Talk:Mezentius

Comments
Hi I was wondering where the phrase "contemptor divorum" comes up in Roman culture. thanks.

Mezentius and Epicureanism
Mezentius isn't always presented as a "scapegoat," some scholars argue that Mezentius is actually a positive character who embodies Epicurean virtues, especially given the contrast of his calm, reasonable demeanor in Book 10 with Aeneas' rage. See Kronenbereg's paper "Mezentius the Epicurean" for this. It would be good to include something along these lines as Mezentius in the Aeneid is a lot more complex than the current article seems to suggest. zwoodman talk 27 March 2014

Book 8
Would be nice to mention what is said in Book 8: "Till curs'd Mezentius, in a fatal hour, Assum'd the crown, with arbitrary pow'r. What words can paint those execrable times, The subjects' suff'rings, and the tyrant's crimes! That blood, those murthers, O ye gods, replace On his own head, and on his impious race! The living and the dead at his command Were coupled, face to face, and hand to hand, Till, chok'd with stench, in loath'd embraces tied, The ling'ring wretches pin'd away and died." (Im not sure of the line reference, as I was just looking at the translation on wikisource). Its a nice example of his cruelty, though I dont really know how to phrase it. Hpmons (talk) 23:59, 2 December 2008 (UTC)