Statius' Roman Penelope: Exemplarity, Praise and Gender in Silvae 3.5

Abstract

This article is mainly concerned with Statius' Silvae 3. 5, addressed to his wife Claudia. It intends to demonstrate how exemplarity and praise, features familiar from other Silvae, are intertwined in this poem with the question of gender roles. At the same time, it will be argued that the praise of other people as well as of places in this poem is closely connected with the persona of the author and that it amounts to a proud portrayal of himself and his art. Statius' Silvae 3. 5 will then be compared briefly, first, with Silvae 2. 7, a genethliacon written to honour the deceased poet Lucan and his wife Polla; second, with some of Ovid's poems from exile that are addressed to his wife (esp. Trist. 1. 6, 4. 3, 5. 5 and 5. 14) and to the poetess Perilla (Trist. 3. 7); and third, with a letter by Pliny the Younger concerning his wife Calpurnia and her virtues (Epist. 4. 19).