furor illa et movit Erinys: The Presentation and Agency of Tisiphone in Statius' Thebaid

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide new insight into the Fury Tisiphone, who prominently appears in Statius’ Thebaid. I examine the development of the Erinys from its earliest origins in Homer to, as I argue, its literary zenith in Statius. Such an approach demonstrates how Tisiphone’s depiction by Statius was informed by his epic predecessors, yet how her role in the Thebaid was unique and more comprehensive than other characterizations of the Furies in Greek or Latin literature. My intent is for scholars to gain a new appreciation for the power of Tisiphone, a vital character of the Thebaid, her role in the poem, and how that role compares with other accounts from ancient literature.