LAT761: Tacitus

Agrippina, the sister of Caligula, wife of Claudius, mother of Nero, was at the heart of the power and intrigues of the Julio-Claudian emperors for several decades. She is one of the most colorful characters in Tacitus' history of that period with allegations of promiscuity, incest, murder and treason. Students will read extracts from Tacitus' Annals, Books 12-14, taking in her marriage to Claudius, the accession of her son Nero, and her downfall. Students will become familiar with Silver Latin, and appreciate the "brevitas, varietas, et poeticus color" for which Tacitus is acclaimed.