The Image of the Iranian World in the Roman Poetry

This book delves into the portrayal of the Iranian world as depicted by Roman poets from the Imperial and Late Antique periods, spanning 14 AD to the end of the 6th century. This era represents a time of continuity, where Roman writers expanded on themes handed down from earlier periods, particularly from the Augustan Age. The term 'Iranian world' is used here to describe not only the major empires—such as the Achaemenid Persia, Arsacid Parthia, and the Sasanian Empire—but also their constituent regions and other Iranian groups. The author seeks to provide a comprehensive view of this civilization, which stood as the Graeco-Roman world's formidable adversary for over a thousand years. Through an innovative approach that combines classical philology and historical analysis, the book examines select poetic texts from surviving Roman literature. Beyond the illustrious works of poets like Lucan and Claudian, it also considers contributions from authors such as Manilius, the Flavian epics, and Christian poets of the late antiquity. By including these often overlooked sources, the study aims to expand our understanding of how Roman poetry represented the Iranian world, highlighting the differences from Greek literary portrayals and traditional Roman interpretations. This book endeavors to enhance our comprehension of Latin poetry and the Roman viewpoint on foreign cultures, taking into account the literary shifts influenced by factors like Rome's Christianization and the Empire's division.