STIRPEM NOBILITAVIT HONOR. La memoria dei Senzi Saturnini tra retorica e storiografia

This monograph is concerned with the general topic of individual memory in the Roman world, which in recent years has been investigated especially in cultural and historical terms, but extends the focus to a whole Roman family, by pivoting on the concept of family record. In particular, it elaborates, as thoroughly as possible, on the origin, development and end of the historiographical record of the distinguished Sentii Saturnini, whose eminence encompassed the late Republic and early Principate. Parallel analysis of the deeds accomplished by the attested members of the family and of their historiographical record tries to highlight some turning points that proved crucial, either to make such codification possible and eventually to interrupt it. Besides, special attention is devoted to the role of rhetoric in supporting the transmission of individual memories referring to a single family of the Roman nobilitas. As a political phenomenon, this strictly depended on the complex gentilice network on which the Roman elite was based, and its historiographical outcome deserves proper attention in terms of literary design and circulation.