The literary excursus of Velleius Paterculus and the exaltation of the italic contribution to the grandeur of Rome

Abstract

From a reading of the literary excursus found in the final chapters of book 1 of Velleius' work, 1 have sought to analyse the characteristics of the Greece -Rome comparison and of the similar Athens -Rome comparison, two themes that assume considerable importance in the ideology adopted by the author in his narration. The exaltation of Rome, and earlier of ltaly, considered from the aspect of his literary production, are perfectly coherent with the undercurrent of all of Velleius' work, eulogy of the Rome-ltaly communion.