La retorica visiva nell'Adversus Nationes di Arnobio

Abstract

This article concentrates on the analysis of visual elements and gestures presented in Arnobius’ Adversus Nationes. All of the chosen examples can play a role of visual rhetoric. The analyzed passages are among vivid narrations, which prove the apologist’s talent. Arnobius is conscious of the importance of persuasion techniques. That is why he gives an account of myths in a particular way so that the listener feels like an eyewitness perceiving the facts described by the rhetor. The mentioned rhetoric imagination leads to revealing (enargeia), which provides the speech with great power and pathos. Furthermore, such imagination connected with matter‑of‑fact arguments not only convinces the listener, but also provokes reflection on a sense of pagan rites.