Lucius Annaeus Seneca, De Consolatione Ad Polybium [Consolation to Polybius]

Guillaume Flamerie de Lachapelle (Université Bordeaux-Montaigne)

Ed. by Sophia Papaioannou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.2: Ancient Roman Writing and Culture (Republic and Empire), -750-476.
Vol. editors: Anca Dan (École Practique de Hautes Études PSL), Martine Diepenbroek (University of Johannesburg), William John Dominik (University of Otago), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Thomas Habinek (University of Southern California), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Sophia Papaioannou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Guendalina Daniela Maria Taietti (University of Liverpool), Jula Wildberger (American University of Paris)

Domains

Philosophy (any)

Dates

First circulation or publication 43 - 44

Places

Ancient Rome (Republic & Empire) (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Dialogue
Treatise

Resources

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Overview

The Consolation to Polybius was written by Lucius Annaeus Seneca in winter 43-44 A.D (Grimal 1978, 277-279. Abel 1967, 163, argued for a redaction in the first half of 43, but most critics were not convinced by his argument.). At that time, Seneca was living in Corsica, where he was relegated in fall (?) 41, on a charge of adultery with Julia Livilla. Polybius was a powerful freedman at Claudius’ court: Seneca wrote a consolation to him after his brother died, in order to diminish his sadness. Seneca had already composed two consolationes: one for Marcia, when her son died (39-40 A.D.), and another one for his mother Helvia, who was very sad because of his exile (42? or later). In fact, as it stands (the beginning is lost), this work is not a mere moral pamphlet. It is also a

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1302 words

Citation: Flamerie de Lachapelle, Guillaume . "De Consolatione Ad Polybium". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 July 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35031, accessed 24 November 2024.]