Seneca's Phoenissae
Subtitle: introduction and commentary
By: by Marica Frank.
Contributors: Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, ca. 4 B.C.-65 A.D.
Series: Mnemosyne, bibliotheca classica Batava.; 138
Publisher: E.J. Brill
Published: 1995
Place of publication: Leiden, Netherlands; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 268
Subjects: Oedipus (Greek mythology) -- Drama.; Antigone (Greek mythology) -- Drama.; Seven against Thebes (Greek mythology) -- Drama.
Description: This is the first commentary in English on Seneca's Phoenissae, an intriguing work on account of its unusual structure and state of incompletion.

The substantial introduction deals, inter alia, with the question of the unity and purpose of the work; the absence of an ending and of choral lyrics; the philosophical, rhetorical, and political content; Seneca's treatment of the Theban legend. The commentary is primarily a literary analysis of the text, but textual, linguistic, metrical, and grammatical difficulties are also elucidated.

With the resurgence of interest in Senecan drama in the last two decades, this book is a valuable addition to English commentaries that appeared on most of the plays.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. xi-xvii) and indexes.
Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral--University of St. Andrews, 1989).