La fine del potere negli dei di Quinto Smirneo: riflessioni letterarie in merito a un fenomeno politico e sociale

The Posthomerica by Quintus of Smyrna, an epic poem probably composed in the 3rd century A.D. in the Greek-speaking part of the Roman empire, has as its aim the narration of the final act of the Trojan war, covering the gap between the end of the Iliad and the beginning of the Odyssey. Through a narrative that remains as close as possible to the models of the past, it is possible, however, to discern not only a new compositional taste but also a different conception of the world and of the dynamics of power within it. This change – a philosophical, religious and political change – can be seen first and foremost in the role of the gods, who act in an extremely different way in comparison with the Homeric model. This contribution aims to shed light on an epochal change taking place in this historical period – a change that transpires (even, or perhaps rightly so) in a work whose aim is only apparently far removed from current political and social events.