Pharsalia

Pharsalia is an epic poem written by the Roman poet Lucanus, also known as Marcus Annaeus Lucanus. The poem tells the story of the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, which took place in the first century BC. The work is divided into ten books, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the conflict.The poem begins with the events leading up to the war, including Caesar's rise to power and Pompey's attempts to maintain his own authority. As the conflict unfolds, Lucanus describes the battles and political maneuverings that take place on both sides. He also explores the motivations and personalities of the main characters, including Caesar, Pompey, and Cato the Younger.Throughout the poem, Lucanus employs a vivid and dramatic style, using striking imagery and powerful language to convey the horrors of war and the suffering it inflicts on both soldiers and civilians. He also reflects on the nature of power and the morality of political violence, offering a critique of the Roman Republic's descent into tyranny.Pharsalia is considered one of the greatest works of Latin literature, and has been admired for its powerful portrayal of the human cost of war and its exploration of the ethical dilemmas faced by those in positions of power.Lucan's take on some guy name of Caesar crossing the Rubicon to duke it out with a volcano -- maybe I have that wrong, but you'll need to read the book to find out.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Latin