208 LORENZO SANNA
Hippolytus’ forma uirilis consists in a moderate display of strength
and grace, in a kind of fusion of the ephebic characteristics of splen-
dour and whiteness with the virility of a robust body and a strong and
proud face. The fascinating film of dust (4.78 et leuis egregio puluis
in ore decet) upon a snow-white or tenderly blushing face is one of the
many topical images of a boy’s portrait in Flavian poetry, as for
Parthenopaeus, Achilles or the delicatus Philetus of Silv. 2.6.
Nevertheless, going back to the former episode concerning Hylas,
where the splendid backdrop of shining transparent water sets off the
boy’s whiteness, water in Flavian epic, as well as sweat and dust, is
perfectly suited to represent the ambiguities and the contrasts of the
boy-hero. Water revives the puer Achilles’ tired and sweaty body,
whose splendour is compared to Castor’s in a topical astral simile:
Protinus ille subit rapido quae proxima saltu
fl umina fumantesque genas crinemque nouatur
fontibus, Eurotae qualis uada Castor anhelo
intrat equo fessumque sui iubar excitat astri
(Ach. 1.178–81)
Forthwith in a swift leap he approaches the nearest stream and freshens
his steaming cheeks and hair in its water, like Castor entering the shal-
lows of Eurotas with panting steed and furbishing the weary ray of his
star.A limpid and transparent spring is the fascinating setting for the
splendid Hylas’ aesthetic show, when he first plunges, and later mor-
tally sinks, in waters that are as refulgent as his body; water seems to
be the ideal habitat for the “games” of another fragile and splendid
boy-hero, Crenaeus in Theb. 9.319–51, whose fate is also premature
death:
Gaudebat Fauno nymphaque Ismenide natus
maternis bellare tener Crenaeus in undis,
Crenaeus, cui prima dies in gurgite fido
et natale uadum et uirides cunabula ripae.
Ergo ratus nihil Elysias ibi posse Sorores,
laetus adulantem nunc hoc, nunc margine ab illo
transit auum, leuat unda gradus, seu defluus ille,
siue obliquus eat; nec cum subit obuius ullas
stagna dedere moras pariterque reuertitur amnis.
Non Anthedonii tegit hospitis inguina pontus
blandior, aestiuo nec se magis aequore Triton
exerit, aut carae festinus ad oscula matris