C. Trebatius Testa and the British charioteers: the relationship of Cic. ad fam. 7.10.2 to Caes. BG 4.25 and 33

Autore: Nice, Alex
Titolo: C. Trebatius Testa and the British charioteers: the relationship of Cic. ad fam. 7.10.2 to Caes. BG 4.25 and 33
Rivista/Miscellanea: "Acta classica", XVVI
Anno edizione: 2003
Pagine: 71-96
Parole chiave: Biographie - Biografia - Biography, Histoire - Storia - History
Descrizione: This paper responds to the suggestion of H.A. Sanders, 'Swimming among the Greeks and Romans', CJ 20 (1924-25) 567, that the phrase 'qui neque in Oceano natare volueris' at Cic. Ad Fam. 7.10.2 points to an exaggerated report of the difficulty of Caesar's landings in Britain. In the clause that follows Cicero also refers to Trebatius' reluctance to look on the British charioteers ('essedarii'). In a note on the term 'essedum' Servius (in Verg. Georg. 3.204) suggests that Cicero's source for its use was his correspondence with Caesar. This article reviews the use of the term 'essedum' and its derivative 'essedarius' by Caesar and Cicero and places the reference to Britain at Ad F am. 7.10.2 in the wider context of Caesar's Commentant and Cicero's letters. I argue that De Bello Gallico 4 is a more likely inspiration for Cicero, Ad Fam. 7.10.2 and that, if this is the case, then we must concur with T. P. Wiseman, 'The publication of De Bello Gallico', in K. Welch & A. Powell (eds), Julius Caesar as Artful Reporter (London 1998) 1-9, that the first four books of Caesar's work were published no later than 55-54 BC.
Opere:
Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24595343?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents
Sigla autore: Nice 2003