to translate in a very good way, also stylistically speaking, and to provide a insightful commentary, with reference to other passages and sources on the topic.

Critical edition: C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Vitae duodecim Caesarum, ed. R.A. Kaster, Oxford 2016 R.A. Kaster, Studies on the Text of Suetonius’ De vita Caesarum, Oxford 2016 Essays: 1) about Suetonius' Lives of the Twelve Caesars C. Svetonio Tranquillo, Vite dei Cesari, a c. di P. Ramondetti, Torino 2008 Svetonio, La vita di Caligola, a c. di G. Guastella, Roma 1992 Suetonius, Life of Caligula, ed. D. Wardle, Bruxelles 1994 Suetonius, Life of Nero, ed. K.R. Bradley, Bruxelles 1978 2)about Suetonius and his cultural milieu E. Galfré/C. Schubert (eds.), Suétone narrateur. Biographie und Erzählung in De vita Caesarum, Berlin/Boston 2024 (open access) B. Baldwin, Suetonius, Amsterdam 1983 R. Gibson/T. Power (eds.), Suetonius the Biographer: Studies in Roman Lives, Oxford 2014 A. Wallace-Hadrill, Suetonius: The Scholar and His Caesars, London 1983 F.R. Berno, Roman Luxuria. A Literary and Cultural History, Oxford 2023

4 hours: introduction and illustration of evaluation process 4 hours introduction to Suetonius and De vita Caesarum 34 hours close reading by Suetonius, with insights on Latin language and culture and parallels with other sources