Germanicus, nero and the incognito king in tacitus' annals 2.13 and 13.25

• Autores: Benjamin Jasnow
• Localización: Classical journal, ISSN 0009-8353, Vol. 110, Nº 3, 2015, págs. 313-331
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This paper examines Annals 2.13 and 13.25 in light of folk narratives about the “incognito king.” The Germanicus scene of 2.13 is modeled upon a widely attested narrative structure, in which a king assumes a disguise to test and ensure the morality of his subjects. The structure of the narrative as it appears in the Annals is modified from its normal rubric to emphasize the uprightness of Germanicus and his troops. The Nero episode of 13.25 also features an incognito king, but with contrasting results: in that instance, the disguised king actively degrades the morality of his subjects.