Pharsalia

In Roman literature, the Pharsalia (also known as the Bellum civile or Civil War) is an epic poem by the poet Lucan, telling of the civil war between Julius Caesar and the Senatorial forces led by Pompey the Great. "Pharsalia" is a reference to the Battle of Pharsalus, which occurred in 48 BC, near Pharsalus, Thessaly, in northern Greece, where Caesar decisively defeated Pompey.

It was written in Latin, begun around 61 AD, and was probably unfinished and untitled, when Lucan died in 65 AD. There are ten surviving books which comprise the poem. It is unknown if there were any others written or planned. Book I, after some background, begins the story of the war, with Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon, in January 49 BC. Books II through IX continue the story. They tell of Pompey's flight from Italy, Caesar's defeat of the Pompeiian forces in Spain, his pursuit of Pompey to Thessaly, the ensuing battle at Pharsalus, and Pompey's death in Egypt. Book X leaves off with Caesar and Cleopatra in Egypt.

Pharsalia, New York, USA is named after the battle.

Reference

• Killings, Douglas B.; The Online Medieval & Classical Library: Pharalia (Online text and notes), University of California, Berkeley (1996).

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