Plagiarism or Imitation?: The Case of Abronius Silo in Seneca the Elder's Suasoriae 2.19–20

Abstract

Disagreements over whether an author imitated or plagiarized a predecessor are a part of Latin literary history, with Virgil's ancient reception providing striking examples. This article argues that Seneca the Elder's Suasoriae 2.19–20 sets forth another case where a Roman author's perceived textual borrowing was labeled both imitation and plagiarism. The author is Abronius Silo, who adapts a sententia from the declaimer Porcius Latro. In addition, I explore ways of conceptualizing the imitation and plagiarism that appear in Seneca's passage, situate the discussion in the context of Seneca's work and intellectual milieu, and link his ideas and critical practices to those found in Latin literary culture more broadly.