W/W: Beloved by the Nymphs: Dryope, Antoninus Liberalis Met. 32

Content Warning: rape

Unlike similar stories involving Artemis /Diana (including Callisto, Aura, Atalanta, etc.), this rape myth does not include any victim blaming or shaming. The hamadryads do not punish or shame Dryope for being attacked, but instead wait until her child is grown before transforming her into a nymph, allowing her to raise her child and experience motherhood.

Dryops Sperchii fluvii Filius ex Polydora, una Danai filiarum, regnum obtinuit in Oeta: unicamque habuit filiam Dryopen, quae patris greges pascebat. Sed cum eam summo opere amarent Hamadryades nymphae, suorumque locorum sociam adscivisset, docuissentque carminibus deos celebrare, et choros ducere: Apollo ea visa, concubitus cum ea ardor ipsum incessit. Itaque primum se in testudinem convertis: quam cum, ut rem ludicram, Dryope Nymphaeque tractarent, Dryope eam etiam in sinum conderet, de testudine Apollo in anguem transiit: itaque eam Nymphae territae desuerunt, Apollo cum Dryopa rem habet. Ea autem metus plena in domum patris confugit, nihilque parentibus ea de re indicavit. Post cum eam Andraemon Oxyli filius duxisset, puerum ex Apolline conceptum parit, Amphissum. Hic cum virilem aetatem attigisset, omnibus praevaluit. urbemque ad Oetam condidit, monti isti cognominem, ibique regnavit. Posuit eta Apollini in Dryopide regione templum: in quod cum se contulisset Dryope, Hamadryades benevolentia impulsae ea rapuerunt, et in silva occultarunt, loco eius alno excitata, ac pone alnum fonte. At Dryope, naturae mutatione de mortali facta est nympha. Amphissus, pro meritis Nympharum in matrem, templum ipsis condidit, primusque cursus certamen confecit: quod incolae hoc quoque nostro tempore curant. Mulierem eo accedere nefas est, quod Dryopen a Nymphis sublatam duae virgines incolis indicarunt: quas indignatione motae Nymphae, in abietes mutarunt.

 --Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 32, translated by Xylander 1832 (Greek text forthcoming) 

Dryops (the son of the river god Sperchius and the Danaid Polydora) became ruler in Oeta. He had one daughter named Dryope, who took care of her father’s flocks.

The hamadryad nymphs loved her greatly. They made her their companion wherever they went, and taught her how to sing hymns to the gods, as well as lead the sacred dances.  

When Apollo spotted her, he burned for desire to sleep with her. He transformed himself into a turtle. Dryope picked it up and kept it as a pet. When she had put him in her lap, Apollo transformed from a turtle into a snake. This terrified the nymphs, and they fled, leaving Dryope to her fate. Apollo attacked her.

Terrified of what her father would think, Dryope fled home, but told him nothing about the attack. Later on, she was married to Andraemon (the son of Oxylus), but she had already conceived a child with Apollo. Her son, Amphissus, grew up a well-rounded young man. He established the city Oeta (named after the mountain) and ruled there. He created a temple to Apollo in Dryopis there.

When Dyrope went to the temple, the hamadryad nymphs took her with them, moved by their kind feelings for her.  They hid her in the forest, leaving a poplar tree in her place. In this way Dryope was transformed into a nymph.

Out of respect for the nymphs’ treatment of his mother, Amphissus created a temple for them, and established an annual footrace dedicated to them; these races occur even today. Women are banned from this place, since two maidens told the villagers of Dryope’s whereabouts. This angered the nymphs, and they transformed these maidens into pine trees.

 

ANTONINUS LIBERALIS	MAP:
Name: Antoninus Liberalis   Date:  2nd – 3rd c. CE Works:  Metamorphoses*	REGION  UNKNOWN
BIO:	Timeline:
Little is known about the life of the Greek author Antoninus Liberalis. His work, Metamorphoses, is similar to the works of Hyginus in that they provide brief summaries of Greek and Roman myths.	ROMAN GREECE

  

 

M/M: A Toxic Relationship: Cygnus & Phylius, Antoninus Liberalis Met. 12

Content Warning: animal abuse, suicide, toxic relationship / abuse

12: Cygnus. Apollini e Thyria Amphinomi filia natus est Cygnus, facie formosa, moribus inelegantibus et agrestibus, nimio studio venationibus deditus. habitabat ruri inte Pleuronem et Calydonem. Multos habuit ob pulchritudinem amatores: quorum cum prae superbia admitteret neminem: mox omnibus invisus, ab iisque est desertus, solo Phylio apud ipsum perseverante. quanquam hunc quoque non mediocribus affecit contumeliis. Extiterat sub id tempus apud Aetolos ingens leo, qui et in ipsos et in pecus grassabatur. hunc Cygnus iussit Phylium sine ferro interficere. idque is in se recepit, leonemque tali necavit astu. Cum sciret qua hora leo esset superventurus, ventrem implevit multo cibo ac vino. cumque bellum appropinquaret, ea evomit. quae leo famelicus devorans, vini vi est stupido sopore obrutus. et Phylius brachio, cui vestem suam circumvolverat, in os inserto leonem suffocavit: sublatumque in humeros, ad Cygnum attulit. nomenque apud homines illustre eo facinore sibi paravit. Sed Cygnus alium adhuc difficiliorem ei laborem iniunxit. Erant ea in regione vultures monstrosae magnitudinis, qui multos homines interficiebant. hos eum vivos capere, et ad se perducere quavis ratione iussit. Dubitante Phylio quomodo hoc mandatum conficeret, divinitus evenit, ut aquila raptum leporem, semianimemque eodem deiiceret, non perlatum ad nidum. Phylius direpto lepore, sanguine eius se implevit, et humi procubuit. itaque vultures ad eum ut mortuum devolarunt: quorum ille duos pedibus arreptos tenuit, atque ad Cygnum pertulit. Tertium ei hic, prioribus adhuc magis arduum, imposuit laborem: taurum ab armento iubens manu abducere ad aram Jovis. Phylius cum perficiendae huius rei rationem nullam inveniret, Herculis auxilium imploravit. Voto facto, duo ei tauri apparuerunt, qui propter vaccam, quam uterque ardebat, pugnantes cornibus se mutuo in terram prosternebant. cumque elanguisset, Phylius alterum pede correptum ad aram usque attraxit. Voluntate autem Heruclis ....negligere mandata pueri. Accidit hoc gravissimum Cygno, quod se, quod minime opinatus erat fore, contemtum videret. itaque prae maerore animi seipsum abiecit in Conopam lacum, videri inter homines desiit. Eodemque etiam se Thyria mater, filii mortem non ferens, praecipitavit: amboque in aves mutati sunt in lacu, Apollinis nutu. Ab iis quoque lacus Cygnea appellata est; ac tempore arationis multi ibi visuntur olores. Prope extat etiam Phylii monimentum.

 

--Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 12; Translated by Xylander 1832 [Greek text forthcoming]

Cygnus. Apollo and Amphinomus' daughter Thyria had a son named Cygnus. He had a pretty face, but he had terrible manners, and spent too much time hunting.  He dwelled in the countryside between Pleuron and Calydon.  His looks earned him a lot of suitors,  but his arrogance drove them all off. Soon nobody liked him, and everybody stopped asking him out except for one man: Phylius.  But even this one suitor Cygnus treated harshly.

At that time a huge lion was menacing Aetolia that kept attacking both people and livestock. Cygnus ordered Phylius to kill this lion without the use of a weapon. Phylius agreed, and set out to do so. Right before he went to meet the lion, he binged on food and wine. When Phylius approached the lion, he vomited it all up. The lion ate his vomit and quickly succumbed to the affects of the wine. Phylius wrapped his arm in his clothing and shoved it down the animal's throat, suffocating it. He carried the lion's body on his shoulders, and brought it to Cygnus, and became famous for this feat.

But Cygnus wasn't done: he challenged Phylius with an even more difficult task. There were gigantic vultures in the area that kept killing people. Cygnus ordered Phylius to capture them alive, and to bring them to him.

While Phylius was trying to figure out how to accomplish this, he received divine inspiration; he saw an eagle dropping a half-dead rabbit that it had caught. Phylius grabbed the rabbit and smeared himself with its blood, then lay on the ground, pretending to be dead. When the vultures swooped down to devour him, he pinned them down in a chokehold with his legs, and brought them to Cygnus.

Cygnus ordered Phylius to perform a third, and even more impossible, task. He ordered him to take a bull from his flock and bring it to the altar of Jupiter, with nothing but his bare hands. When Phylius couldn’t think of a way to accomplish this, he prayed to Hercules for help. As soon as he had finished praying, two bulls appeared by his side. They had fought over a cow and had their horns locked, trapped on the ground. Phylius grabbed one and dragged it to the altar. But, by the grace of Hercules, Phylius stopped paying attention to Cygnus.

This devastated Cygnus, as he realized that Phylius no longer cared for him. He threw himself into Lake Copona in despair, and disappeared from the eyes of men. Unable to cope with the loss of her son, Cygnus’ mother Thyria also threw herself into the lake and drowned. By the grace of Apollo, both were transformed into birds. This is why the lake is now called Swan Lake; during migration times, many swans are seen in the area.

 

 

 

ANTONINUS LIBERALIS	MAP:
Name: Antoninus Liberalis   Date:  2nd – 3rd c. CE Works:  Metamorphoses*	REGION  UNKNOWN
BIO:	Timeline:
Little is known about the life of the Greek author Antoninus Liberalis. His work, Metamorphoses, is similar to the works of Hyginus in that they provide brief summaries of Greek and Roman myths.	ROMAN GREECE

 

M/M: Distracted by Love: Apollo and Hymenaeus, Antoninus Liberalis 23

Argus Phrixi filius et Perimele Admeto nata, filium habebat Magnetem nomine, qui vicinam Thessaliae regionem incoluit: eam, cui ab eo Magnesiae nomen homines fecerunt. Filius ei fuit Hymenaeus, excellenti forma. Hunc cum Apollo cantentem audivisset, amoreque eius correptus a domo Magnetis non discederet: Mercurius armento boum Apollinis, quod iuxta Admeti pascebat, insidias tendit. Ac primum quidem canibus armenta ea custodientibus, veteruum anginamque immittit: eae oblitae boum, custodiaeque sunt. Buculas ita Mercurius abigit, duodecim, et boves iugi ignaros centum, taurumque armenti virum. Caudis singulorum aliquid sylvestris materiae appendit, ad delenda boum vestigia. agitque armentum per Boeotiam, Megarensem agrum, indeque in Peloponnesum per Corinthum et Larissam, Tegeam usque. 

--Antoninus Liberalus, Metamorphoses 23; translated into Latin by Xylander 1832 [Greek text forthcoming]

Argus (the son of Phrixus) and Perimele (the daughter of Admetus) had a son name Magnes, who dwelled in the area of Thessaly; therefore this region is known as Magnesia. Magnes had a son named Hymenaeus, who was incredibly good looking. When Apollo heard Hymenaeus singing, he fell in love with him and wouldn’t leave Magnes’ home. Mercury plotted to seize Apollo’s flock of cows, which he tended along side Admetus’. First off, he poisoned Apollo’s guard dogs with a drug which caused them to forget the cows and their duty to protect them.  Mercury abducted twelve grown cows and a hundred unbroken ones, as well as the flock’s bull. He tied branches to their tails to destroy all traces of their tracks. Mercury led these cows throughout Boeotia, Megarian territory, and then took them throughout the Peloponnese through Corinth and Larissa, all the way to Tegea.

ANTONINUS LIBERALIS	MAP:
Name: Antoninus Liberalis   Date:  2nd – 3rd c. CE Works:  Metamorphoses*	REGION  UNKNOWN
BIO:	Timeline:
Little is known about the life of the Greek author Antoninus Liberalis. His work, Metamorphoses, is similar to the works of Hyginus in that they provide brief summaries of Greek and Roman myths.	ROMAN GREECE

M/M: Two Hearts Melting into One, Synesius 152

A Christian Author Using Plato’s Myth of Soulmates

Name:   Synesius of Cyrene Date:   373 – 414 CE Region:   Cyrene [modern Libya] Citation:     Letter 151

Plato’s imagery of soulmates had such a strong impact on Greco-Roman literature that seven hundred years later, a Christian bishop used it to describe his relationship with Pylaemenes.

 

When I put my arms around you,  Pylaemenes, I feel like my soul is embracing your soul. I can’t express in words how much my heart gushes on and on about you, and I can’t even understand the depths of my feelings for you. But one person can—Plato the Athenian, the relationship expert, in his book on Love [Symposium]. He cleverly researched and eloquently described what a person in love wants to happen when they find their soulmate. Therefore, let Plato’s words count as mine: he said that a soulmate would want Vulcan to melt them both down and fuse them together, creating one person out of two.

 

Οΐου με περιπτύσσεσθαι Πυλαιμένην, αὐτὴν τὴν ψυχήν, αὐτῇ τῇ ψυχῇ. Ἀπορῶ λόγων οἷς ἐκχέοιτο ὅσον ἐστὶ τῆς γνώμης μου τὸ βουλόμενον. μᾶλλον δὲ οὐδὲ αὐτό μου τὸ πάθος, ὅ τί ποτέ ἐστι τὸ περὶ σέ μου τῆς ψυχῆς ἐξευρίσκω. Ἐγένετο δὲ τις ἀνὴρ δεινὸς τὰ ἐρωτικὰ, Πλάτων ὁ ̓Αρίστωνος Ἀθηναῖος, εὔπορος εὑρεῖν εὔκολος εἰπεῖν ἐραστοῦ φύσιν, καὶ δὴ καὶ ὅ τι αὐτῷ γενέσθαι περὶ τὰ παιδικὰ βούλεται. καὶ ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ τοίνυν ἐξευρηκώς τε ἔστω καὶ εἰρηκώς. Βούλοιτ ἂν οὖν φησὶ, Ηφαίστου τέχνῃ συντακῆναί τε καὶ συμφυῆναι, καὶ ἔν ἄμφω γενέσθαι.

Pylaemenem me puta, ipsum animum animo ipso complecti. Desunt mihi verba quibus quanta est voluntatis animi mei vis effundatur, vel potius ne ipse quidem affectus cuiusmodi erga te in animo meo insit, invenio. Sed homo quidam exstitit amatoriarum rerum peritus, Plato Aristonis filius Atheniensis in amatoris natura, eoque quod circa delicias suas sibi accidere vellet, inveniendo solers, in explicando disertus ac facilis. Quare is pro me istud et inveniat et dicat. Vellet igitur, ait ille, Vulcani quadam arte colliquari et coalescere, unumque ex ambobus effici. Translated into Latin by Jacques-Paul Migne

Synesius of Cyrene [373 – 414 CE, modern Libya] was a Greek writer and statesman from Cyrene. He is known as one of Hypatia’s most famous students. His education took him to both Alexandria, Egypt and Athens, Greece; he spent many years in Constantinople advocating on behalf of his community. His letters are still extant, and provide us with unique insights into this time period.

M/M: Standing Up For Love In the Face of Violence: Eurybatos & Alcyoneus, Antoninus Liberalis Metamorphoses 8

Lamia, sive Sybaris:

In imo Parnassi versus meridiem mons est (ut quarto Alteratorum libro Nicander narrat) Cirphis, pone Crissam, inque eo etiamnum antrum praegrande, in quo fera degebat olim ingens et monstrosae magnitudinis adeo, quam alii Lamiam, alii Sybarin nominabant. Ea fera singulis diebus in agros grassabatur, pecus hominesque rapiens. Iamque Delphi de mutandis sedibus cogitabant, et oraculum consulebant de loco in quem migrarent. Tum Deus, malo eos isto liberatum iri pronunciavit, si manentes vellent ad antrum expondere puerum unum de civium filiis. ipsi mandata peragebant. Sorte ad hoc ductus est Alcyoneus, Diomi et Meganirae filius quem unum pater genuerat, et vultu et indole praeditus eleganti. eum coronis redimitum, sacerdotes ad Sybaridis speluncam abduxerunt. At vero genii cuiusdam impulsu Eurybatus Euphemi filius ab Axio fluvio genus trahens, generoso animo iuvenis, a Curetide proficiscens, in Alcyonem, cum is ad antrum duceretur, incidit: et amore eius correptus, scitatus causam viae, indignum facinus se facturum putavit, si puerum ita misere interfici sineret, neque ei pro viribus suis opitularetur. Itaque Alcyoneo detractas coronas, suo imposuit capiti, seque eius loco duci iussit. adductusque ad antrum a sacerdotibus, irrupit, Sybarinque e lecto vi abreptam in lucem protulit, ac de saxis praecipitem egit. ea capite ad imos Crissae processus alliso, eo e vulnere decessit. Caeterum isto e saxo fons erupit: qui abincolis Sybaris dicitur. Inde etiam Locri urbem Sybarim condiderunt in Italia.

--Antoninus Liberalis 8, translated into Latin by Xylander 1832

THE LAMIA, or SYBARIS:

In the mountain ranges of Parnassus, (according to book four of Nicander’s work) there is a mountain called Cirphis, near Crissa. Inside of this mountain is a very large cave where a huge monster lived. Some people called this monster the Lamia; others called it Sybaris.  This monster was attacking the countryside daily, eating up flocks and people alike. The inhabitants of Delphi were contemplating migrating away from the dangerous area, so they consulted the oracle to learn where it would be safe for them to move. Then Apollo prophesied that they would be free of the beast if they sacrificed one of their citizens’ children to it. So the citizens complied with this oracle.

The person chosen by lot to be sacrificed was Alcyoneus, the son of Diomus and Meganira. He was Diomus’ only son, and he was both incredibly talented and incredibly handsome. The citizens put a sacrificial crown upon his head, and the priests led him to the monster’s cave to be sacrificed.

However, at the same time this was happening, fate had it that Eurybatus, the son of Euphemus and grandson of the Axius river, a kind-hearted young man, was setting out from Curetis, and bumped into Alcyoneus while he was being led to the cave. Eurybatus fell in love with Alcyoneus, and asking about the youth’s circumstances, thought it would be simply awful if he just stood there and did nothing to stop Alcyoneus from being sacrificed. So here is what he did: he pulled off Alcyoneus’ sacrificial crown; he put it on his own head and ordered the priests to sacrifice him instead. Once he got to the cave, he attacked the monster; he pulled Sybaris from its lair and, dragging it into the daylight, threw it off the mountainside. Sybaris struck its head when it hit the ground and died. The impact caused a spring of water to well up; it is named Sybaris after the monster. Later the Locrians founded a city in Italy named Sybaris.

ANTONINUS LIBERALIS	MAP:
Name: Antoninus Liberalis   Date:  2nd – 3rd c. CE Works:  Metamorphoses*	REGION  UNKNOWN
BIO:	Timeline:
Little is known about the life of the Greek author Antoninus Liberalis. His work, Metamorphoses, is similar to the works of Hyginus in that they provide brief summaries of Greek and Roman myths.	ROMAN GREECE

"The Prince Who Never Saw Women" Lesson Plan and Cambridge University Press' DEI In the Latin Classroom Week!

 This is the second year in a row that I've been invited to participate in Cambridge University Press' annual Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Latin Classroom series! My lesson plan, "'The Prince Who Never Saw Women:' Recognizing Bias in Literature and Society," is included in the weeklong series alongside blogs, lesson plans, and videos from renowned Classicists in the field. I am deeply honored to participate in this series that provides classroom tools and lesson plans for free to help Latin classrooms provide a more accurate picture of the peoples of the ancient world.

If you haven't had a chance to check out the series, you can do so  HERE.

Thanks again for your support and the opportunity, Cambridge University Press!

The Life and Death of Hypatia: Socrates Scholasticus Historia Ecc. 7.15

The world is a violent place right now. Please stay safe, and continue to stay vigilant against bigots.

Content Warning: murder, violence

Mulier quaedam fuit Alexandriae, nomine Hypatia, Theonis philosophi filia. Haec ad tantam eruditionem pervenerat, ut omnes sui temporis philosophos longo intervallo superaret et in Platonicam scholam a Plotino deductam succederet cunctasque philosophiae disciplinas auditoribus exponeret. Quocirca omnes philosophiae studiosi ad illam undique confluebant. Porro praeter fiduciam atque auctoritatem, quam sibi ex eruditione comparaverat, interdum quoque cum singulari modestia ad iudices accedebat. Neque vero pudor erat ipsi, in media hominum frequentia apparere.

Nam ob eximiam ipsius modestiam, omnes eam reverebantur simul, ac suscipiebant. Hanc igitur e tempore adortus est invidiae livor. Nam quoniam cum Oreste crebrius colloquebatur, hinc concinnata est adversus eam calumnia apud plebem Christianorum, quasi per ipsam staret, quominus inter Cyrillum, atque Orestem amicitia reconciliaretur. 

Quidam igitur viri ardentioribus animis praediti, quorum dux erat Petrus quidam Lector, conspiratione facta mulierem observant, domum nescio unde redeuntem. Eamque e sella detractam, ad Ecclesiam, quae Caesareum cognominatur, rapiunt & vestibus exutam, testis interemerunt. Cumque membratim eam discerpsissent, membra in locum quem Cinaronem vocant, comportata incendio consumpserunt. Ea res tum Cyrillo,tum Alexandrinorum Ecclesiae non mediocre attulit probrum. Etenim ab instituto Christianorum prorsus alienae sunt caedes & pugnae & quaecunque alia eiusmodi. Gesta sunt haec anno quarto Episcopatus Cyrilli, Honorio decimum &Theodosio sextum Consulibus, mense Martio, tempore ieiuniorum.

 --Socrates Scholasticus, Historia Eccles. 7.15; Translation into Latin by Henricus Valesius 1747 [Greek text forthcoming]

 

There was a certain woman in Alexandria named Hypatia, who was the daughter of the philosopher Theon. She attained such wisdom that she completely surpassed every philosopher of her generation. She was trained in Neoplatonism [the ways of Plotinus], and taught her students all of the aspects of this type of philosophy; many of her students flocked to her classes from all over. Because of her poise and all of the knowledge and wisdom which she attained from her studies, she was often sought by local magistrates. Moreover, she was not bashful in their presence, or afraid to appear in the presence of a large crowd.

Because Hypatia was so highly regarded, everyone revered her and welcomed her, but this did put a target on her back (as happened frequently at that time). Since she spent so much time with Orestes, many Christians accused her of interfering with the reconciliation of his friendship with Cyril.

A group of religious zealots under the leadership of a lector named Peter plotted Hypatia’s death. While she was travelling back to her house, they pulled her out of her chariot and dragged her back to the church (the one called Caesareum). They stripped naked and killed her with tiles. Then they dismembered her and brought the pieces to a place called Cinaron, where they cremated them. This crime besmirched the reputation of not only Cyril, but also the entire Alexandrian Church system, for these murders, riots and other acts of violence of this kind are repugnant to the institution of Christianity.

Hypatia’s death occurred in the fourth year of Cyril’s episcopate, during the tenth year of Honorius’ consulship and the sixth consulship of Theodosius, in the month of March, during Lent.

SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS	MAP:
Name:  Socrates Scholasticus Date:  380 – 439 CE Works:  Ecclesiastical History	REGION  5
BIO:	Timeline:
Socrates Scholasticus was a historian from Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) who lived during the 4th and early 5th century CE. His Ecclesiastical History covers history of the Church from 305 to 439 CE.	POST CONSTANTINOPLE

Christianizing the Myth of Achilles & Patroclus: Synesius to His Friend Troilus, Ep. 123

 Roman men often had deep, loving and affectionate friendships with their peers. There was no shame or stigma in expressing love and support to one another.

Troilo.

Quod si Erebo vita functorum oblivia tangant, 

illic vel chari potero meminisse sodalis.

Sunt illi quidem ab Homero versus scripti; sed eorum sensus nescio an ab Achille potius de Patroclo quam a me de te amicissimo, ac benefico capite, usurpari merito possit. quam eloquidem, ut testis est mihi Deus, quem philosophia colit, sacri tui ac suavisissimi animi infixam imaginem medio in corde circumfero, et auribus etiamnum illa sapientissimorum tuorum sermonum vox insonat. Cum autem ex Aegypto in patriam rediissem, ac duorum annorum simul epistolas legissem, magnam equidem in litteras vim lacrimarum profudi. Non tam enim, quod te per litteras quodammodo fruerer, mihi voluptatem afferebat, quam illud dolore afficiebat, cum ex scriptis tuis litteris praesentem ac vivam in animam consuetudinem revocarem; cuiusmodi scilicet et amico simul, et vere parente vivo essem orbatus. Libenter igitur graviora pro patria certamina subeam, mihi ut iterum profectionis occasio praebeatur. Num quando conspectu tuo perfruar, Pater vere germanissime? num quando sacrum tuum caput amplectar? num concilii propter te beati particeps ero?  Si enim ea mihi obtinere contigerit, efficiam profecto, ut iam fabula non sit, quod de Aesone Thessalo dicitur praedicant, cum ex sene repente esset iuvenis factus.

--Synesius, Epistula 123, (Greek forthcoming); Translated by J. P. Migne (1864)

Dear Troilus,

Even if death erases the memory of our souls,

I will still be able to remember you there, dear friend!

This is a quote of Homer, but I don’t know if they were written more for Achilles and Patroclus than for us, dear friend! May God above, Whom wisdom cherishes, bear witness that the image of your sacred and most precious spirit is fixed deep within my heart, and even now, the words of your wisdom-instilled voice still resonate in my ears. When I returned home from Egypt, I read the letters you’d written me for the past two years and I wept profusely. Your letters didn’t cause me happiness, but rather grief, for as I read them, I recalled from spending time with you in real life, and now it seems I’m mourning the loss of a friend, even a parent, with your absence—even through you are still alive! I’ll proudly do my duty and undertake serious challenges for my country, if only I can find an opportunity to leave it. When will I enjoy seeing your face again, dearest Father? When will I wrap my arms around your sacred neck? When will I spend time with you again? If this ever should happen, I would be like what they say about Aeson from Thessaly, and become young again.

​

SYNESIUS	MAP:
Name:  Synesius Date:  4th c. CE Works:  Letters	REGION  3
BIO:	Timeline:
Synesius was a Greek writer and statesman from Cyrene (modern Libya). He is known as one of Hypatia’s most famous students. His education took him to both Alexandria, Egypt and Athens, Greece; he spent many years in Constantinople advocating on behalf of his community. His letters are still extant, and provide us with unique insights into this time period.	POST CONSTANTINOPLE

Remembered in the Stars: Antinous, Caelum Astronomico-poeticum, 179-180

ANTINOUS:

Puer Adrianeus, Adriani Amasius, Puer Bithynicus, Novus Aegypti Deus; aliis Ganymedes, Puer Troius, Troianus, Iliacus, Phrygius, Catullo Iovis Cinaedus, catamitus, Puer Aquilae, Iovis Pincerna, sive Pocillator. Meridianum media nocte transit medio Iulii: et septem in globo nosro continet stellas, de quibus in praecedenti egimus Signo.

[Antinous admirandae pulchritudinis puer Claudiopoli Bithyniae natus, postquam Nilo submersus erat, Ariani Caesaris iussu, cuius amasius fuit, ab Aegyptiis cultus, ac in coelum locatus, prope Viam lacteam, sub Aquila, inter Zodiacum, et Aequatorem, Arae quasi insistitit. Devicta enim ab Augusto Cleopatra Aegypti regina,ac Adriano postea imperium consecuto, novum hic Aegyptiis Duem, nempe hunc Antinoum dedit. Unde apud Goltzium in Thesauro rei antiquariae, vetus inscriptio Romae reperta in Campo Martio ad Isidis fanum, haec habet: ANTINOΩI SYNΘΡONΩI TΩN EN AIGYPTΩI ΘEΩN, hoc est, Antinoo eundem cum Diis Aegyptiis thronum occupanti. Quin et idem Adrianus in eiusdem Antinoi honorem urbem Antinoiam, quae et Adrianopolis dicta, in Aegypto condidit: imo non solum statuas erexit, templa & sacerdotes constituit; sed etiam numismata procudit, aut procudi fecit. Quod praeter alios, testatur nummus Bayeri aeneus, in cuius altera facie Caput Antinoi expressum, cum hac inscriptione: OCTILIOS MAΡKELLOS O IEΡEΥS TOΥ ANTINOOΥ, hoc est, Hostilius Marcellus Sacerdos Antinoi: in altera conspicitur Mercurius cum Pegaso, circumque haec legitur epigraphe: TOIC AΧAIOC ANEΘEKE , hoc est, Achaeis consecravit.

--Phillippi Caesi a Zesen. Caelum Astronomico-poeticum, sive Mythologicum Stellarum Fixarum, 1662.p. 179-180

ANTINOUS:

Hadrian’s Boyfriend / Hadrian’s Lover / Bythinian Lad / New Egyptian God / (Others think it’s Ganymede, the Trojan Lad, The Trojan, The Trojan, The Phrygian, Jupiter’s Lover (according to Catullus), The Lover, The Eagle’s Boyfriend, Jupiter’s Cupbearer, The Cupbearer.

This constellation passes through the south in the middle of the night, during the middle of July. It is comprised of seven stars in a cluster, as we saw in the previous sign [Aquila].

Antinous was an extremely beautiful youth born in Claudiopolis, Bithynia. After he drowned in the Nile, his lover, the Emperor Hadrian, ordered him to be worshipped by the Egyptians, and had a constellation named after him. The constellation is near the Milky Way under the constellation Aquila, between the Zodiac signs and the Equator (which is also part of the constellation Ara). It was taken away from the Egyptian Pharoah Cleopatra by Augustus, and then rededicated by Hadrian as a new god for the Egyptians, (of course—he named it in honor of Antinous).

In Goltzius’ Thesaurus of Antiquities, there was an ancient inscription found in the Campus Martius in Rome, in a shrine to Isis, which reads: “Dedicated to Antinoos, sharing the same throne as the Egyptian Gods.”  Hadrian also named a town after Antinous in Egypt, which is also called Hadrianopolis. He not only dedicated statues for Antinous there, but he also established temples and priests for him as well. He also created coins in his honor, or rather, had them minted. One of these is a bronze coin in Bavaria. On one side is the head of Antinous, with the inscription “Hostilius Marcellus, the Priest of Antinous.” On the other side is Mercury with Pegasus, with the inscription “dedicated to the Achaeans.”

Remembered Among the Flowers: Claudian, De Raptu Proserpinae 2.128-136

The loss of Hyacinthus and Narcissus foreshadow Persephone / Proserpina's abduction. 

pratorum spoliatur honos : haec lilia fuscis

intexit violis ; hanc mollis amaracus ornat ;

haec graditur stellata rosis, haec alba ligustris.

te quoque, flebilibus maerens Hyacinthe figuris,  

Narcissumque metunt, nunc inclita germina veris,

praestantes olim pueros : tu natus Amyclis,

hunc Helicon genuit ; disci te perculit error,

hunc fontis decepit amor ; te fronte retusa

Delius, hunc fracta Cephisus harundine luget. 

--Claudian, De Raptu Proserpinae 2.128-136 

Together, they [Proserpina and her companions]  gather the flowers, the glory of the fields:

This one weaves lilies with dark violets,

That one decorates herself with marjoram.

Another one strides onwards, crowned with roses, and another is sparkly with white flowers.

This one wears you as well, sorrowful Hyacinthus, with your mournful petals*,

They pluck Narcissus, too:

Once, long ago, you were awesome youths,

But now you are the famous companions of the spring.

You, Hyacinthus, were a son of Amyclae,

But Helicon created Narcissus.

A stray discus killed you, Hyacinthus,

But a water [nymph]’s love led you astray.

The Delian god [Apollo] wears you upon his forehead, Hyacinthus;

And Cephisus mourns your loss, Narcissus, with a broken reed [panpipe].

  

CLAUDIAN	MAP:
Name:  Claudius Claudianus Date:  370 – 404 CE Works: The Abduction of Proserpina           On the Consulship of Stilicho           Against Eutropius	REGION  4
BIO:	Timeline:
Claudian was born in Alexandria, Egypt during the 4th century CE. He is one of the best poets of the time period, and he provides a unique perspective as a non-Christian writer in Christian Rome. Many of his works are still extant, including panegyric [official praise literature] for the Roman Emperor Honorius and his general Stilicho, a poem criticizing the eunuch consul Eutropius, and an epic retelling of the abduction of Persephone.	AGE OF CONFLICT

 

Honoring Women Veterans: Telesilla of Argos, Plutarch, Virtutes Mulierum 245c-d

Challenging Gender Roles: Telesilla, Warrior Poet

Name:    Plutarch Date:      46 – 119 CE Region:    Chaeronea [modern Greece]   Citation:     The Valor of Women, 245c – e

There is no better example of women working on behalf of their community than what they did in defense of Argos against Cleomenes’ assault, under the leadership of the poet Telesilla.

They say that Telesilla was born from a noble family, but was sent to the temple of the gods to cure her ill health. There she received a prophecy to worship the Muses, and so she obeyed the god’s command and studied poetry and song. She was healed of her illness and her art was the object of wonder among women.

When Cleomenes, the King of Sparta, killed a large amount of Argive soldiers—but not, as the rumor holds, 7,777 of them—he marched against the city with death on his mind. A bold wave of courage beset the young women, hoping to fight against the enemy in defense of their homeland. At the head of this counteroffensive was Telesilla,  who took up weapons and, standing on the town’s battlements,  manned completely the circuit of defensive walls, and completely shocked the enemy by this sight.

They fended off Cleomenes’ attack, taking down many of his soldiers in the process. The other Spartan king, Demaratus, who according to Socates was able to broach the city walls and gain possession of the Pamphyliacum, was also routed.  And so they saved their city. The women who fell in battle were buried on the road into town, and the women veterans were granted a monument to Ares in honor of their valor.

οὐδενὸς δ᾽ ἧττον ἔνδοξόν ἐστι τῶν κοινῇ διαπεπραγμένων γυναιξὶν ἔργων ὁ πρὸς Κλεομένη περὶ Ἄργους ἀγών, ὃν ἠγωνίσαντο, Τελεσίλλης τῆς ποιητρίας προτρεψαμένης. ταύτην δέ φασιν οἰκίας οὖσαν ἐνδόξου τῷ δὲ σώματι νοσηματικὴν εἰς θεοῦ πέμψαι περὶ ὑγιείας: καὶ χρησθὲν αὐτῇ Μούσας θεραπεύειν, πειθομένην τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐπιθεμένην ἐν ᾠδῇ καὶ ἁρμονίᾳ τοῦ τε πάθους ἀπαλλαγῆναι ταχὺ καὶ θαυμάζεσθαι διὰ ποιητικὴν ὑπὸ τῶν γυναικῶν. ἐπεὶ δὲ Κλεομένης ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Σπαρτιατῶν πολλοὺς ἀποκτείνας οὐ μήν, ὡς ἔνιοι μυθολογοῦσιν, ἑπτὰ καὶ ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ ἑπτακοσίους πρὸς ἑπτακισχιλίοις ἐβάδιζε πρὸς τὴν πόλιν, ὁρμὴ καὶ τόλμα δαιμόνιος παρέστη ταῖς ἀκμαζούσαις τῶν γυναικῶν ἀμύνεσθαι τοὺς πολεμίους ὑπὲρ τῆς πατρίδος. ἡγουμένης δὲ τῆς Τελεσίλλης, ὅπλα λαμβάνουσι καὶ παρ᾽ ἔπαλξιν ἱστάμεναι κύκλῳ τὰτείχη περιέστεψαν, ὥστε θαυμάζειν τοὺς πολεμίους.  τὸν μὲν οὖν Κλεομένη πολλῶν πεσόντων ἀπεκρούσαντο: τὸν δ᾽ ἕτερον βασιλέα Δημάρατον, ὡς Σωκράτης φησίν, ἐντὸς γενόμενον καὶ κατασχόντα τὸ Παμφυλιακὸν ἐξέωσαν, οὕτω δὲ τῆς πόλεως περιγενομένης, τὰς μὲν πεσούσας ἐν τῇ μάχῃ τῶν γυναικῶν ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς Ἀργείας ἔθαψαν, ταῖς δὲ σωθείσαις ὑπόμνημα τῆς ἀριστείας ἔδοσαν ἱδρύσασθαι τὸν Ἐνυάλιον.

Inter res a feminis communiter gestas nulla nobiliior praelio est cum Cleomene ad Argos ab eis commisso Telesilla conciente poetria. Hanc ferunt illustri natam domo, cum valetudinaria esset deos de recipienda sanitate consuluisse: responso dato, ut Musas coleret, eae consilium secutam carminibus se et harmoniae dedisse: ita morbo cito levatam, et ob artem poeticam apud mulieres in honore fuisse. Cum autem Lacedaemoniorum rex Cleomenes multis necatis, non tamen, ut quidam fabulantur, septem millibus septingentis septuaginta septem, infestis signis urbem peteret: ardor & audacia incessit feminas aetate florentes incredibilis, ut adversus hostem pro patria propugnarent. Duce Telesilla arma capiunt, in pinnaculisque, stantes muros corona cingunt attonitis miraculo hostibus. Cleomenem multis amissis repellunt. Alterum regem, ut tradit Socrates, qui iam urbem evaserat, tenebatque, Pamphyliacum, Demaratum expellunt. Hac ratione cu mconservata urbs esset: mulieres, quae pugnantes ceciderant, via Argiva humaverunt. Incolumibus concessum, ut virtutis monimentum Marti signum ponerent.  Translated into Latin by Hermann Cruserius

Plutarch [46 – 119 CE, modern Greece] was a Greek author from Chaeronea, and Roman citizen who lived during the 1st century CE. He had minor governmental and religious administrative roles during his lifetime, but he is best known for his writings. He has numerous philosophical and historical works still extant, including the Parallel Lives, in which he compares the lives of a Roman and Greek statesman for moralistic purposes.