Canidia, Rome’s First Witch (Bloomsbury Classical Studies Monographs)

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About Canidia, Rome’s First Witch

Product Description Canidia is one of the most well-attested witches in Latin literature. She appears in no fewer than six of Horace's poems, three of which she has a prominent role in. Throughout Horace's Epodes and Satires she perpetrates acts of grave desecration, kidnapping, murder, magical torture and poisoning. She invades the gardens of Horace's literary patron Maecenas, rips apart a lamb with her teeth, starves a Roman child to death, and threatens to unnaturally prolong Horace's life to keep him in a state of perpetual torment. She can be seen as an anti-muse: Horace repeatedly sets her in opposition to his literary patron, casts her as the personification of his iambic poetry, and gives her the surprising honor of concluding not only his Epodes but also his second book of Satires. This volume is the first comprehensive treatment of Canidia. It offers translations of each of the three poems which feature Canidia as a main character as well as the relevant portions from the other three poems in which Canidia plays a minor role. These translations are accompanied by extensive analysis of Canidia's part in each piece that takes into account not only the poems' literary contexts but their magico-religious details. Review “In seeking to understand this literary figure on her own terms in each of her major appearances, Paule strengthens our understanding of Horace's poetic intent and enriches our appreciation of the complexity of the poet's engagement with witches and demonic figures. Paule's prose style is clear and strives to engage the reader. The combination of clarity and insightful analysis in this monograph makes the positions offered engaging.” –Bryn Mawr Classical Review“Students of Horatian poetry are likely to be Paule’s primary audience, but those interested in the poetic potential of characters that might deceptively strike as flat or “stock” will find much of value here, as will those occupied with witch figures in literature more generally. The strengths of Paule’s discussion lie in is ability to identify insightful poetic allusions and connections internal and external to Horace’s poetry.” – Ancient History Bulletin About the Author Maxwell Teitel Paule is Assistant Professor of Ancient and Classical Studies at Earlham College, USA.