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Fulvius Sparsus

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Fulvius Sparsus

We do not know his origins, although he may be Spanish as there are Spanish inscriptions referring to the Fulvii Sparsi. He studied under Porcius Latro. Seneca described him as “hominem inter scholasticos sanum, inter sanos. scholasticum” (Cont 1.7.15). Seneca cites him c. 25 times in the extant material, and judging by these, he was fond of opposition and antithesis, sometimes leading to affectedness in his style: this citation is a good example of that.

For further information see:

GOMEZ-PANTOJA, JOAQUIN L. “Another rhetor from Calagurris.” Faventia (1987): 79-84.

Arellius Fuscus

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Arellius Fuscus

Augustan declaimer. Seneca says he was one of the 4 best orators of his day and cites from him more than any other declaimer; famous students including the poet Ovid studied at his school in Rome. He declaimed in Latin and Greek, but Seneca says he preferred to declaim in Greek and was one of the Asiani: that may refer to his ethnic origin (Greek from Asia Minor) or to the style of his oratory. It is possible that he was a Roman from the Greek East, whose family had been settled there for a while as businesspeople.

His style is very poetic and one of his favourite poetic models is Virgil, whose influence can be seen on this passage. According to Seneca he did so in part to appeal to Maecenas, the patron of Virgil (Suasoriae 3.4-5). Seneca discusses him at length at Controversia VII Praef 1-9.

Porcius Latro

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Porcius Latro (-4 CE)

A Roman from Spain, he was very close friends with Seneca the Elder from childhood; they studied together with a Spanish rhetor called Marullus (Cont. 1 pr 22). Unfortunately, we do not know whether the school was in Cordoba or in Rome, though as it had 200 students, Rome seems more likely than Spain. When Seneca came to Rome in 38-36 BCE he attended the declamations given by Latro; he describes him extensively at Controversiae 1 pr. 13–24, but does not say a great deal about his life. Latro was influential on Ovid (Controversiae 2. 2. 8) who apparently imitated some of his Sententiae, but not very successful in court. He committed suicide in 4 CE.

Seneca cites him a great deal: more in the ealier Controversiae than the later, but he is cited in each one. Quintilian (Instiutes of Oratory 10.5) praised him highly as did Pliny the Elder. Pliny adds the extra detail that his followers (Natural History 20.57) drank a sort of tea made from cumin to imitate his pallor.

Cestius Pius

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Cestius Pius

Declaimer of the Augustan period, and one of those most frequently cited by Seneca. Of unknown ethnic origin: he may have been a Greek from the East (Seneca says he was from Smyrna – modern Izmir in Turkey) who got his citizenship from one of the senatorial Cestii. He could, however, instead be a descendant of some of the Cestii who settled in the East as businesspeople. Despite his Eastern origin he only declaimed in Latin in Rome. He attacked Cicero; and in his school it was said that students only read those of Cicero’s speeches to which he had composed replies (they also memorized those replies). He was once whipped by Cicero’s son at a banquet for his insults against Cicero.

According to Seneca he was capable of being a great speaker, but too frequently played to the crowd with a corrupt style (Contr 9.6.12).