Sallust on Mark Antony

Žarko, Petković

Lucida intervalla

48

65

78

1450-6645

http://emu.f.bg.ac.rs/lucidaintervalla/issues/48(2019).pdf

2019

It was previously postulated and convincingly shown that Sallust was not a friend of Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus’ regime, although there is no information that he openly opposed the Triumvirs. Sallust’s retirement from public offi ce after Caesar’s death and more than one allusion to contemporary politics in his monographs leave no space for any other conclusion. The aim of this contribution is to show that Sallust’s hidden critique – which was the only possible at the time when the memories of recent suff erings during the Civil War and proscriptions were still strong – was specially aimed against Mark Antony. Concluding argument – but not the only one – could be found in Sallust’s (so far) unclear remark on hunting as servilium offi cium (Cat. 4.1): in fact, well known scandalous behaviour of Mark Antony and Cleopatra included hunting (Plut. Ant. 29.1).

hunting, Mark Antony, Octavian, Plutarch, proscriptions, Sallust, Second Triumvirate