Gaio Mario e le Minturnenses paludes fra storia e topos di commutatio fortunae (I sec. a.C. – V sec. d.C.)

Abstract

Gaius Marius’ flight was the symbol of luck changing within Greco-Roman culture. This paper analyzes an extrapolated account of the famous escape, comparing the different versions of this tale: Marius in the Minturnae marshes. This tale is an example of luck changing told during the centuries by Cicero, Velleius Paterculus, Seneca the Elder, Ovid, Lucan, Plutarch, Solinus, Lucius Ampelius, Orosius. In all versions there is a contrast between the past glory of Marius and his present condition: the contrast is the recurrent point of luck changing topic. This allegorical reading of the episode may raise more than one doubt about its veracity. Is the story of Minturnae marshes a historical reality turned into a metaphor or, on the contrary, is it only for literary topos? And if the fact really happened, what and how many rhetorical and stylistic elements were added to it? Finally, how was this anecdote manipulated? And for what purposes?

Keywords

• Marius
• Minturnae
• chance
• change
• ancient literature
• Roman history