ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF EKPHRASIS IN ROMAN HISTORIOGRAPHY. DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT FIRE OF ROME (TACITUS, ANN. XV, 38)

Abstract

Ekphrasis, a stylistic figure characteristic of epic poetry, has also found its application in Roman historiography. Namely, the Roman historian Tacitus and his work Annals are known for its highly stylised poetic language. Tacitus' language – color poeticus, is full of rhetorical and stylistic figures with which this historian portrays events from the past. The author's narrative in visual images – faithful descriptions of people, events, battles, objects and phenomena – leaves a strong impression on readers. This pictorial expression in ancient times was called ekphrasis. Our goal is to explain the basic concept and role of ekphrasis, and then determine its application in a selected example from Tacitus' Annals. There are many examples of ekphrasis, and for the purposes of this work we have chosen the description of The Great Fire of Rome, which occurred during the reign of Emperor Nero. Based on the analysed example, we will see how Tacitus used ekphrasis in his ʻTacitus styleʼ to portray this terrible event.