Fronto Avus : the tale of a grandfather
Date
2007
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch University, Department of Ancient Studies
Abstract
This paper examines some examples from the correspondence of the secondcentury
rhetor, the Romanised African M. Cornelius Fronto, in particular letters
that relate to the death of his grandson, drawing conclusions about Fronto as
grandfather and as a person who had sustained previous bereavements. His
attitude to his daughter Cratia2 and son-in-law Aufidius Victorinus receives
special attention. The question of why Fronto seems to favour Victorinus over
his own daughter when both are plunged into grief is addressed. It seems that in
the grief of the younger man the older relives the agonies of his own youth,
when he and his wife lost a series of children before bringing up Cratia as an
only child.
Description
CITATION: Claassen, J-M., 2007. Fronto Avus : the tale of a grandfather. Akroterion, 52:49-59, doi:10.7445/52-0-52.
The original publication is available at http://akroterion.journals.ac.za
The original publication is available at http://akroterion.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Fronto, Marcus Cornelius, Cratia, Aufidius Victorinus
Citation
Claassen, J-M., 2007. Fronto Avus : the tale of a grandfather. Akroterion, 52:49-59, doi:10.7445/52-0-52.