 Finally, Lucan is a significant model for Silius, although Silius differs dramatically from Lucan's historical epic by his use of the divine machinery.Frederick Ahl posits that Silius construed his epic as occupying the historical and poetic midpoint between the "Aeneid" and the "Bellum Civile", forming a trilogy of poems on Roman history.Silius is closest to Lucan in his treatment of historical description, especially geography and battlefields, his focus on the macabre and violence, and his stoic tone.