Fortune and family in the presentation of Octavian in Nicolaus of Damascus' Bios Kaisaros

Weightman, Clare

Fortune and family in the presentation of Octavian in Nicolaus of Damascus' Bios Kaisaros

Master Thesis

2006

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Classical Studies

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

This latter question necessitates a survey of the development of Greek biography through the Hellenistic era. Biography as a literary genre was characterised by a broad range of traits and styles, and was concerned with the character of the protagonist, details of his pirvate life, and his deeds, works or achievements. The belief that an investigation of a man's actions could shed light on his character was a feature of Hellenistic popular thought that had its origins with the Peripatetics. Nicolaus was a self-proclaimed follower of Aristotle's school, and certain motifs or features of Aristotelean thought permeate the Bios Kaisaros, particularly with regards to his characterisation of Octavian and Caesar. Nicolaus uses the theme of Fortune, a familliar topos of Hellenistic literature, at key moments during the text of the Caesar Extract, to highlight his presentation of Octavian and Caesar. The characterisation of Octavian and his relationship with his mother and Caesar forms the final focus of this dissertation, illustrating pertinent aspects of Nicolaus' technique in his presentation of Octavian as uniquely fitted to succeed to Caesar's political hegemony at Rome.

Description

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-146).

Keywords

Classical Studies

Reference:

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Masters

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