Priamigue arx alta maneres (Verg. Aen. 2, 56): su R. Elaine Fantham, “grande dame of Latin studies” e su un recente volume in suo onore

Abstract

The paper discusses both the huge profile of Elaine Fantham (infra omnia
Giger Professor of Latin, Princeton University) and a recent miscella honouring
her (Alison Keith – Jonathan Edmondson edds., Roman literary cultures.
Domestic Politics, Revolutionary Poetics, Civic Spectacle, Toronto – Buffalo – London 2016, 340 pp.). The severe Loss of the so-called “grande dame of Latin studies” in 2016 brought me to reconsider the rich Scholarship and impact of E.F. in our field and within the cultural life of several decades. This paper moves from the sort of “European Fall of Troy” (as in the title and in one of E.F.’s self-reflective-papers) and provides a detailed Review of Roman literary cultures…, which is a rich volume filled with ground-breaking (as well as traditionalist) approaches. My personal tribute to Elaine Fantham also contains notes on Latin studies and specific insights of poetry, researches, academic relationships, “following the footsteps”1 of the beloved magistra.