Harmodius and Aristogeiton
|
Name: Maximus of Tyre Date: 2nd century CE Region: Tyre [modern Lebanon] Citation: Dissertation
18.2.a-e |
Harmodius, a Athenian youth had two lovers: Aristogeiton
was a citizen and Hipparchus was a
tyrant. Aristogeiton was distinguished for his behavior, and knew his place in
life, but Hipparchus was wicked, and abused his position. Harmodius was
beautiful and worthy of love, and so he matter-of-factly rejected the tyrant
and dated the private citizen. Hipparchus became angry at this fact and, took
his anger out on both youths, as well as Harmodius’ sister, whom he dishonored
and banned from carrying the sacred baskets at the Panathenian Festival.
Immediately Hipparchus paid the penalty for his conduct. The shameful lust of
the tyrant, together with Harmodius’ courage, his appropriate love of
Aristogeiton, and his love of virtue, were the cause of the liberation of
Athens from tyranny.
|
Μειρακίῳ Ἀττικῷ δύο ἦσαν ἐρασταὶ, ἰδιώτης καὶ τύραννος. ὁ μὲν
δίκαιος ἦν διὰ ἰσοτιμίαν, ὁ δὲ ἄδικος δι’ ἐξουσίαν. ἀλλὰ τὸ γε μειράκιον ὄντως
ἦν καλὸν καὶ ἐρᾶσθαι ἄξιον. ὥστε ὑπεριδὸν τοῦ τυράννου τὸν ἰδιώτην ἠσπάζετο. ὁ δὲ ὑπ ̓ ὀργῆς, ἄλλα
τε ἀμφοτέρους προπηλάκισεν, καὶ ἀδελφὴν Ἀρμοδίου
Παναθηναίοις ἥκουσαν ἐπὶ τὴν πομπὴν κανηφοροῦσαν ἐξήλασεν ἐπ ἀτιμίᾳ. Διδόασι δίκην ἐκ τούτου Πεισιστρατίδαι, καὶ ἦρξεν ἐλευθερίας
Ἀθηναίοις ὕβρις τυράννου, καὶ μειρακίου θάρσος καὶ ἔρως
δίκαιος καὶ ἐραστοῦ ἀρετή. |
Adolescens quidam Atticus, amatores
habebat duos, privatum hominem et tyrannum: quorum alter vir probus erat,
conditionis suae memor: alter improbus, potentiae fiducia. Sed et adolescens
vere pulcher erat, et amore non indignus: quo facilius tyrannum contempsit,
privatum hominem amplexus est. Quare succensus ille, praeter alias iniurias,
quis utrunque affecit, sororem Harmodii quae Panathenaeorum festo ad gerendum
canistrum veniebat, cum ignominia eiecit. Huius facinoris poenam statim
Pisistratidae dedere, causaque Atheniensibus libertatis fuit, contumeliosa
tyranni libido, adolescentis audacia, probusque amor, et amatoris
virtus. Translated
into Latin by Claudius Larjot |
Maximus of Tyre [2nd century CE, modern Lebanon] was listed as one of
the most influential people in the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’ life. He
spent most of his life in scholarly pursuits; his Dissertations were a
collection of philosophical treatises based on the works of Plato.
