ABSTRACT
In the preface to the poem Juvencus outlines his purpose in writing: nothing in this world is everlasting but great deeds and writings can live on through the work of poets as in the case of Homer and Virgil. If poems such as these, with fictitious subjects, can endure through the ages, how much more so must it be the case with this poem of Juvencus which deals with facts that are definitely true. The poet hopes also that his poem will win not only fame for himself, but even salvation, saving him from the fires of hell at the Last Judgement.4 It is often suggested that Juvencus’ motive for writing was his desire to replace the pagan epics with a Christian one which still had the beauty and attractiveness of the older works, but this motive is not one that Juvencus emphasizes. It is true that instead of alluding to the Muses and their spring as the source of his poetic inspiration, Juvencus calls on the Holy Spirit and refers to the waters of the River Jordan. Yet his language and style remain resolutely in the pagan literary mould, influenced largely by Virgil, but also by Lucretius and Statius; following in their footsteps he even creates some epic neologisms, such as auricolor (golden-
coloured), flammivomus (spewing flames) and altithronus (enthroned on high). Though poetic, his style is clear and straightforward; the alliteration often mentioned by critics is by no means a dominant feature.
