Silius Italicus’ Punica

Abstract This chapter seeks to shed new light on Silius Italicus’ epic technique by focusing on the Punica’s allusive interactions with Valerius’ Argonautica. In it the author demonstrates that Silius’ intertextual engagement with Valerius’ poem is more explicit than is often acknowledged and argues that Silius’ stance vis-à-vis Valerius is less antagonistic than other critics see it. The chapter shows that in Book 11 of the Punica Silius highlights Valerius’ Argonautica as an important and respected model. It then demonstrates that Silius frames the Punica as the culmination of the historical process inaugurated in the Argonautica before illustrating how he enriches his poem in various ways by reworking Valerian material.