Editing Statius (section)

===Birth and career=== 
Less is known of the biography of Statius. Born {{circa}} 45 CE, he grew up in the [[Culture of Greece|Greek cultural milieu]] of the [[Bay of Naples]], and his [[Ancient greek education|Greek literary education]] lends a sophisticated veneer to his ornamental verse.<ref>{{Cite book| author = Publius Papinius Statius |url=https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674012080|title= Thebaid|date= 2003|publisher= Harvard University Press|isbn= |volume= |oclc= 475361782}}</ref> From his boyhood he won several poetic contests at his native Naples and three times at the [[Alba (CN)| Alban]] Festival, where he received the golden crown from the hand of the emperor [[Domitian]], who had instituted the contest. For the Alban Festival, Statius composed a [[poem]] on the German and Dacian campaigns of Domitian - which Juvenal lampoons in his seventh satire. Statius is thought to have moved to Rome {{circa | 90}} after his father's death in 79; there he published his acclaimed epic poem the ''Thebaid'' ({{circa | 92}}). In the capital, Statius seems to have made many connections among the Roman aristocracy and court, and he was probably{{cn|date=November 2023}} supported through their patronage. Statius produced the first three books of occasional poetry, his ''Silvae'', which were published in 93, and which sketch his patrons and acquaintances of this period and mention his attendance at one of Domitian's [[Saturnalia]] banquets. He competed in the great [[Capitoline Hill| Capitoline]] competition<ref>
{{cite book
 |last1                = Friedländer
 |first1               = Ludwig
 |author-link1         = Ludwig Friedländer
 |translator-last1     = Freese
 |translator-first1    = J. H.
 |translator-last2     = Magnus
 |translator-first2    = Leonard A.
 |year                 = 1913
 |orig-date            = 1862
 |chapter              = The Arts
 |title                = Roman Life and Manners Under the Early Empire
 |url                  = https://books.google.com/books?id=55jq1xTf4F8C
 |volume               = 2
 |publication-place    = London
 |publisher            = George Routledge & Sons
 |page                 = 352
 |access-date          = 3 November 2023
 |quote                = The Capitoline competition, instituted by Domitian in 86, was held in far greater and more lasting repute than the Neronian. [...] At this festival, which was celebrated every fourth summer, poets, singers and musicians competed for the wreath of oak leaves, which the emperor himself presented to the victors [...].
}} 
</ref> -
it is not known in what year, although 94 has been suggested. Statius failed to win the coveted prize, a loss he took very hard. The disappointment may{{cn|date=November 2023}} have prompted his return ({{circa | 94}}) to Naples, the home of his youth. There survives a poem he addressed on this occasion to his wife, Claudia (the widow of a famous singer) who had a musically talented daughter by her first husband, (''Silv.'' 3.5).