Body, Soul and Sensation Element of Epicureanism in Lucan. Analysing Luc. BC 3, 38–40

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Published: Dec 20, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14232/suc.2025.6.123-141
Keywords:
Lucan, Epicureanism, Death, Body, Soul, Sensation, Lucretius

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Annalisa Coppola
University of Würzburg

Abstract

The present paper proposes an unorthodox interpretation of Lucan’s Bellum Civile, with a particular focus on the Epicurean elements within the text. Adopting a multifocal approach to selected verses from the third book of Bellum Civile allows for an Epicurean reading through meticulous analysis and comparison with their models. The body and soul, understood as the inner and outer components of the human being, are analysed as constitutive of the sentient human and decisive in their impact on the concept of fearing death. The text of Lucan is given greater depth through the utilisation of Epicurean quotations. The key concepts of “body”, “soul”, and “sensation” are crucial for comprehending Lucan’s lines and interpreting them through the lens of Epicurean philosophy, with the purpose of overcoming the fear of death.

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How to Cite
Coppola, A. (2025). Body, Soul and Sensation: Element of Epicureanism in Lucan. Analysing Luc. BC 3, 38–40. Sapiens Ubique Civis, 6, 123–141. https://doi.org/10.14232/suc.2025.6.123-141
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Vol. 6 (2025): Sapiens ubique civis VI
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Articles
Author Biography

Annalisa Coppola, University of Würzburg

Annalisa Coppola graduated in Classical Philology from the Università degli Studi di Salerno and later contributed to the Ärztenbriefen project at the University of Würzburg, where she focused on 15th to 17th century medical correspondence. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Würzburg, researching the Epicurean philosophical implications in Lucan’s Bellum Civile, with broader research interests in Latin imperial epic poetry and intertextuality.