STATIUS, PUBLIUS PAPINIUS (c. A.D. Latin poet, was born at Naples. His father was also a poet, and Statius seems to have been trained as one from the start. Of events in the life of Statius we know little. From his boyhood he was victorious in poetic contests—many times at his native city Naples, thrice at Alba, where he received the golden crown from the hand of the emperor Domitian. But at the great Capitoline competition (probably on its third celebration in A.D. 94) Statius failed to win the coveted chaplet of oak leaves. Perhaps the emperor's favour had failed him ; in any case, he withdrew to Naples (Si/v. iii. 5).
The role of court poet seems to have suited Statius. His flat tery is as far removed from the gentle propitiatory tone of Quin tilian as it is from the coarse and crawling humiliation of Martial. It is in the large extravagant style of a nature in itself healthy and generous, which has accepted the theme and left scruples behind. In one of his prefatory epistles Statius declares that he never allowed any work of his to go forth without invoking the godhead of the divine emperor. Statius had taken the full meas ure of Domitian's gross taste, and, presenting him with the ro domontade which he loved, puts conscience and sincerity out of view, lest some uneasy twinge should mar his master's enjoyment.
As a poet, Statius unquestionably shines in many respects when compared with most other post-Augustans. He was born with exceptional talent, and his poetic expression is, with all its faults, richer on the whole and less forced, more buoyant and more fe licitous, than is to be found generally in the Silver Age of Latin poetry. Statius is at his best in his occasional verses, the Silvae, which have a character of their own, and in their best parts a charm of their own. The subjects of the Silvae are very various. Five poems are devoted to flattery of the emperor and his fa vourites; but of these enough has already been said. Six are lam entations for deaths, or consolations to survivors. Another group of the Silvae give picturesque descriptions of the villas and gardens of the poet's friends. In the "Kalendae decembres" we have a striking description of the gifts and amusements provided by the emperor for the Roman population on the occasion of the Saturnalia. In his attempt at an epithalamium (Silv. i. 2) Statius
is forced and unhappy. But his birthday ode in Lucan's honour (Silv. ii. 7) has, along with the accustomed exaggeration, many powerful lines, and shows high appreciation of preceding Latin poets. Some phrases, such as "the untaught muse of high-souled Ennius" and "the lofty passion of sage Lucretius," are familiar words with all scholars.
The epic poems of Statius are less interesting because cast in a commoner mould, but they deserve study in many respects. They are the product of long elaboration. The Thebais, which the poet says took 12 years to compose, is in 12 books, and has for its theme the old "tale of Thebes"—the deadly strife of the Theban brothers. There is also preserved a fragment of an Achilleis, con sisting of one book and part of another. In the weary length of these epics there are many flowers of pathos and many little finished gem-pictures, but the trammels of tradition, the fash ionable taste and the narrow bars of education check continually the poet's flight.
The editio princeps of the epics is dated 1470, of the Silvae 1472. Notable editions since have been those of Bernartius (Antwerp, 1595), Gronovius (1653) and Barth (1664). Recent texts are the Teubner (the Achilleis and Thebais by Kohlmann, the Silvae by Baehrens) and that contained in the new edition of the Corpus poetarum latinorum; and of the Silvae only, texts by Klotz (1899), and Vollmer (1898), the last with an explanatory commentary. Among editions of por tions of Statius's works, that of the Silvae by Markland (1728) deserves special attention. A translation of the Silvae with introduc tion and notes was published by D. A. Slater in 1908 (Oxford Library of Translations). A critical edition of the Thebais and Achilleis was begun by 0. Muller (Thebaid i.–vi., Leipzig, 1870) but not completed.
For the poet's life see Lehanneus, De P. P. Statii Vita et Operibus (La Rochelle, 1878) ; Riv. Fil. 35 (1907) 3. (r. S. R. ; X.) STATUE OF LIBERTY. See LIBERTY, STATUE OF.