Dulcius urbe quid est? Roma negli elegiaci

Abstract

Augustan Rome is the playground for life and loves of the elegists: they describe the contemporary Urbs, and from this point of view look back to the pastoral old city, in keeping with Augustan ideology, or foresee the eternity of Roman rule. Realistic pictures of slums are very rare, as well as criticism of sumptuous buildings. Finally Ovid from his exile looks back to the Urbs as a dream world. From Augustan elegy, european literature (Goethe, d’Annunzio) borrows this view of Rome as ideal setting for lovers.