Il Citerone di Stazio tra Seneca tragico e Lucano: sui modelli di Theb. 3, 37-38 e 9, 447-449

This article aims to investigate the literary models of two closely related passages from Statius’ Thebaid (3, 37-38 and 9, 447-449). It is suggested that Statius alludes to Seneca’s tragedies through Lucan (1, 552-554): a comparison to Thy. 117-118 is proposed in addition to the reference to Oed. 176-177 – already identified by scholars. Not only does the ‘window reference’ to Seneca confirm the fusion of epic and tragic elements in the Thebaid, but it also shows Statius’s refined poetic technique: by alluding to Seneca, the poet unveils the sources of his primary model, Lucan.