Una riflessione lucreziana (De rer. nat. 2.1) a Pompei. Con appendice su una revisione critica tardoantica

Abstract

This paper aims to show that the citation of  Lucretius 2.1 Suave mari magno in a Pompeian graffito was not written by a Byzantia, but adressed to her, and that the erotic context of other graffiti on the same wall hints at the employment of the motto by a disenchanted lover to declare his farewell to a stormy relationship. On discussing briefly the theme ‘shipwreck with spectator’ (H. Blumenberg) and its fortune, the Appendix introduces into the debate two relevant late antique texts, where Christian authors oppose the duty to take care of, and help others to the pleasure of observing their troubles.