Читать книгу Der Philipperbrief des Paulus - Eve-Marie Becker - Страница 11

Tacitusann12-15By entering the field of ancient historiography another time, we might learn more about Luke’s concept of reproducing Paul rather than recording him. We will, for now, look at the field of early imperial historiography, specifically at Tacitus’s reproduction of Seneca. Here we can study, first, how a historian remodels the image of a historical agent who may well also be a letter-writer, and, second, how historiography transforms, or “manipulates” letter-writing.

In Tacitus’s ann 12-15Tacitusann12-15 we find the most comprehensive Tacitean engagement with Seneca. This section contains his only explicit references to the philosopher.Tacitusann12-151 Ann 12-15Tacitusann12-15 comprises the first mentioning of Seneca (12.8.2Tacitusann12,8,2) – as being remitted by Agrippina of banishment – up to the philosopher’s suicide (15.60-64Tacitusann15,60-64). James Ker2 has demonstrated how Tacitus all the way through depicts Seneca in a “Tacitean portrait” (p. 305), indeed, both, in his deeds or historical achievements as a statesman and in his literary activities. In terms of, both the philosopher’s image as well as the reception of his works, ann 15Tacitusann15.60-64Tacitusann15,60-64 seems to be the “hermeneutical key” to Tacitus’s interpretation of Seneca. How does Ker in general describe the profile of the “Tacitean Seneca?”