Bellum civile, bellum externum. Ambiwalencja obrazów wojny w twórczości Horacego

Abstract

The article aims at illustrating and explaining the ambivalence of images of just, external war (bellum externum) and civil, fratricidal war (bellum civile) in relation to the ancient literary theory and criticism, the phenomenon of political and cultural ‟patronage” and the political events of Augustan period. By analyzing the odes II 7 and III 2, epode 9 and ode I 37 the author argues that Horace’s initial litterary concept of presentation of civil and external war conventions as fas/nefas changes under the patronage. However, the poet himself, trying to preserve the poetic autonomy and meet the requirements of the ancient literary theory and criticism includes a new political and social situation in the sphere of his work.