Name: Hyginus Date: 64 BCE – 17 CE Region: Hispania [modern Spain] / Alexandria
[modern Egypt]; Rome [modern Italy] Citation: Fables 257 |
People who were “really good friends”:
·
Strophius’ son Pylades was “really good friends” with
Agamemnon’s son Orestes
·
Ixion’s son Pirithous was “really good friends” with
Theseus
·
Peleus’ son Achilles was “really good friends” with
Menoetes’ son Patroclus
·
Tydeus’ son Diomedes was “really good friends” with
Capaneus’ son Sthenelus
·
Aeacus’ son Peleus was “really good friends” with
Amyntor’s son Phoenix
·
Jupiter’s son Hercules was “really good friends” with
Poeas’ son Philoctetes
·
Harmodius and Aristogiton [loved each other] like
brothers
·
In Sicily, there was a very cruel tyrant named Dionysius.
Moeros[1]
wanted to kill him because he was torturing and killing his own citizens.
Guards caught Moeros in the act and brought him to the king. When he was
interrogated, he confessed his plot. Naturally, the king ordered him to die by
crucifixion. Moerus asked for a three day extension so that he could arrange
his sister’s wedding. He offered the tyrant his friend and companion
Selinuntius, who would serve as collateral for his pledge to return on the
third day. The king granted his request, and told Selinuntius that he would
die instead if Moerus didn’t return on the proper day. Then he let Moerus go.
Once
he arranged his sister’s affairs, Moerus started his journey back, but a sudden
rainstorm occurred and flooded the river so much that he could neither ford nor
swim across it. Moerus sat upon the river bank and began to weep, saddened that
his friend would have to die for him.
Therefore
when the tyrant ordered the crucifixion of Selinuntius on noon of the third
day, Selinuntius responded that the day was not yet over.
In
the middle of the afternoon, the king ordered Selinuntius’ execution. No sooner
had he been led to the cross when Moerus, having crossed the river, ran up to
the executioner and shouted as he neared, “Hold up! I’m here—release my
friend!”
Once
this was done, this news was relayed back to the king. The king ordered both
men to be brought before him and told them that since they had proven their
friendship to each other, he would spare Moerus’ life.
Also, Nisus was “really good friends” with Euryalus, and
died for him.
A List of “Really Good Friends” from Mythology
Qui inter se
amicitia iunctissimi fuerunt:
·
Pylades Strophii filius cum Oreste Agamemnonis filio.
·
Pirithous Ixionis filius cum Theseo Aegei filio.
·
Achilles Pelei filius cum Patroclo Menoetii filio.
·
Diomedes Tydei filius cum Sthenelo Capanei filio.
·
Peleus Aeaci filius cum Phoenice Amyntoris filio.
·
Hercules Jovis filius cum Philocteta Poeantis filio
·
Harmodius et Aristogiton [more fraterno]
·
In Sicilia [Dionysius] tyrannus crudelissimus cum esset
suosque cives cruciatibus interficeret, Moeros tyrannum voluit interficere.
Quem satellites cum deprehendissent armatum, ad regem perduxerunt. Qui
interrogatus respondit se regem voluisse interficere. Quem rex iussit cruci
figi, a quo Moerus petit tridui commeatum ut sororem suam nuptui collocaret et
daret tyranno Selinuntium amicum suum et sodalem qui sponderet eum tertio die
venturum. Cui rex indulsit commeatum ad sororem collocandam, dicitque rex Selinuntio,
ut nisi ad diem Moerus veniret eum eandem poenam passurum, et dimittit Moerum.
Qui collocata sorore cum reverteretur, repente tempestate et pluvia orta flumen
ita increvit ut nec transiri nec transnatari posset. Ad cuius ripam Moerus
consedit et flere coepit ne amicus pro se periret.
[Tyrannus] autem Selinuntium cruci figi cum iuberet ideo,
quod horae sex tertii iam diei essent ne veniret Moerus, cui Selinuntius
respondit diem adhuc non praeteriisse. cumque iam et horae novem essent, rex
iubet duci Selinuntium in crucem. Qui cum duceretur vix tandem Moerus liberato
flumine consequitur carnificem exclamatque a longe, “Sustine, carnifex! Adsum,
quem spopondit!” Quod factum regi nuntiatur. Quos rex ad se iussit perduci
vitamque Moero concessit, rogavitque eos ut se in amicitiam reciperent.[1]
·
Nisus cum Euryalo suo pro quo et mortuus est.
[1] The story of Harmodius and
Aristogeiton follows this story.
Hyginus [Caius Julius Hyginus; 64 BCE – 17 CE, modern
Spain or Egypt] was one of Augustus’ freedmen and a famous mythographer. He was
originally from Hispania [modern Spain]. Some think that he was
actually from Alexandria [modern Egypt], and brought to Rome as a boy by Caesar
after the fall of Alexandria. He studied under the Greek scholar Cornelius
Alexander, then followed in his footsteps. He was in charge of the Palatine
library, and despite this, still had the time to teach many people. He was very
close friends with the poet Ovid and Clodius Licinius, the former consul and
historian who, after Hyginus fell into poverty, supported him financially
for as long as he lived.
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