Ovid and the Julio-Claudians: Marcellus – “Love, Myths and Other Stories” – LXXIXa-4
Marcus Claudius Marcellus (42 – 23 BC) was the eldest son of Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor and Octavia Minor, sister of Augustus. As Augustus had no male heirs, Marcellus was his closest male relative. The emperor adopted his beloved nephew, who, In 25 BC, married his only daughter Giulia and presumably was chosen by Augustus as his heir. He died two years later and was buried in the mausoleum of Augustus, and Augustus himself pronounced the funeral oration. Octavia built a library in his honor, while the emperor named a theatre after him, the remains of which are standing near the Tiber River.
In Tristia, written by Ovid during his exile, a brief passage provides an image full of nostalgia for his beloved Rome, in which this theater is remembered with two other theaters and three forums. The three theatres were those of Pompey, Marcellus, and Balbus; the three forums were the forum Romanum, lulium, and Augusti.
«scaena viget studiisque favor distantibus ardet,
proque tribus resonant terna theatra foris.
O quater, o quotiens non est numerare, beatum,
non interdicta cui licet urbe frui»
[Tr. III, 12, 24 – 27]
“The stage is full of life, and partisanship ablaze with warring passions, and three theatres roar in the place of three forums. Ah ! four times happy yes, countless times happy is he who may enjoy the unforbidden city !”
Translation by A.L. Wheeler
Marble portrait
40 x 21 x 22,5 cm
25 – 20 BC
Fondanzione Sorgente Group
Exhibition: “Ovidio: Loves, Myths & Other Stories”
Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome
Ovid and the Julio-Claudians: Marcellus – “Love, Myths and Other Stories” – LXXIXa-4
Marcus Claudius Marcellus (42 – 23 BC) was the eldest son of Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor and Octavia Minor, sister of Augustus. As Augustus had no male heirs, Marcellus was his closest male relative. The emperor adopted his beloved nephew, who, In 25 BC, married his only daughter Giulia and presumably was chosen by Augustus as his heir. He died two years later and was buried in the mausoleum of Augustus, and Augustus himself pronounced the funeral oration. Octavia built a library in his honor, while the emperor named a theatre after him, the remains of which are standing near the Tiber River.
In Tristia, written by Ovid during his exile, a brief passage provides an image full of nostalgia for his beloved Rome, in which this theater is remembered with two other theaters and three forums. The three theatres were those of Pompey, Marcellus, and Balbus; the three forums were the forum Romanum, lulium, and Augusti.
«scaena viget studiisque favor distantibus ardet,
proque tribus resonant terna theatra foris.
O quater, o quotiens non est numerare, beatum,
non interdicta cui licet urbe frui»
[Tr. III, 12, 24 – 27]
“The stage is full of life, and partisanship ablaze with warring passions, and three theatres roar in the place of three forums. Ah ! four times happy yes, countless times happy is he who may enjoy the unforbidden city !”
Translation by A.L. Wheeler
Marble portrait
40 x 21 x 22,5 cm
25 – 20 BC
Fondanzione Sorgente Group
Exhibition: “Ovidio: Loves, Myths & Other Stories”
Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome