Publius Papinius Statius

Thebaid Publius Papinius Statius

The Thebaid of Statius is an epic poem in twelve books, completed in about AD90. It is thought by many to stand second only to the Aeneid among Latin narrative poems. It tells of the war between Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus, for the throne of Thebes. Rich in incident and dramatic in tone, it unfolds a panorama of human ambition and violence, triumph and catastrophe. The Thebaid is not only a masterpiece of poetry but also a compelling story, at times horrifying, noble, and pathetic, of humankind bound by the power of Fate. This book is intended for scholars and students of Latin literature.