The Classical Quarterly· 2026Q2
LUCRETIUS’ HERCULEAN WARLORDS
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- 2026year
Short summary
Lucretius' comparison of Epicurus to Hercules functions as a polemical critique of Roman warlords from the 80s-60s BC who appropriated the hero for propaganda.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Lucretius compares Epicurus to Hercules in De rerum natura (5.22-54).
- This comparison is interpreted as a critique of Roman warlords of the 80s-60s BC.
- These warlords used Hercules in their propaganda, associating themselves with the hero.
- Lucretius uses contemporary references to convey a pacifist message against Roman politics.
- The critique aligns with the Epicurean philosophy of withdrawal from public affairs.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract The comparison between Epicurus and Hercules at Lucr. 5.22–54 can be read as a polemical critique of the Roman warlords of the 80s, 70s and 60s b.c. , who associated themselves with the mythical hero in their propaganda. This case study could form part of a broader web of historical references in the De rerum natura . By presenting material that a Roman audience of the time could associate with their contemporary world, Lucretius conveys a pacifist message in contrast to Roman politics of the time, aligning with the Epicurean preference for withdrawal from public affairs.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. The Classical Quarterly, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Philosophy
PhilosophyArts and Humanities