Collective Memory, Authorial Authority, and Civil War: Caesar on Dyrrachium (Bellum Civile, III,47–49)

• Authors: Chlup James T.
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper examines an interesting facet of Caesar’s account of the events around Dyrrachium in his Bellum Civile, in which Caesar’s soldier recollect their past experiences as a means to cope with a difficult situation during their siege of Pompey’s forces. In so doing, they establish engagement with the past as a means by which they affirm their suitability to win the war. The use of memory of military experiences past (both the civil war and the Gallic campaign) by Caesar’s men, then Caesar himself, and the misuse of the same by the Pompeians, establishes that Caesar’s side is in the best position to win the war and, ultimately, to provide the official (historically valid) narrative of the civil war.

Keywords

EN

Caesar; Pompey; Caesar’s Bellum Civile; Dyrrachium; civil war; collective memory

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY
• PHILOLOGY_&_LINGUISTICS: PHILOLOGY & LINGUISTICS

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Eirene. Studia Graeca et Latina
• Year: 2018
• Volume: 54
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 131-154

Contributors

author

Chlup James T.

• University of Manitoba, Department of Classics, Winnipeg, MB Canada R3T 2M8