Sally Baumann

quantae miracula pompae vidimus – on the form and function of the ecphrastic depictions in Claudianʼs political poems

The thesis deals with the particularly vivid, descriptive passages within Claudianʼs political poems. The concept of ancient rhetorical ecphrasis with its core component enargeia, which differs significantly from modern conceptions of the term ecphrasis, serves as the starting point for the selection of the text passages. Length, stimulus density, and textual form are then used as concrete criteria; the subject matter of the descriptions, on the other hand, is not taken into account. For the passages chosen, the working term “ecphrastic depictions” (“ekphrastische Ausmalungen”, EA) is established. On the one hand, the focus is on the form of the EA. Thus, the mechanisms that contribute to the vividness of the passages, their mental visualization on the part of the recipients, are analyzed. On the other hand, the functions of the EA in the respective poems are of interest. The form and the function of the EA of seven selected poems are examined in detail in separate successive subchapters, by means of close-reading and by using suitable theoretical approaches. The results are then systematized in an overarching chapter. It is shown that the EA possess recurring means of composition that promote their vividness; design and combination of these means thereby vary and are sometimes increased. The EA are used in a versatile and differentiated manner, they take on much more than just decorative functions. In addition, certain EA regularly stand out due to their formal design and/or functionalization.