Pharsalia

About “Pharsalia”

Professor Fantham provides the first full-scale commentary on the second book of Lucan's De bello civili, an epic poem about the war between Caesar and Pompey. Book II features Cato, Caesar, and Pompey in speech and action, exploring the moral and political challenges of civil war. It depicts Pompey's loss of power during his retreat from Italy, using language that contrasts with Virgil's portrayal of Aeneas. The book includes historical references to Marius and Sulla, a unique wedding scene, a detailed description of Roman Italy, and a fast-moving account of Caesar's blockade and Pompey's evacuation from Brundisium. In her introduction, Fantham discusses Lucan's life, his narrative of Caesar's invasion, the language and style of the poem, and the history of the text.