Notas sobre la cronología de la Tebaida Estaciana

Abstract

The only chronological references that we find in the Statius' Thebais appear in the proem, particularly, in the loa to the emperor. The last date mentioned in the text corresponds to Dornitianus' triumph over germanics and daccos, that is, to the year 89 a.D. We fmd, then, that Book I, necessarily composed circa 80, contains chronological data belonging to nine years later. The most likely interpretation is that, if not the whole of the proem, al least that part corresponding to the loa to the emperor has been interpolated after the date of composition, probably, on the occasion of Statius'participation in the agon capitolinus in the year 90 and not in the year 94, like most of the critics believe. The chronological data from the extracts of the Silvae that we have been able to use do not counterevince our thesis.