Seneca and Sicily’s Multa Mirabilia

Abstract

Seneca’s description of Sicily has not been explored in detail. Although from Seneca’s works emerges an interest in Sicily and the Aetna, Seneca avoids speaking of the province. At the core of this article is the analysis of the detailed description of Syracuse (Marc. 17.2-6) and Seneca’s reference to Sicily in Q. Nat. 4a praef., where the philosopher exhorts the procurator Lucilius to step back from the province, despite its multa mirabilia. Syracuse’s ambiguous appearance, already underlined by Bartsch (2007), will be the starting point for investigating Seneca’s treatment of Sicily.