Abstract

Tacitus’ portrayal of Agrippina MinorAncient historiography has more in common with the historical novel than with modem historiography. The Annals of Tacitus should be seen as an artistic, narrative text which demands active participation by the reader in the process of interpretation. A narratological analysis of Tacitus' description of the life and death of Agrippina, mother of the emperor Nero, reveals a serious ethical reflection on the atrocities committed by the imperial family. Agrippina is characterised as an exceptionally strongwilled woman who had an immense influence on the Roman Empire while she was the wife of the emperor Claudius and mother of his successor, Nero. On the other hand, her typically female character traits are accentuated from which the reader has to infer that it was precisely the fact that she was a woman which made her authoritative position intolerable.

Highlights

  • Wanneer ’n twintigste-eeuse leser die werk van ’n antieke geskiedskiywer soos Tacitus (c. 55-117) lees, moet hy allereers nie dieselfde standaarde van sorg en feitelike korrektheid verwag as wat met modeme geskiedskrywing vereenselwig word nie

  • Tacitus se gebruik van retoriese stylmiddele word deur Ryberg (1942:384) soos volg verduidelik: they are the resources employed by Tacitus the artist to produce an impression for which

  • In hierdie tye was openlike kritiek van die regerende magte gevaarlik, en was dit noodsaaklik om van suggestie gebruik te maak

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Summary

Antieke geskiedskrywing

Wanneer ’n twintigste-eeuse leser die werk van ’n antieke geskiedskiywer soos Tacitus (c. 55-117) lees, moet hy allereers nie dieselfde standaarde van sorg en feitelike korrektheid verwag as wat met modeme geskiedskrywing vereenselwig word nie. Romeinse geskiedskrywers soos Sallustius, Livius en Tacitus het ’n grondige opleiding aan die skool van die rhetor ontvang, wat gelei het tot ’n sterk retoriese inslag in hul werk. Ahl (1984:184) verwoord hierdie tendens by skrywers soos volg: “Many ancient poets, and all rhetorical theorists, lived when overt criticism o f the ruling powers was dangerous Literêre kriteria sou met groter vrug aangewend kon word as die historiese maatstawwe wat geld vir die modeme geskiedskrywing. Tacitus as literêre kimstenaar skep ’n sekere indruk in sy lesers se gemoed en die implikasie is dat Tacitus, die geskiedskrywer, dit nie as sekerhede kon weergee nie, omdat sy idees onbevestig is, o f selfs weerspreek word deur opgetekende feite. Daarom sal daar nie volstaan word met ’n blote herkenning en beskrywing van die narratiewe aspekte nie, maar sal gepoog word om die data wat uit die beskrywing verkry is, te interpreteer

Die storie
Verteltegnieke
Die huwelik met Claudius
Die omvang van Agrippina se m a g
Die d o o d van Claudius
Die afnam e in Agrippina se m a g
Die moord o p Britannicus
Die d o o d van Agrippina
11. Slotsom

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