Books by Francesca Romana Berno
Roman Luxuria: A Literary and Cultural History
discusses the influence of Greek culture
on the Ro... more Roman Luxuria: A Literary and Cultural History
discusses the influence of Greek culture
on the Roman concept and the peculiar
characteristics of Roman luxuria. It analyses
Roman views on luxuria through close readings
in historical order from Cato the Elder, who
regards luxuria as the opposite of the ideal
Roman way of life, to the Christian poet
Prudentius, who represents it in an allegorical
fight with Sobriety. The book attends both
to key authors and to wider literary genres,
such as historiography and satire. Particular
consideration is given to the rhetorical device
of personification, which can be traced from
the first appearances of luxuria in Latin
literature to those of late antiquity.
This article offers an analysis of Seneca's Ep. 64.1-3, with particular attention to the thematic... more This article offers an analysis of Seneca's Ep. 64.1-3, with particular attention to the thematic element of the banquet. The epistle tackles the topic of convivium with both reticence (for instance, there is no reference to specific foods or guests) and a satirical overtone (as signaled by the smoke, the joke with firefighters, and the guests' inconclusive speeches). This purposely understated description contrasts with the chief model for all philosophical banquets, that is Plato's Symposium. And yet, Seneca's presentation of Sextius' recalls in many ways Socrates' eulogy made by Alcibiades, precisely in Plato's dialogue. In fact, Sextius is quoted for his literary achievement: something Plato would have looked upon with suspicion. In turn, such emphasis on philosophical writing foreshadows Seneca abandoning dialogues for reading and writing (cf. Ep. 67). Thus, the banquet at Ep. 64 stands out as a distancing maneuver from Plato's themes and literary genre, to favor instead authors and practices which prove more beneficial to Seneca's ethical targets. Il contesto: le lettere 'dialogiche' La lettera 64 1 si inserisce in un gruppo che comprende le lettere dalla 58 alla 67, ed è accomunato da una cornice dialogica, cioè allusiva a discorsi che Seneca presenta come realmente avvenuti tra sé ed alcuni amici. Al dialogo a distanza instaurato dalla lettera si sovrappone dunque la narrazione di un dialogo vissuto, di cui Lucilio diventa uditore e talvolta partecipe. L'originalità di questi esordi, inediti nel genere epistolare, può trovare una ragion d'essere nell'avvicinamento al grande modello platonico, non a caso in epistole in cui Seneca, discostandosi 1
Ciceroniana On Line, 2021
Stefano ROZZI, I fogli di calcolo come strumento integrativo per l'ecdotica. Un caso di studio ci... more Stefano ROZZI, I fogli di calcolo come strumento integrativo per l'ecdotica. Un caso di studio ciceroniano 159 Comptes rendus-Recensioni Tobias BOLL, Ciceros Rede cum senatui gratias egit. Ein Kommentar (T. RICCHIERI) Robert KASTER (ed.), Cicero: Brutus and Orator (C.S. VAN DEN BERG) Luca FEZZI, Cesare. La giovinezza del grande condottiero (A. PELLIZZARI)
Π Η Γ Η / F O N S, 2020
Jula WILDBERGER, Ermanno MALASPINA, Introduction p. IX
David KONSTAN, Epicurean Phantasia p. 1
Lu... more Jula WILDBERGER, Ermanno MALASPINA, Introduction p. IX
David KONSTAN, Epicurean Phantasia p. 1
Luciana REPICI, «Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor». Errori di valutazione nell’etica epicurea p. 19
Julie GIOVACCHINI, La confusion du juste chez Épicure, Hermarque et Lucrèce. Une inégalité intellectuelle des citoyens? p. 39
René BROUWER, Why Human Beings Become Bad. The Early Stoic Doctrine of Double Perversion p. 61
Christelle VEILLARD, Hecato of Rhodes and Stoic Casuistry p. 83
Giovanni ZAGO, Corruzione morale e virtù nel pensiero di Posidonio. Per il riesame di alcuni frammenti p. 103
Francesca Romana BERNO, Blinded by the Vice. A Reading of Seneca’s Letter 50 p. 115
Marcelo D. BOERI, Galen and the Stoic ‘Double Perversion’ Theory p. 135
Catalina BALMACEDA, The Year of the Four Emperors. Axiological Confusion in Tacitus’ Histories p. 151
General Bibliography on Axiological Confusion and Its Causes p. 171
Tesi triennale in lingua e letteratura latina.
Nel primo capitolo sono trattate Ameana e Aufille... more Tesi triennale in lingua e letteratura latina.
Nel primo capitolo sono trattate Ameana e Aufillena, figure ben delineate in quanto il poeta veronese vi dedica più di un carme; nel secondo capitolo vi sono le figure cui Catullo dedica un solo carme; nel terzo capitolo c'è un'analisi semantica volta ad indagare il lessico designante la donna romana, seguita dal lessico estetico e di invettiva.
Introduction, text, translation and commentary
Homme libre, toujours tu chériras la mer! La mer est ton miroir; tu contemples ton âme Dans le dé... more Homme libre, toujours tu chériras la mer! La mer est ton miroir; tu contemples ton âme Dans le déroulement infini de sa lame, Et ton esprit n'est pas un gouffre moins amer.
A commentary with introduction and Italian translation of five letters linked by narrative and th... more A commentary with introduction and Italian translation of five letters linked by narrative and thematic elements: a travel from Naples to Puteoli (epist. 53) and back (epist. 57), in the reign of vicious otium (epist. 55), fighting against diseases (epist. 54) and temptations (epist. 56). The commentary especially deepens lexical and philosophical questions, with special attention to the structure of any letter and to the intertextual connections with others letters.
An analysis of the so-called 'moral digressions' in Sen. nat., in order to show their strict rela... more An analysis of the so-called 'moral digressions' in Sen. nat., in order to show their strict relationships with the scientific context, in terms both of lexicon (same semantic fields) and contents (they deepen some aspects of sceintific argumentation). The stulti represented in these passages share with sapientes some attitudes, e.g. patientia, diligentia, love for scientific research, but they use them to satisfy their vices.
Indice:
Capitolo I
Laura Bocciolini Palagi
Amor e furor nell’Eneide: accostamenti e convergenze
... more Indice:
Capitolo I
Laura Bocciolini Palagi
Amor e furor nell’Eneide: accostamenti e convergenze
Capitolo II
Giulia Danesi Marioni
Properzio e le leggi dell’amore: elementi giuridici nel linguaggio dell’eros
Capitolo III
Rita Degl’Innocenti Pierini
Per amore di Basilissa: il linguaggio erotico negli epigrammi attribuiti a Seneca
Capitolo IV
Silvia Mattiacci
Lo scabbioso di Ausonio (epigr. 115 Green): la malattia come eros deviato
Capitolo V
Francesco Citti
Admirari nella poesia amorosa da Catullo a Ovidio
Capitolo VI
Bruna Pieri
Caeci stimuli amoris: il lessico virgiliano dell’eros animale (e la lezione di Lucrezio)
Capitolo VII
Paolo Mantovanelli
Il toro innamorato delle Georgiche (3, 229-234) tra natura, mito e storia
Capitolo VIII
Francesca Romana Berno
Complicanze di una gravidanza indesiderata (note a Sen. Oed. 371-380)
Capitolo IX
Roberta Strati
Itinerari di parole: unanimus
Capitolo X
Lisa Sannicandro
Dolor in Lucano
Capitolo XI
Stefano Giazzon
Ira (e ultio) nei Punica di Silio Italico
Indice dei passi notevoli
Indice degli autori moderni
Indice:
Capitolo I
Laura Bocciolini Palagi
Amor e furor nell’Eneide: accostamenti e convergenze
... more Indice:
Capitolo I
Laura Bocciolini Palagi
Amor e furor nell’Eneide: accostamenti e convergenze
Capitolo II
Giulia Danesi Marioni
Properzio e le leggi dell’amore: elementi giuridici nel linguaggio dell’eros
Capitolo III
Rita Degl’Innocenti Pierini
Per amore di Basilissa: il linguaggio erotico negli epigrammi attribuiti a Seneca
Capitolo IV
Silvia Mattiacci
Lo scabbioso di Ausonio (epigr. 115 Green): la malattia come eros deviato
Capitolo V
Francesco Citti
Admirari nella poesia amorosa da Catullo a Ovidio
Capitolo VI
Bruna Pieri
Caeci stimuli amoris: il lessico virgiliano dell’eros animale (e la lezione di Lucrezio)
Capitolo VII
Paolo Mantovanelli
Il toro innamorato delle Georgiche (3, 229-234) tra natura, mito e storia
Capitolo VIII
Francesca Romana Berno
Complicanze di una gravidanza indesiderata (note a Sen. Oed. 371-380)
Capitolo IX
Roberta Strati
Itinerari di parole: unanimus
Capitolo X
Lisa Sannicandro
Dolor in Lucano
Capitolo XI
Stefano Giazzon
Ira (e ultio) nei Punica di Silio Italico
Indice dei passi notevoli
Indice degli autori moderni
Papers by Francesca Romana Berno
G. Katzantzidisi (ed.) Lucretian Reception in Prose, pp. 61-81, 2024
Abstract: Seneca’s attitude towards Lucretius is different from the one he displays
towards Epicu... more Abstract: Seneca’s attitude towards Lucretius is different from the one he displays
towards Epicurus. While the latter is mostly present in Epistulae Morales 1–29 and
is regularly cited with reference to ethical issues, Lucretius is quoted only a few
times, starting from letter 58. What is more, Seneca’s quotations of Lucretius primarily
regard physical or theoretical issues. This paper examines the imagery of
“rotten stones” as a symbol of cosmic decay in Seneca’s epistolary corpus (letters 12,
30, and 58) and shows that Lucretius’ DRN has been, in that case, a major source of
inspiration. While turning an eye on Lucretius, Seneca remains sensitive both to
the philosophical but also to the literary qualities of the Epicurean poet.
Maia 22-23, 2023
Abstract: This paper offers a close reading of Aen. VIII 333-341, where the divine prophetess Car... more Abstract: This paper offers a close reading of Aen. VIII 333-341, where the divine prophetess Carmentis is
presented by her son, the king Evander. Carmentis has been interpreted as a prefiguration of Virgil’s
prophetic role. The analysis of some key expressions referred to her (tremenda […] monita, Aen. VIII 335-
336; vates fatidica, line 340; cecinit […] prima, line 340), enriched by the mythical tradition according to
which she would have been the first one to bring Latin alphabet to Italy, show Virgil’s aim to stress the italic
contribution to Roman culture, and points at a preeminence of Carmentis over Evander, in other words of
poetry over politics.
Maia, 2023
Premise to a collection of studies on Virgil's Aeneid
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Books by Francesca Romana Berno
discusses the influence of Greek culture
on the Roman concept and the peculiar
characteristics of Roman luxuria. It analyses
Roman views on luxuria through close readings
in historical order from Cato the Elder, who
regards luxuria as the opposite of the ideal
Roman way of life, to the Christian poet
Prudentius, who represents it in an allegorical
fight with Sobriety. The book attends both
to key authors and to wider literary genres,
such as historiography and satire. Particular
consideration is given to the rhetorical device
of personification, which can be traced from
the first appearances of luxuria in Latin
literature to those of late antiquity.
David KONSTAN, Epicurean Phantasia p. 1
Luciana REPICI, «Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor». Errori di valutazione nell’etica epicurea p. 19
Julie GIOVACCHINI, La confusion du juste chez Épicure, Hermarque et Lucrèce. Une inégalité intellectuelle des citoyens? p. 39
René BROUWER, Why Human Beings Become Bad. The Early Stoic Doctrine of Double Perversion p. 61
Christelle VEILLARD, Hecato of Rhodes and Stoic Casuistry p. 83
Giovanni ZAGO, Corruzione morale e virtù nel pensiero di Posidonio. Per il riesame di alcuni frammenti p. 103
Francesca Romana BERNO, Blinded by the Vice. A Reading of Seneca’s Letter 50 p. 115
Marcelo D. BOERI, Galen and the Stoic ‘Double Perversion’ Theory p. 135
Catalina BALMACEDA, The Year of the Four Emperors. Axiological Confusion in Tacitus’ Histories p. 151
General Bibliography on Axiological Confusion and Its Causes p. 171
Nel primo capitolo sono trattate Ameana e Aufillena, figure ben delineate in quanto il poeta veronese vi dedica più di un carme; nel secondo capitolo vi sono le figure cui Catullo dedica un solo carme; nel terzo capitolo c'è un'analisi semantica volta ad indagare il lessico designante la donna romana, seguita dal lessico estetico e di invettiva.
Capitolo I
Laura Bocciolini Palagi
Amor e furor nell’Eneide: accostamenti e convergenze
Capitolo II
Giulia Danesi Marioni
Properzio e le leggi dell’amore: elementi giuridici nel linguaggio dell’eros
Capitolo III
Rita Degl’Innocenti Pierini
Per amore di Basilissa: il linguaggio erotico negli epigrammi attribuiti a Seneca
Capitolo IV
Silvia Mattiacci
Lo scabbioso di Ausonio (epigr. 115 Green): la malattia come eros deviato
Capitolo V
Francesco Citti
Admirari nella poesia amorosa da Catullo a Ovidio
Capitolo VI
Bruna Pieri
Caeci stimuli amoris: il lessico virgiliano dell’eros animale (e la lezione di Lucrezio)
Capitolo VII
Paolo Mantovanelli
Il toro innamorato delle Georgiche (3, 229-234) tra natura, mito e storia
Capitolo VIII
Francesca Romana Berno
Complicanze di una gravidanza indesiderata (note a Sen. Oed. 371-380)
Capitolo IX
Roberta Strati
Itinerari di parole: unanimus
Capitolo X
Lisa Sannicandro
Dolor in Lucano
Capitolo XI
Stefano Giazzon
Ira (e ultio) nei Punica di Silio Italico
Indice dei passi notevoli
Indice degli autori moderni
Capitolo I
Laura Bocciolini Palagi
Amor e furor nell’Eneide: accostamenti e convergenze
Capitolo II
Giulia Danesi Marioni
Properzio e le leggi dell’amore: elementi giuridici nel linguaggio dell’eros
Capitolo III
Rita Degl’Innocenti Pierini
Per amore di Basilissa: il linguaggio erotico negli epigrammi attribuiti a Seneca
Capitolo IV
Silvia Mattiacci
Lo scabbioso di Ausonio (epigr. 115 Green): la malattia come eros deviato
Capitolo V
Francesco Citti
Admirari nella poesia amorosa da Catullo a Ovidio
Capitolo VI
Bruna Pieri
Caeci stimuli amoris: il lessico virgiliano dell’eros animale (e la lezione di Lucrezio)
Capitolo VII
Paolo Mantovanelli
Il toro innamorato delle Georgiche (3, 229-234) tra natura, mito e storia
Capitolo VIII
Francesca Romana Berno
Complicanze di una gravidanza indesiderata (note a Sen. Oed. 371-380)
Capitolo IX
Roberta Strati
Itinerari di parole: unanimus
Capitolo X
Lisa Sannicandro
Dolor in Lucano
Capitolo XI
Stefano Giazzon
Ira (e ultio) nei Punica di Silio Italico
Indice dei passi notevoli
Indice degli autori moderni
Papers by Francesca Romana Berno
towards Epicurus. While the latter is mostly present in Epistulae Morales 1–29 and
is regularly cited with reference to ethical issues, Lucretius is quoted only a few
times, starting from letter 58. What is more, Seneca’s quotations of Lucretius primarily
regard physical or theoretical issues. This paper examines the imagery of
“rotten stones” as a symbol of cosmic decay in Seneca’s epistolary corpus (letters 12,
30, and 58) and shows that Lucretius’ DRN has been, in that case, a major source of
inspiration. While turning an eye on Lucretius, Seneca remains sensitive both to
the philosophical but also to the literary qualities of the Epicurean poet.
presented by her son, the king Evander. Carmentis has been interpreted as a prefiguration of Virgil’s
prophetic role. The analysis of some key expressions referred to her (tremenda […] monita, Aen. VIII 335-
336; vates fatidica, line 340; cecinit […] prima, line 340), enriched by the mythical tradition according to
which she would have been the first one to bring Latin alphabet to Italy, show Virgil’s aim to stress the italic
contribution to Roman culture, and points at a preeminence of Carmentis over Evander, in other words of
poetry over politics.
discusses the influence of Greek culture
on the Roman concept and the peculiar
characteristics of Roman luxuria. It analyses
Roman views on luxuria through close readings
in historical order from Cato the Elder, who
regards luxuria as the opposite of the ideal
Roman way of life, to the Christian poet
Prudentius, who represents it in an allegorical
fight with Sobriety. The book attends both
to key authors and to wider literary genres,
such as historiography and satire. Particular
consideration is given to the rhetorical device
of personification, which can be traced from
the first appearances of luxuria in Latin
literature to those of late antiquity.
David KONSTAN, Epicurean Phantasia p. 1
Luciana REPICI, «Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor». Errori di valutazione nell’etica epicurea p. 19
Julie GIOVACCHINI, La confusion du juste chez Épicure, Hermarque et Lucrèce. Une inégalité intellectuelle des citoyens? p. 39
René BROUWER, Why Human Beings Become Bad. The Early Stoic Doctrine of Double Perversion p. 61
Christelle VEILLARD, Hecato of Rhodes and Stoic Casuistry p. 83
Giovanni ZAGO, Corruzione morale e virtù nel pensiero di Posidonio. Per il riesame di alcuni frammenti p. 103
Francesca Romana BERNO, Blinded by the Vice. A Reading of Seneca’s Letter 50 p. 115
Marcelo D. BOERI, Galen and the Stoic ‘Double Perversion’ Theory p. 135
Catalina BALMACEDA, The Year of the Four Emperors. Axiological Confusion in Tacitus’ Histories p. 151
General Bibliography on Axiological Confusion and Its Causes p. 171
Nel primo capitolo sono trattate Ameana e Aufillena, figure ben delineate in quanto il poeta veronese vi dedica più di un carme; nel secondo capitolo vi sono le figure cui Catullo dedica un solo carme; nel terzo capitolo c'è un'analisi semantica volta ad indagare il lessico designante la donna romana, seguita dal lessico estetico e di invettiva.
Capitolo I
Laura Bocciolini Palagi
Amor e furor nell’Eneide: accostamenti e convergenze
Capitolo II
Giulia Danesi Marioni
Properzio e le leggi dell’amore: elementi giuridici nel linguaggio dell’eros
Capitolo III
Rita Degl’Innocenti Pierini
Per amore di Basilissa: il linguaggio erotico negli epigrammi attribuiti a Seneca
Capitolo IV
Silvia Mattiacci
Lo scabbioso di Ausonio (epigr. 115 Green): la malattia come eros deviato
Capitolo V
Francesco Citti
Admirari nella poesia amorosa da Catullo a Ovidio
Capitolo VI
Bruna Pieri
Caeci stimuli amoris: il lessico virgiliano dell’eros animale (e la lezione di Lucrezio)
Capitolo VII
Paolo Mantovanelli
Il toro innamorato delle Georgiche (3, 229-234) tra natura, mito e storia
Capitolo VIII
Francesca Romana Berno
Complicanze di una gravidanza indesiderata (note a Sen. Oed. 371-380)
Capitolo IX
Roberta Strati
Itinerari di parole: unanimus
Capitolo X
Lisa Sannicandro
Dolor in Lucano
Capitolo XI
Stefano Giazzon
Ira (e ultio) nei Punica di Silio Italico
Indice dei passi notevoli
Indice degli autori moderni
Capitolo I
Laura Bocciolini Palagi
Amor e furor nell’Eneide: accostamenti e convergenze
Capitolo II
Giulia Danesi Marioni
Properzio e le leggi dell’amore: elementi giuridici nel linguaggio dell’eros
Capitolo III
Rita Degl’Innocenti Pierini
Per amore di Basilissa: il linguaggio erotico negli epigrammi attribuiti a Seneca
Capitolo IV
Silvia Mattiacci
Lo scabbioso di Ausonio (epigr. 115 Green): la malattia come eros deviato
Capitolo V
Francesco Citti
Admirari nella poesia amorosa da Catullo a Ovidio
Capitolo VI
Bruna Pieri
Caeci stimuli amoris: il lessico virgiliano dell’eros animale (e la lezione di Lucrezio)
Capitolo VII
Paolo Mantovanelli
Il toro innamorato delle Georgiche (3, 229-234) tra natura, mito e storia
Capitolo VIII
Francesca Romana Berno
Complicanze di una gravidanza indesiderata (note a Sen. Oed. 371-380)
Capitolo IX
Roberta Strati
Itinerari di parole: unanimus
Capitolo X
Lisa Sannicandro
Dolor in Lucano
Capitolo XI
Stefano Giazzon
Ira (e ultio) nei Punica di Silio Italico
Indice dei passi notevoli
Indice degli autori moderni
towards Epicurus. While the latter is mostly present in Epistulae Morales 1–29 and
is regularly cited with reference to ethical issues, Lucretius is quoted only a few
times, starting from letter 58. What is more, Seneca’s quotations of Lucretius primarily
regard physical or theoretical issues. This paper examines the imagery of
“rotten stones” as a symbol of cosmic decay in Seneca’s epistolary corpus (letters 12,
30, and 58) and shows that Lucretius’ DRN has been, in that case, a major source of
inspiration. While turning an eye on Lucretius, Seneca remains sensitive both to
the philosophical but also to the literary qualities of the Epicurean poet.
presented by her son, the king Evander. Carmentis has been interpreted as a prefiguration of Virgil’s
prophetic role. The analysis of some key expressions referred to her (tremenda […] monita, Aen. VIII 335-
336; vates fatidica, line 340; cecinit […] prima, line 340), enriched by the mythical tradition according to
which she would have been the first one to bring Latin alphabet to Italy, show Virgil’s aim to stress the italic
contribution to Roman culture, and points at a preeminence of Carmentis over Evander, in other words of
poetry over politics.
first made by Thyestes’ ghost in the opening of the play, and the second made by Cassandra.
Thyestes reads the events as a posthumous revenge against his brother Atreus, who
was Agamemnon’s father: to fulfil this aim, he also committed incest with his daughter.
His prophecy is thus focused on the son of the incest, Aegisthus. Cassandra, on her side,
considers the killing of Agamemnon as a vengeance for her destroyed motherland Troy,
and the death of her father and brothers. Her prediction is centered on Helen’s sister,
Clytemnestra. The factual narrative of the murder, delivered by the same Cassandra, differs
from both prophecies, and shows how the two seers tried to manipulate the events at their
personal revenge aims. Indeed, they both read the play as their own drama, competing
for authorship.
in the moralistic one they always describe their restless love for luxury banquets and renewed kinds of pleasures.
Philosophy tries to restrict or eradicate this passion, yet both literature and material culture show its frequency, which sumptuary laws uselessly try to limit, while historiography identifies it as the root of the decline of Rome.
The conference offers a multidisciplinary approach to luxuria, combining Latin literature, classical archaeology, Roman history, ancient philosophy, and papirology.
The conference is to be held in Rome on Oct. 14th, 2021. Attendance is free.
Organized by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Classics and the Swedish Institute of Athens
Rebeggiani, Cambridge 2019.