The Project Gutenberg EBook of Apocolocyntosis, by Lucius Seneca

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Apocolocyntosis

Author: Lucius Seneca

Release Date: November 10, 2003 [EBook #10001]
[Date last updated: April 9, 2005]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK APOCOLOCYNTOSIS ***

Produced by Ted Garvin, Ben Courtney and PG Distributed Proofreaders

SENECA

APOCOLOCYNTOSIS

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY

W.H.D. ROUSE, M.A. LITT. D.

MCMXX

INTRODUCTION

This piece is ascribed to Seneca by ancient tradition; it is impossible
to prove that it is his, and impossible to prove that it is not. The
matter will probably continue to be decided by every one according to his
view of Seneca's character and abilities: in the matters of style and of
sentiment much may be said on both sides. Dion Cassius (lx, 35) says that
Seneca composed an [Greek: apokolokuntosis] or Pumpkinification of
Claudius after his death, the title being a parody of the usual
[Greek: apotheosis]; but this title is not given in the MSS. of the Ludus
de Morte Claudii, nor is there anything in the piece which suits the title
very well.

As a literary form, the piece belongs to the class called
_Satura Menippea_, a satiric medley in prose and verse.

This text is that of Buecheler, with a few trifling changes, which are
indicated in the notes. We have been courteously allowed by Messrs
Weidmann to use this text. I have to acknowledge the help of Mr Ball's
notes, from which I have taken a few references; but my translation was
made many years ago.

W.H.D. ROUSE.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

_Editio Princeps:_ Lucii Annaei Senecae in morte
Claudii Caesaris Ludus nuper repertus: Rome,
1513.

_Latest critical text:_ Franz Buecheler, Weidmann, 1904
(a reprint with a few changes of the text from
a larger work, Divi Claudii [Greek: Apokolokuntosis] in
the Symbola Philologorum Bonnensium, fasc. i,
1864).

_Translations and helps:_ The Satire of Seneca on the
Apotheosis of Claudius, by A.P. Ball (with introduction,
notes, and translations): New York: