Paratragedia ed exempla tragici in Orazio, Epod. 3

This paper explores the complex literary strategy of Horace’s Epode 3. Not only does Horace equate his own trivial and comic situation with tragic suffering through the mythological exempla at the center of the poem, but he also constructs, more significantly, a sophisticated paratragic role-playing dynamic with Maecenas. Horace assumes the role and pose of the tragic hero afflicted by poisoning, ultimately presenting himself as a new Hercules in agony. In turn, Horace implicitly assigns Maecenas the role of Hercules’ poisoner, Deianira, who according to tradition acted unwittingly and desperately regretted what she did. Yet, the epithet iocosus, which conveys both a sense of mischievous intent and mockery, abruptly subverts this identification, ironically revealing Maecenas as an ‹anti-Deianira›.