Ironía y violencia en Contra Symmachum de Prudencio

Abstract

Many scholars, who have edited and translated Prudentius’ works, explains the valuation of Symmachus’ – oratorical skills – explicit in Contra Symmachum (402-403 AD), as a sign of admiration and respect on behalf of the Christian poet. On the contrary, we intend to demonstrate that the allusions to Symmachus’ oratorical ability and eloquence should undergo an ironic reading, whose role involves depreciating their arguments and ridicule his figure, as a symbol of the ancient pagan culture in order to avoid any trace of violence of Christianity towards paganism.