Lucano - Lucan's Pharsalia - 1722

DESCRIPTION: I present to you a Lovely English edition of "LA FARSALIA," the legendary epic poem in ten cantos about the civil war between Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, written around 62 A.D. by the Hispano-Roman poet Lucan, Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (39-65 A.D.), born in Córdoba and nephew of the great philosopher SENECA.

The poem has three fundamental protagonists: Pompey and Cato, the "good guys," and Caesar, the "bad guy." Lucan was clearly a republican and not imperial.

Canto VI of "La Farsalia" is known for being the most complete document that exists on NECROMANCY in Antiquity and also contains evident elements of modern fantastic horror. For example, Erichtho, the legendary SORCERESS OF THESSALY, known for her horrible appearance and impious ways, visits Sextus Pompeius, the son of Pompey the Great, who seeks her hoping she can reveal the future of the imminent Battle of Pharsalus. In a terrifying scene, the witch finds a corpse and revives it by inoculating it with the warm blood of a living person, cleansing it of the rot in its marrow, and supplying it with the lunar virus. To embolden the corpse, which wavers about returning to life, the witch lashes it vigorously with a living snake. Raised from the dead, the corpse describes a civil war that is ravaging the underworld and offers a prophecy about the fate that awaits Pompey and his kin.

The book is illustrated with a magnificent engraved frontispiece, a FOLD-OUT MAP of the Roman Empire, exquisite wood-engraved initial letters, engraved vignettes, engraved bands, and tail-pieces.

The engraved frontispiece is a classical allegorical representation of Chaos, Discord, or Civil War devastating a kingdom or state, a very common iconographic motif in frontispieces and illustrations of historical and political literature of the 17th century. Analyzing in detail the components and attributes of the composition, we can unpack its meaning:

+ The central figure (The State / The Kingdom): The crowned woman who lies fallen and defenseless represents the personification of a nation, a realm, or sovereignty itself. Her gesture of terror and helplessness reflects the suffering of the political body before imminent destruction.

+ The serpent on the arm: Around her right forearm coils a serpent, an unequivocal symbol of treachery, envy, or the poison of internal conspiracy that gnaws at the State from within.

+ The Fury on the left: The figure with serpentine hair wielding lit torches is a Fury (Erinyes), the mythological personification of vengeance, madness, hatred, and blind destruction that fuels the blaze of conflict.

+ Mars in the clouds (Top right): In the upper right, emerging from dense dark clouds, there is a war god wearing a helmet and armor (traditionally Mars, god of war) who observes or directs the armed cataclysm.

+ The fallen weapons and the dead (Bottom): On the ground lie the fallen in battle beside scattered arms: a halberd or battle-axe, broken spears, and what appear to be remains of fasces or power insignia crumbling. This symbolizes the breaking of law, order, and justice under the weight of arms.

In short, the print functions as a visual cautionary tale about the horrors of war and political instability, showing how violent human passions (the furies and treachery) overthrow the peace of a prosperous realm.

LANGUAGE: English (Nicholas Rowe Translation)

YEAR OF PUBLICATION: London, 1722 (304 years old)

SIZE AND PAGINATION: Dimensions: 2 Volumes of 17 x 10 cm. Pagination: 287pp + 310pp. COMPLETE WORK

CONDITION: Lovely original full leather binding with marbled edges, in good condition, with some scuffs (See photos). Spine with five raised bands decorated with golden vegetal motifs and red morocco leather. Contains the author’s name in gilded characters. Red-stained edges.

The book’s interior is in good condition as shown in the photos and is illustrated with a magnificent engraved frontispiece, a FOLD-OUT MAP of the Roman Empire, exquisite wood-engraved initials, engraved vignettes, engraved bands, and tail-pieces. GOOD COPY

A MAGNIFICENT POST-INCUNABLE. DO NOT LET IT SLIP AWAY.

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