Gnaeus Domitius Afer

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gnaeus Domitius Afer (* in Nemausus ; † 59 ) was a Roman politician, senator and famous rhetorician .

Life

Afer was born in the Gallic town of Nemausus and came from a humble background. In 25 he was praetor . In the years that followed, Afer emerged as the prosecutor. His agility saved his life in 39 (see below). Afer held the suffect consulate in the same year . From 49 he was curator aquarum . The time of his main activity, especially as a defender, falls under the rule of Claudius . Despite his decline in skills, he found it difficult to resign as he got older.

Afer won favor with Emperor Caligula through cunning and flattery . Afer was accused of having omitted in the inscription on a portrait of the emperor that he was consul for the second time in his twenty-seventh year . Caligula therefore summoned Afer to the Senate and accused him of having failed against the Imperial Majesty. Knowing how vain Caligula was to his conceited speaking talent, Afer gave up all defense, seemingly defeated by the insurmountable power of the imperial eloquence, which he profusely admired. He humbly begged Caligula not to crush him completely with the force of his speech. This clumsy trick succeeded. Afer was pardoned by Caligula with the words: "Go, but don't let yourself be stopped to be a good speaker," and shortly thereafter Afer was made a suffect consul by Caligula.

plant

Afer's works have only survived in fragments.

  • Talking: pro Cloatilla , pro Voluseno Catulo , pro Laelia , pro Taurinis .
  • Several books urban dicta from the speeches.
  • Two books de testibus .

In addition to quick-witted punchlines, his student Quintilian emphasizes the maturitas (maturity), the grave et lentum (the important and the indifference) of Afer's style. The rejection of modern declamation practice shows him as a supporter of unspoiled eloquence ( Tacitus , Dialogus de oratoribus , 15.3.)

swell

  • Tacitus, Annals 4,52,66; 14.19.
  • Cassius Dio , Roman History 59,19,20.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Domitius Afer, Gnaeus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Afer, Gnaeus Domitius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman suffect consul 39 and rhetorician
DATE OF BIRTH 1st century BC Chr.
PLACE OF BIRTH Nemausus
DATE OF DEATH 59