LATN3601 - Tacitus, Agricola

Tacitus’ De vita Iulii Agricolae focuses on his father-in-law’s life, especially his military role in Britain. Initially, it appears to depict an exemplary Roman life marked by military successes. However, the text raises questions: Is Agricola’s life truly exemplary, or does Tacitus use it to reflect his own life under Domitian? The work’s genre, blending biography and eulogy, prompts discussions on historiography and rhetoric. This seminar will explore these themes, closely reading the text to understand its structure, content, and stylistic features, and examining its place within Tacitus’ larger historical works.