Panegyricus de Sexto Consulatu Honorii Augusti

Claudian is often called the last poet of the classical tradition. This is the first ever English edition of his last extant work, with a full introduction, newly edited text, facing English translation, and commentary. It shows Claudian at the height of his considerable powers. A superb example of the literature of late antiquity, it records in exquisite and glittering verse the splendour of the western imperial court; but it is also a unique historical witness to the events and attitudes of the last years of the Roman empire. The poem celebrates the defeat of Alaric the Visigoth's first invasion of Italy (AD 402), and, ironically, predicts that he will never trouble the Romans again. Only a few years later (in 410), Alaric went on to capture Rome itself - the first capture of the city by a foreign army in eight centuries - shaking the ancient world's perception of Rome's imperial destiny to the foundations. This book provides a detailed analysis not only of the historical background but above all of Claudian's language, style, imagery, and impressive use of a wide range of other Greek and Latin sources.