ABSTRACT
Claudian’s carmina minora 46–8, usually interpreted as ‘occasional poetry,’ may be read as a sequence of epigrams which intend to confirm the young emperor’s role as representative of the Roman Empire and to refrain him from military duties. The fictive weaver Serena, the “stepmother,” mother-in-law, but also (by adoption) sister of Honorius, encourages him by her handicrafts to concentrate on the role of representative in order to avoid the danger of war and to secure his life and the Theodosian dynasty. The three poems pretend to be parerga to gifts sent to Honorius whereas it is likely that they are just literary gifts.
