TACITUS ON ORATORY AND RHETORICS
TACITUS ON ORATORY AND RHETORICS

Summary/Abstract: In Dialogus de oratoribus (Dialogues on Orators), Tacitus analyzes the causes of eloquence decadence in his times. If such decline had probably been a serious concern during the Republic, under the Imperial regime the orator should have had a less important part in the state leadership, and the state needs other people, with other training and skills. Using the historical method, in which he ordinarily excelled, the author does not consider the oratorical decadence as an irretrievable loss, suggesting instead the change of literary and educational ideals in his times.

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