C. SILII ITALICI, VIRI CONSULARIS, DE BELLO PUNICO SECUNDO LIBRI XVII. Christophorus Cellarius recensuit, & Notis, & Tabulis Geographicis, ac gemino Indice, Rerum & Latinitatis, illustrauit by Silius Italicus or Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Italicus - 1695

Lipsiae (Leipzig): Thomas Fritsch, 1695. Hardcover. Very good. Silius (c.28-c.103) was consul in 68 and governor of the province of Asia in 69; he sought no further office but lived thereafter on his estates as a literary man and collector. He revered the work of Cicero, whose Tusculan villa he owned, and that of Virgil, whose tomb at Naples he likewise owned and near which he lived. His epic Punica, in 17 books, on the second War with Carthage (218-202 BC), draws heavily on Livy's account. Conceived as a contrast between two great nations (and their supporting gods), championed by the two great heroes Scipio and Hannibal, his poem is written in pure Latin and smooth verse filled throughout with echoes of Virgil above all (and other poets). Includes supplementary material by the German classicist Christoph Cellarius. [22], 586, [52]. Frontispiece engraving, with a title page decoration and six folding maps. 12mo. In a contemporary full vellum binding. Typical mild browning to the contents, with a negligible spot to the top edge. Minor soiling to the vellum; otherwise very good.