Nomination and Systematization in Seneca’s Controversiae

This chapter focuses on the praxis and theory of onomatothesis in Roman declamation by outlining how Seneca uses proper names and onomastic formulae in his Controversiae. By connecting declamatory speeches to the names of those who delivered them, Seneca homologizes a community of declaimers from different periods and areas of the Empire, and thus fosters a collective rhetorical ‘memory’ for transmission via his compilation. Names thus serve as the organizing principles of a pedagogy founded on mimesis, and as the entry-points to the role-playing activity inherent to declamatory activity. The act of naming also plays a key structural role in the Controversiae by enabling and introducing perspectival and stylistic variations on each theme. Furthermore, the interplay between prefatory biographies, anecdotes, and use of individuals’ names throughout each controversia serves to classify and develop each voice’s contribution to the texture of the collection. By rereading the tenth book of the Controversiae from these standpoints, this chapter showcases the textual-cultural coordinates of nomination, and proffers insight into Seneca’s criteria for including or excluding particular declaimers from his collection.