Colorem timere peius quam sanguinem. Paintings, family strife and heroism,

Abstract

Within the framework of declamatory studies, the vir fortis (brave man) character plays a pivotal role and can be found in every collection of Roman declamations. One aspect of the themes involving a vir fortis that deserves further analysis concerns family relations during wartime, with a particular focus on family conflicts between father and son, or among brothers. In this regard, the oeuvre of Calpurnius Flaccus represents an interesting field of study. Through an analysis of Calpurnius’ excerpta, I will outline the process through which argumenta are built, and I shall also highlight the originality of Calpurnius’ work. Moreover, I will focus on excerptum 21 in particular, where the dispute between two brothers for a reward due to the vir fortis takes an unexpected turn because of the presence of a declamatory law that allows painting the deeds (facta) of a hero. I will also analyse excerpta 32 and 36, which showcase the themes of desertion and cowardice in a novel way.