You Are Not Your Body: Cicero's Dream of Scipio

***NOTE: The world is a frightening place right now. Whether you are battling transphobia, homophobia, sexism, racism, war, domestic violence, chronic illness, or oppression, I hope that the words of Cicero can give you the same comfort that they have given me over the years:***

Words of Wisdom from Cicero: You Are Not Your Body

Name:  Cicero Date:  106 – 43 BCE Region:  Rome [modern Italy] Citation:  De Re Publica [Somnium Scipionis] 6.26

Just keep going, and know that *you* are not mortal, just your body is. You are not defined by your body. It’s a person’s mind that defines them, not their physical form. Know that you are a god, since it is a god that thrives, that feels, that remembers, that anticipates, that regulates, controls, and moves the body that is given to them, just like the supreme being[1] does to the world. Just as an eternal god controls a mortal universe, your eternal soul controls your mortal body.

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[1] In Stoic philosophy, the universe is regulated not by an anthropomorphic god, but by Reason / Logic.

Latin Text: 

Tu vero enitere et sic habeto, non esse te mortalem, sed corpus hoc; nec enim tu is es, quem forma  ista declarat, sed mens cuiusque is est quisque, non ea figura, quae digito demonstrari potest. Deum  te igitur scito esse, si quidem est deus, qui viget, qui sentit, qui meminit, qui providet, qui tam regit et moderatur et movet id corpus, cui praepositus est, quam hunc mundum ille princeps deus, et ut mundum ex quadam parte mortalem ipse deus aeternus, sic fragile corpus animus sempiternus movet.

Cicero [Marcus Tullius Cicero; 106 – 43 BCE, modern Italy] was an Italian-born Roman statesman and author who lived during the complexities of Rome’s transition from Republic to monarchy. Cicero spent most of his life in service of his country, serving as both a lawyer, senator, and even consul [Roman equivalent of president]. He is known for his suppression of the failed governmental coup in 63 BCE known as the Catilinarian conspiracy that occurred during his consulship. After the rise of Octavian [later known as the first Roman emperor Augustus], his views fell out of favor and he was eventually put to death during the proscriptions under the Second Triumvirate [Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus]. He was a prolific author in a wide range in genres, and his literary style was adopted by Petrarch as the default model for the Latin language.

Androgynous Beauty: Codex Vass. IV.430

O sacros vultus Baccho vel Apolline dignos,

Quos vir, quos tuto femina nulla videt!

O digitos, quales pueri vel virginis esse

vel potius credas virginis esse dei!

Felix, si qua tuum conrodit femina collum,

Felix, quae labris livida labra facit,

Quaeque puella tuo cum pectore pectora ponit

et linguam tenero lassat in ore suam.

 

--Attributed falsely to Seneca,  Codex Vassiani IIII.430

 

O godlike face, worthy of Bacchus or Apollo

Which no man or woman can see without succumbing to your charms!

O fingers, the sort that you’d think

Would belong to a boy

Or a girl

Or—even a goddess!

Blessed is the woman who turns your head with her kisses,

Blessed is the woman who makes your lips red with kisses,

Whichever girl that can hold you, cheek-to-cheek

And wear out your tongue with kisses!

 

CODEX VASSIANUS	MAP:
Name:  Codex Vassianus Date:  13th Century CE Works:  ---	REGION UNKNOWN
BIO:	Timeline:
The Codex Vassianus is a manuscript of Latin poetry that preserves poetry from 13th century CE and earlier.	BYZANTINE / LATE LATIN

 

 

Porphyrio on Sappho, In Hor. Ep. 1.19.28

"mascula" autem "Saffo” vel quia in poetico studio est [incluta], in quo saepius viri, vel quia tribas diffamatur fuisse.

--Porphyrio in Hor. Epist. 1.19.28

 

Sappho is called “manly” because either a) she’s famous for her poetry, something that men are more likely to do, or b) because she is known to be a lesbian (tribas).

PORPHYRIO	MAP:
Name:  Pomponius Porphyrion Date:  2nd century CE Works:  Commentarii in Horatium Flaccum	REGION  UNKNOWN
BIO:	Timeline:
Little is known about Porphyrio, but it is suspected that he lived during the 2nd century CE. The only work of this author that is still extant is his commentaries on the poetry of the Roman poet Horace.	AGE OF CONFLICT

M/M: For the Love of Admetus, Callimachus, Hymn to Apollo, 47-54

Phoebum etiam pastorem vocamus ex eo tempore,

quo ad Amphrysum iugales pavit equas

pueri Admeti ardens amore.

Facile utique pascua sint plena bubus, neque caprae

inerrantes lanigeris careant subole, quas Apollo

pascentes respexerit: neque sine lacte

oves, aut steriles fuerint, sed omnes prolem habeant,

et unipara repente fiat gemellipara.

  Φοῖβον καὶ Νόμιον κικλήσκομεν ἐξέτι κείνου,

ἐξότ᾽ ἐπ᾽ Ἀμφρυσσῷ ζευγίτιδας ἔτρεφεν ἵππους

ἠιθέου ὑπ᾽ ἔρωτι κεκαυμένος Ἀδμήτοιο.

ῥεῖά κε βουβόσιον τελέθοι πλέον, οὐδέ κεν αἶγες

δεύοιντο βρεφέων ἐπιμηλάδες 2 ᾗδιν Ἀπόλλων

βοσκομένῃσ᾽ ὀφθαλμὸν ἐπήγαγεν: οὐδ᾽ ἀγάλακτες

οἴιες οὐδ᾽ ἄκυθοι, πᾶσαι δέ κεν εἶεν ὕπαρνοι,

ἡ δέ κε μουνοτόκος διδυμητόκος αἶψα γένοιτο.

--Callimachus, Hymn to Apollo, 47 – 54; translated into Latin by Jo. Augustus Ernest

We also call Phoebus the “Shepherd,”

from the time that he watched over

teams of horses on the banks of the Amphrysus River

All for the love of the youth Admetus.

The fields were full of cows,

The goats lacked no wooly kids;

The livestock under the watchful eye of Apollo

Were neither sterile nor barren;

Mother ewes suddenly birthed not just one offspring, but twins.

CALLIMACHUS / Καλλίμαχος

MAP:

Name:  Callimachus

Date:  305 – 240 BCE

Works:  Aitia (Causes)

              Hymns

             Pinakes (Table of Contents)

REGION  3 / 4

BIO:

Timeline:

 Callimachus is often regarded as one of the best Alexandrian [Greek] poets. Born in raised in Cyrene, Libya, he spent a majority of his career at the famous Library of Alexandria, where he used the resources there to create refined, artful poetry. Although much of his poetry is lost, the fragments that remain are a testament to both his talent as an artist and his erudition as a scholar.

HELLENISTIC AGE

Friends Til the End: Damon & Pythias, Val. Max. IV.ext.7

Haeret animus in domesticis, sed aliena quoque bene facta referre Romanae urbis candor hortatur. Damon et Phintias Pythagoricae prudentiae sacris initiati tam fidelem inter se amicitiam iunxerant, ut, cum alterum ex his Dionysius Syracusanus interficere vellet, atque is tempus ab eo, quo prius quam periret domum profectus res suas ordinaret, impetravisset, alter vadem se pro reditu eius tyranno dare non dubitaret. solutus erat periculo mortis qui modo gladio cervices subiectas habuerat: eidem caput suum subiecerat cui securo vivere licebat. igitur omnes et in primis Dionysius novae atque ancipitis rei exitum speculabantur. adpropinquante deinde finita die nec illo redeunte unus quisque stultitiae tam temerarium sponsorem damnabat. at is nihil se de amici constantia metuere praedicabat. eodem autem momento et hora a Dionysio constituta et eam qui acceperat supervenit. admiratus amborum animum tyrannus supplicium fidei remisit insuperque eos rogauit ut se in societatem amicitiae tertium sodalicii gradum mutua culturum beniuolentia reciperent. hascine vires amicitiae? mortis contemptum ingenerare, vitae dulcedinem extinguere, crudelitatem mansuefacere, odium in amorem conuertere, poenam beneficio pensare potuerunt. quibus paene tantum venerationis quantum deorum immortalium caerimoniis debetur: illis enim publica salus, his privata continetur, atque ut illarum aedes sacra domicilia, harum fida hominum pectora quasi quaedam sancto spiritu referta templa sunt.

--Valerius Maximus,  Factorum et Dictorum Memorabilium IV.7.ext.1  

 

Although my mind keeps dwelling on domestic examples, the splendor of Rome encourages me to mention some excellent examples from abroad, too. Damon and Pythias [Phintias], being initiated into the sacred wisdom of the Pythagoreans, were so tightly joined in friendship that when Dionysius the Ruler of Syracuse wanted to kill one of them, and when he obtained a window of time to go home to arrange his affairs before he was killed, the other did not hesitate to surrender himself as a hostage to guarantee his friend’s return. The one friend, whose neck was under the proverbial sword, was suddenly free from the danger of death; the other, who was free to live, laid down his own life for him. Everyone, especially Dionysius, were anxiously waiting the outcome of the drama. Then, once the appointed day had come and gone, and the other friend didn’t return, the friend was mocked for his foolishness and rashness, but he declared that he wasn’t afraid for his own life, and trusted his friend’s loyalty. At the very moment that Dionysius had appointed for the execution, the friend arrived. The tyrant Dionysius marveled at the friends’ courage. He let them go, and asked them if they would welcome him as a friend, and be their third wheel, with mutual kindness and affection.

And so you see the power of friendship. It can bring about a contempt of death, lay low the sweet [selfishness] of life, mitigate cruelty, convert hatred into love, and outweigh inconvenience with benefits. It ought to be as honored as the sacred rites of the gods. Friendship encompasses the public good, on which private good relies on.  The homes of these men are like sacred temples; the hearts of faithful men, just like temples filled with sacred spirit.

VALERIUS MAXIMUS	MAP:
Name:  Valerius Maximus Date:  1st c CE. Works:  Memorable Deeds and Sayings	REGION  UNKNOWN
BIO:	Timeline:
Little is known about the life of Valerius Maximus except that he wrote during the reign of the emperor Tiberius. His work, Memorable Deeds and Sayings, is a collection of examples from Roman and world history categorized by theme for the purpose of rhetorical exercises.	SILVER AGE LATIN

Horace's New Crush, Epodes XI.1-10, 22-27

 In this poem, the narrator describes how their crush on Inachia faded, and now they are attracted to Lyciscus. 

Petti, nihil me sicut antea iuvat

      scribere versiculos amore percussum gravi,

amore, qui me praeter omnis expetit

      mollibus in pueris aut in puellis urere.

hic tertius December, ex quo destiti

      Inachia furere...

heu me, per Urbem (nam pudet tanti mali)

      fabula quanta fui, conviviorum et paenitet,

in quis amantem languor et silentium

      arguit et latere petitus imo spiritus…

nunc gloriantis quamlibet mulierculam

      vincere mollitia amor Lycisci me tenet;

unde expedire non amicorum queant

      libera consilia nec contumeliae graves,

sed alius ardor aut puellae candidae

      aut teretis pueri longam renodantis comam.

--Horace, Epodes XI.1-10, 22-27

Pettius, I just can’t keep writing poetry

The way I used to, now that I’m lovestruck.

This love impels me to burn (more feverously than others do!)

For a sweet boyfriend or girlfriend.

It’s been three Decembers

Since I stopped burning for Inachia…

Oh no! It’s shameful to admit this,

But I was the talk of the town,

I was no fun at parties,

Always quiet and withdrawn.

…

Now a love for Lyciscus has overtaken me,

A guy who boasts he can surpass a woman in softness.

And now nothing my friends tell me—advice or criticism—

Can help me, only a new crush

For a beautiful girlfriend

Or a long-haired boyfriend.

 

HORACE

MAP:

Name:  Quintus Horatius Flaccus

Date:  65 BCE – 8 BCE

Works:  Odes

            Epodes

 

REGION  1

BIO:

Timeline:

 The Latin poet Horace is known for his famous line, “Carpe Diem.” He was an Italian-born poet who lived during the rise and reign of Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. Although his life began with civil unrest and uncertainty (his father was enslaved and later freed during the civil wars of the 1st century BCE), Horace became friends with the influential entrepreneur Maecenas and earned the position in Augustus’ literary circle.  His poetry provides valuable insight into the so-called “Golden Age” of Augustan literature.  

 GOLDEN AGE ROME

Together Till the End: Theseus and Pirithous in the Underworld, Pausanias X.xxix.9-10

Pausanias describes a giant mural by the famous artist Polygnotus. This is one of the scenes depicted on this (now lost) famous masterpiece, which depicts the Underworld:

Infra Uylyssem in soliis sedent Theseus & Pirithous: Theseus Pirithoi ensem, & suum ipsius, ambabus manibus stringit. Ad gladios respicit Pirithous: indignari videtur, quod ad facinus capessendum, quod animo agitabant, nulli sibi sint illi enses usui. Panyasis versibus testatus est suis, non fuisse illos tanquam captivos ad solia religatos, sed quasi agnatum adhaesisse pro vinculis corpori saxum. Celebrem hominum sermone eorum amicitiam utraque poesi nobilitavit Homerus. Ulysses enim apud Phaeacas sic est de ipsis locutus:

VIDI ETIAM, IUVIT QUOS TUNC VIDISSE PRIORES

THESEA, PIRITHOUMQUE, DEUM DE SEMINE CREATOS.

Et in Iliade quum alia Nestor, Agamemnonem & Achillem ad reditum in gratiam adhortans, tum illa memorat quae sunt his versibus perscripta:

NAMQUE VIROS NUMQUAM VIDI, TALESVE VIDEBO

QUALEM PIRITHOUM FORTEM, REGEMQUE DRYANTA,

CAENEA & EXADIUM, & SUPERIS SIMILEM POLYPHEMUM,

THESEAQUE AEGIDEN DIS IMMORTALIBUS AEQUUM.

κατωτέρω δὲ τοῦ Ὀδυσσέως ἐπὶ θρόνων καθεζόμενοι Θησεὺς μὲν τὰ ξίφη τό τε Πειρίθου καὶ τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ταῖς χερσὶν ἀμφοτέραις ἔχει, ὁ δὲ ἐς τὰ ξίφη βλέπων ἐστὶν ὁ Πειρίθους: εἰκάσαις ἂν ἄχθεσθαι τοῖς ξίφεσιν αὐτὸν ὡς ἀχρείοις καὶ ὄφελός σφισιν οὐ γεγενημένοις ἐς τὰ τολμήματα. Πανύασσις δὲ ἐποίησεν ὡς Θησεὺς καὶ Πειρίθους ἐπὶ τῶν θρόνων παράσχοιντο σχῆμα οὐ κατὰ δεσμώτας, προσφύεσθαι δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ χρωτὸς ἀντὶ δεσμῶν σφισιν ἔφη τὴν πέτραν. [10] Θησέως δὲ καὶ Πειρίθου τὴν λεγομένην φιλίαν ἐν ἀμφοτέραις ἐδήλωσεν Ὅμηρος ταῖς ποιήσεσι, καὶ Ὀδυσσεὺς μὲν πρὸς Φαίακας λέγων ἐστὶ “καί νύ κ᾽ ἔτι προτέρους ἴδον ἀνέρας οὓς ἔθελόν περ,

“Θησέα Πειρίθοόν τε, θεῶν ἐρικυδέα τέκνα:”

πεποίηται δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν Ἰλιάδι ὁ Νέστωρ ἄλλα τε ἐπὶ Ἀγαμέμνονος καὶ Ἀχιλλέως νουθεσίᾳ καὶ ἔπη τάδε εἰρηκώς:

“οὐ γάρ πω τοίους ἴδον ἀνέρας οὐδὲ ἴδωμαι

οἷον Πειρίθοόν τε Δρύαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν

Καινέα τ᾽ Ἐξάδιόν τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Πολύφημον

Θησέα τ᾽ Αἰγείδην ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν.”

--Pausanias Graeciae Descriptio X.xxix.9; Translated into Latin by Romulus Amasaeus (1696)

Below Odysseus, Theseus and Pirithous are sitting down on chairs. Theseus holds his and Pirithous’ swords in his hands, and Pirithous is glaring at them. Pirithous seems upset, because these swords were useless in accomplishing his daring deed.* In his poetry, Panyassis stated that Theseus and Pirithous were not bound to these chairs, but that the rock encased their flesh, serving as a binding.

10. Homer mentions the famous friendship [φιλίαν] between Theseus and Pirithous in both of this works. For [in the Odyssey], Odysseus says the following when he is with the Phaeacians:

“Now I wished I could have seen the famous men of the past, Theseus and Pirithous, famous children of the gods.” [Homer, Odyssey 11.631ff].

And in the Iliad, when Nestor offers advice to Agamemnon and Achilles, he says,

“I have never seen the sort of people

As Pirithous,

Dryas, the leader of men,

Caeneus,

Exadium,

godlike Polyphemus,

and Aegeus’ son Theseus, equal to the gods.” 

[Homer, Iliad, 1.262ff]

 

* According to mythology, Pirithous attempted to abduct Persephone from the Underworld

PAUSANIAS

MAP:

Name:  Pausanias

Date:  110 – 180 CE

Works:  Description of Greece

 

REGION  5

BIO:

Timeline:

 Pausanias was a Greek writer who lived during the era of the “Five Good Emperors.” His work, the Description of Greece, is an important source for geographical, historical, archaeological, and cultural information about ancient Greece.

 ROMAN GREEK