Roman Historians: The Portentous Princeps,
Claudius, LAT 118 B
Brandeis University, Spring 2016
Class Meets: M, W, Th Block E, 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Instructor: Trevor S. Luke (Associate Professor, FSU)
Visiting Professor, Roman History and Latin
Department of Classical Studies, MS 092
Phone:
850-294-5800 (voice mail)
E-mail:
tluke@brandeis.edu
Office Hours: Mon. and Wed. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., and gladly by appointment
Course Assistant: James Martin, Candidate for an M.A. in Ancient Greek and
Roman Studies
Office Hours: TBA and by appointment, in Rabb 359
Four-Credit Course (with three hours of class-time per week
Success in this four-credit course is based on the expectation that students will
spend a minimum of 9 hours of study time per week in preparation for class
(readings, papers, discussion sections, preparation for papers or exams, etc.).
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis
University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this
class, please see me immediately.
Required Texts:
1. D. W. Hurley (2001) Suetonius: Divus Claudius, Cambridge: CUP, ISBN 0521-59676-9
2. H. W. Benario (1983) Tacitus Annals 11 and 12, New York: University Press
of America, ISBN 0-8191-3481-3
Recommended Reading:
1. B. Levick (1990) Claudius, New Haven and London: Yale University Press
2. J. J. Cohen (1996) “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)” in Monster Theory:
Reading Culture. University of Minnesota Press: 3-25
3. J. Mottershead (1986) Suetonius: Claudius, Bristol: Bristol Classical Press
4. W. Kierdorf (1992) Sueton: Leben des Claudius und Nero, Paderborn:
Schöningh
5. A. Wallace-Hadrill (1984) Suetonius: The Scholar and His Caesars. New
Haven: Yale University Press
6. J. P. Sullivan (1986) Petronius: Satyricon; Seneca: Apocolocyntosis. New York
and London: Penguin
Course Description and Learning Goals:
LAT 118B is a course in reading Latin prose works of biography and history. In
accordance with this mission, this iteration of the course will find its focus in the
reading and understanding of the Latin prose of Suetonius and Tacitus. In
addition, however, this course is about how Roman writers and thinkers of the
early second century CE grappled with the figure of Claudius, an emperor who
was by all accounts ill equipped and apparently unsuitable to serve as the ruler
of the Roman Empire.
The latter goal demands that we consider Roman norms of politics, society, and
religion as we try to understand how Romans responded to the unthinkable but
factual occurrence of having an emperor who seemed to be a bad omen
(portentous) in his very person. One Roman option for intellectually and
emotionally grappling with such enormities was that of humor/satire. We will
therefore consider the presence and influence of humor and satire in the
historical narratives of the emperor Claudius.
In addition to in-class translations, each student will prepare and deliver a short
(5-10 minute) article review from the articles listed on the schedule or another
selection approved by the instructor. Graduate students will also deliver
presentations on specific problems regarding the literary treatment of the figure
of Claudius in Seneca, Suetonius, and Tacitus. Topics will be chosen in
consultation with the instructor. The form of the presentations will be that of a
conference paper, complete with a handout including pertinent texts with
translations and a bibliography. A short question and answer period will follow
each presentation. It is expected that students will utilize a broad range of
materials and methods in addressing the questions they seek to answer. The
course thus promises to enhance critical thinking, writing, and oral presentation
skills.
Assignments and Grading:
Your performance in the course will be assessed in three areas: 1. Attendance and
preparation for translations; 2. Translation exams; 3. Presentation and paper.
Undergraduate Students
1. Attendance and preparation:
2. Quizzes (2):
3. Final Exam:
4. Final Paper (10-12pp):
30% (5% article review)
10% (x2=20%)
30%
30%
Graduate Students
1. Attendance and preparation:
30% (5%, article review)
2.
3.
4.
5.
Quizzes (2):
Final Exam:
Presentation (w/handout):
Final Paper (15-20pp):
10% (x2=20%)
15%
15%
20%
Total: 100%
Academic honesty:
You are expected to be honest in all of your academic work. Brandeis Univ.
policy on academic honesty is contained in your Student Handbook in section 5
under “Rights and Responsibilities.” Instances of cheating, plagiarism, or other
alleged dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Campus Life for possible
referral to the Student Judicial System. The adjudication process is also outlined
in your Handbook. Potential consequences of academic dishonesty include (in
addition to an “E” on the assignment in question) failure in the course,
disciplinary probation, and suspension from the University. A record of any
offense will remain in a student’s disciplinary file in the Office of Student Affairs
throughout his or her career at Brandeis. Please know that I, although a visitor,
take this code very seriously. If you have any questions, please direct them to
me.
Paper:
Each student will write a term paper. Undergraduate papers will be 10 – 12
pages in length, graduate papers 15-20. The papers will have a title page
including the title, the student’s name, course number, and instructor’s name.
Formatting of the paper will be 1” margins, double-spaced, with 12pt Times New
Roman font. Pages must be numbered. Citations and bibliography should follow
the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style or Teubner. All papers will be
graded on the coherence and persuasiveness of the argument (40%), analysis and
use of evidence (40%), and mechanics (20%). All papers are due May 2 by
midnight and are to be emailed to the instructor as a Microsoft Word .doc or
.docx file.
Schedule of Meetings, Assignments, and Exams:
The assignments listed on a particular date are to be read before the meeting on
that day. This schedule may be subject to changes, but the instructor will give
students notice of any changes at least one meeting in advance.
JANUARY
Wednesday, January 13
Introduction to the course, its goals, and the syllabus. Lecture on the Roman
Empire, Roman Emperors, and Suetonius.
Reading: Buy Hurley. Read DIR biographies of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and
Claudius. For latter, see:
http://www.roman-emperors.org/impindex.htm
Thursday, January 14
Reading: Suetonius, Divus Claudius (DC) 1; Hurley, 1-22; Suetonius, Divus
Augustus. For latter, see:
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/
Augustus*.html
_________________________________________________________________week 1
Monday, January 18
No meeting
Wednesday, January 20
Reading: DC, 2 – 4; Cohen, “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)” through Latte.
Thursday, January 21
Reading: DC, 5 – 8; A. W. J. Holleman, “Did the emperor Claudius have Etruscan
blood in his veins?” AC 57 (1988), 298-300; J. Vanderspoel, “The Etruscan
emperor Claudius,” RhM 133 (1990), 413-14
_________________________________________________________________week 2
Monday, January 25
Reading: DC, 9 – 11; Josephus, Antiquities 19.1-4; T. P. Wiseman, “Killing
Caligula,” Pegasus 16 (1988): 1-9; A. G. G. Gibson, “All things to all men: Claudius
and the politics of AD 41,” in The Julio-Claudian Succession: reality and perception of
the Augustan model: 107-32
Wednesday, January 27
Reading: DC, 12 – 15; J. G. Wolf, “Claudius Iudex,” in Die Regierungszeit des
Kaisers Claudius: 145-56
Thursday, January 28
Reading: DC, 16 – 20; F. X. Ryan, “Some observations on the censorship of
Claudius and Vitellius, A. D. 47-48,” AJP 114 (1993), 611-18
_________________________________________________________________week 3
FEBRUARY
Monday, February 1
Reading: DC, 21 – 23; R. F. Newbold, “The spectacles as an issue between Gaius
and the Senate,” PACA 13 (1975), 30-35
Wednesday, February 3
Reading: DC, 24 – 25; E. W. Haley, “Suetonius, Claudius 24.1, and the sons of
freedmen,” Historia 35 (1986), 115-21; A. Major, “Claudius’ edict on sick slaves,”
Scholia 3 (1994), 84-90
Thursday, February 4
Reading: DC, 26 – 28; C. M. C. Green, “Claudius, kingship and incest,” Latomus
57 (1998), 765-91
_________________________________________________________________week 4
Monday, February 8
Reading: DC, 29-34; B. Baldwin, “Executions under Claudius. Seneca’s Ludus de
morte Claudii,” Phoenix 18 (1964), 39-48
Wednesday, February 10
Reading: DC, 35-40
Thursday, February 11
Reading: DC, 41-46; D. Fishwick, “The deification of Claudius,” CQ 52.1 (2002),
341-49
_________________________________________________________________week 5
February 15-19 No class
_________________________________________________________________week 6
Monday, February 22
Quiz 1
Wednesday, February 24
Reading: Tac. 11.1 – 5; F. Roemer, “Das Ende des Valerius Asiaticus bei Tacitus,”
in Antidosis. Festschrift für Walther Kraus zum 70. Geburtstag: 290-96
Thursday, February 25
Reading: Tac. 11.11-12; J. P. Poe, “The Secular Games, the Aventine, and the
pomerium,” ClAnt 3 (1984), 57-81
_________________________________________________________________week 7
Monday, February 29
Reading: Tac. 11.13-15; P. M. Swan, “A consular Epicurean under the early
principate,” Phoenix 30 (1976), 54-60
MARCH
Wednesday, March 2
Reading: Tac. 11.23-25; [English] M. T. Griffin, “The Lyon tablet and Tacitean
hindsight,” CQ 32 (1982), 404-18
Thursday, March 3
Reading: Tac. 11.25.5-30; G. Fagan, “Messalina’s Folly,” CQ 52.2 (2002), 566-79
_________________________________________________________________week 8
Monday, March 7
Reading: Tac. 11.31-34; C. J. Nappa, “The unfortunate marriage of Gaius Silius:
Tacitus and Juvenal on the fall of Messalina,” in Latin historiography and poetry:
189-204
Wednesday, March 9
Reading: Tac. 11.35-38
Thursday, March 10
Reading: Tac. 12.1-4
_________________________________________________________________week 9
Monday, March 14
Reading: Tac. 12.5-9; R. G. Mayer, “Oratory in Tacitus’ Annals,”in Form and
function in Roman oratory: 281-93
Wednesday, March 16
Reading: Tac. 12.22-24; M. T. Boatwright, “Tacitus on Claudius and the
pomerium, Annals 12.23.2-4,” CJ 80 (1984), 46-44
Thursday, March 17
Reading: Tac. 12.25-27.1; R. M. Geer, “Notes on the early life of Nero,” TAPhA
(1931), 57-67
________________________________________________________________week 10
Monday, March 21
Reading: Tac. 12.31-33; A. A. Barrett, “The military situation in Britain in A.D.
47,” AJPh 100 (1979), 538-40
Wednesday, March 23
Reading: Tac. 12.34-37
Thursday, March 24
Reading: Tac. 12.37-40
________________________________________________________________week 11
Monday, March 28
No meeting
Wednesday, March 30
Quiz 2
Thursday, March 31
Reading: Tac. 12.41-43
________________________________________________________________week 12
APRIL
Monday, April 4
Reading: Tac. 12.52-54; N. Kokkinos, “A fresh look at the gentilicium of Felix,
procurator of Judea,” Latomus 49 (1990), 126-41
Wednesday, April 6
Reading: Tac. 12.56-57; M. K. Thornton, “The draining of the Fucine Lake. A
quantitative analysis,” AncW 12 (1985), 105-20
Thursday, April 7
Reading: Tac. 12.58-60
________________________________________________________________week 13
Monday, April 11
Reading: Tac. 12.61-64; S. J. Bastomsky, “Tacitus, Annals 14.64.1: Octavia’s
pathetic plea,” Latomus 51 (1992), 606-10
Wednesday, April 13
Reading: Tac. 12.65-69; M. K. Jaeger, “Blame the boletus?: demystifying
mushrooms in Latin literature,” Ramus 40.1 (2011), 15-32
Thursday, April 14
Presentations
________________________________________________________________week 14
Monday, April 18
Presentations
Wednesday, April 20
Presentations
Thursday, April 21
Presentations
________________________________________________________________week 15
April 21 - 29: No meetings
________________________________________________________________week 16
MAY
Monday, May 2
Course retrospective; Final Paper Due
May 11, 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Final Exam