--Maximus of Tyre, Dissertation VIII, Translated from the Greek by Claudius Larjot
Right at the beginning of the Iliad, Homer presents us
with two lovers who are fighting over a captive woman: one [Agamemnon] is bold
and passionate, the other [Achilles] is soft spoken, but not impervious to
feeling emotion. The one [Agamemnon] shoots daggers from his eyes, slanders
everyone, and threatens each and everyone present; the other [Achilles] quietly
leaves, throwing himself on the ground and weeping, lost; he says he will
leave, but stays nonetheless.
Another type of love is shameful love, the kind that
Paris has: he withdraws from the heat of battle to snuggle with his lover, and
is an adulterer in every sense of the word.
You can also find perfect love [castum amorem], which is
reciprocal, the kind that Hector and Andromache shared. Andromache called Hector
her husband and lover, her husband and brother, and every other name shared
with a loved one. In turn, he told her that he was more worried for her than
for his own mother.
You can read about sexual love [Venereum] in the bedding
scene of Juno & Jupiter.
You can read about lust in Penelope’s suitors; seductive
love in the case of Calypso; loves brought about by love potions with Circe, and
manly love [virilem] in the case of Patroclus. This love [between Patroclus and
Achilles] is brought about by mutual effort, and remains steadfast even in
death. It exists between two young men, both beautiful, both consensual
[castus]. They both take care of each other. One grieves, the other consoles;
one sings, the other enjoys the song.
The one expresses his feelings to the other: when
Patroclus wants permission to join the fight, on the verge of tears if he wasn’t
allowed by his lover. Yet when Achilles allows him to join the Greeks in
battle, he gave both his blessing and even his own weapons. And Achilles is
terrified while Patroclus is engaged in battle, and wishes to die when
Patroclus is slain, and then resolves his anger. His nightly visions, his
dreams, his tears are all proof of his love for Patroclus: even the lock of
hair that he offers to his lover’s tomb in a final gift [is proof].
These are the types of love you find in Homer.
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MAXIMUS OF TYRE
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Name: Cassius Maximus
Tyrius
Date: 2nd c.
CE
Works: Dissertations
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REGION 5
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BIO:
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Maximus of Tyre was listed as one of the most influential people in the
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’ life. Maximus spent most of his life in
scholarly pursuits; his Dissertations were a collection of philosophical
treatises based on the thought of Plato.
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ROMAN GREEK LIT
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