Teoria e pratica dell’adulazione in Seneca. Marco Antonio nella Consolatio ad Polybium

This paper analyses the conclusion of the Consolatio ad Polybium, when Seneca assigns Claudius to take the role of the consolator. In the speech attributed to the princeps by Seneca, among the exempla of men who successfully dealt with grief, Claudius also mentions Mark Antony. At first sight, the presence of Mark Antony in this gallery of viri illustres seems to comply with Seneca’s desire to ingratiate himself with the favour of the princeps. Nevertheless, two different levels of reading coexist: on the first level, Seneca praises the emperor, but on the second level, through Claudius’ speech, he flushes out all contradictions and conflicts inside the Julio-Claudian dynasty. These contradictions are particularly evident in the historical character of Mark Antony. We should, therefore, read Claudius’ speech in the consolation also like a mix of political allusions which have particular relevance considering Claudius’ biography.