La Campania incantatrice di Simmaco

The geography of Campania in Symmachus’ letter collection is highly stylised and influenced
by a century-old literary tradition, and combines references to the 4th-century historical context
and learned literary allusions; the tantalizing beauty of the sunny coasts and the delights
offered by the villas in Baiae are connected to the figures of Circe, of the Sirens and of the
Lotophages, who distract the Roman aristocrats from their civic duties and offices.