Authoritative Forgeries: Late Republican History Re-told in pseudo-Sallust

Abstract

This paper deals with three pseudo-Sallustian texts (the two suasoriae to Caesar and the invective against Cicero) and with the pseudo-Ciceronian invective against Sallust. After a brief outline of the reasons that strongly militate against their authenticity, the discussion focuses on the role that authority (or lack thereof) plays in these works. Although their literary and historical context remains largely unclear, the suasoriae and the inuectiuae provide original standpoints on the main political, social, and intellectual issues of the late Republic. They also offer worthy opportunities to reflect on the place of Sallust and Cicero in late Republican culture and on their reception in the imperial period.