L'utilisation de la mythologie dans le Contre Rufin de Claudien
The use of mythology in political invective though strange to our modern point of view shows a desire to impose to history a transcendent dimension that goes beyond the simple case of the controversy against Rufin. It inserts the poem in a reflection on the history of Rome and on its meaning. Therefore, the status of poetry as "a valuable speech on history" is questioned by such an use of ancient myths to explain present political issues.