Three Friends in One! Codex Salmasianus #428

Three Friends in One

Name:   Seneca the Younger Date:     4 BCE – 65 CE Region: Corduba, Hispania [modern Spain] Citation:   Codex Salmasianus #428

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

 

The Three Good Friends

Check out Serranus, Vegetus and Herogenes,

A darling three-in-one Geryon. [1]

They’re so close to each other,

You’d think they were brothers.

There’s one love shared among the three.

Of the few people I call friends, this trio is so very dear to me,

This trio is such a large part of my social life!

 

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[1] According to Greek mythology, Geryon was a three-bodied giant whom Hercules defeated.

Latin Text:

De tribus amicis bonis

Serranum Vegetumque simul iunctumque duobus

Herogenem, caros aspice Geryonas.

Esse putas fratres, tanta pietate fruuntur

immo neges: sic est in tribus unus amor.

Triga mihi paucos inter dilecta sodales,

triga sodalicii pars bene magna mei!

Seneca the Younger [Lucius Annaeus Seneca; 4 BCE – 65 CE, modern Spain] Originally from Corduba, Hispania, Seneca the Younger was a Roman statesman with a tumultuous career. First exiled to the island of Corsica by the emperor Claudius, he was later recalled and became the emperor Nero’s mentor and tutor. Seneca wrote prolifically in several genres, including Stoic philosophy and Roman tragedies. He was ultimately put to death by the emperor Nero for his participation in the Pisonian Conspiracy of 65 CE.

Far from the Crimes of Man: Astraea, Seneca, Octavia, 397 - 424

Astraea, Far From the Crimes of Man

Name:  Seneca the Younger Date:   4 BCE – 65 CE Region:   Corduba, Hispania [modern Spain] Citation:   Octavia 397 – 423

Then Justice, the great-souled virgin goddess,

Came down from heaven and

Ruled over the human race throughout the earth

With sacred faith.

At that time, mankind did not know the name of war,

Nor the shrill trumpet cry of reveille, nor of warfare.

Cities were not accustomed to build up defensive walls.

Travel was open for all, and

All property was held in common.

The earth herself, Mother and Guardian,

Gladly produced her bountiful crops for her children.

But the next age was less luxurious...

The third age of mankind expanded with new technology,

Still a pious generation, but restless.

They dared to hunt down wild beasts,

Drag fish from the waves with their nets,

Use snares for birds and other animals,

Tame oxen with yoke,

Slash open the untouched earth with their ploughs.

And now, wounded, the earth hid her fruits

More deeply in her bosom.

But that age violated their sacred Mother’s flesh,

Plucking out iron and gold.

Placed weapons in their savage hands,

Established borders for their kingdoms,

Built up new empires,

Defended their own homes with weapons,

Or sought out new homes for treasure.

Neglected, the virgin goddess Astraea

Fled the earth and savage ways of man,

Fled those hands polluted with bloody murder

And sought the great glory of stars.

Astraea, Far From the Crimes of Man

Tunc illa virgo, numinis magni dea,
Justitia, caelo missa cum sancta Fide
terra regebat mitis humanum genus.
Non bella norant, non tubae fremitus truces,
non arma gentes, cingere assuerant suas
muris nec urbes: pervium cunctis iter,
communis usus omnium rerum fuit;
et ipsa Tellus laeta fecundos sinus
pandebat ultro, tam piis felix parens                          
et tuta alumnis. Alia sed suboles minus
conspecta mitis...

... Tertium sollers genus                   

novas ad artes extitit, sanctum tamen,
mox inquietum quod sequi cursu feras
auderet acres, fluctibus tectos gravi         
extrahere pisces rete uel calamo levi,
decipere volucres crate...
tenere laqueo, premere subiectos iugo  
tauros feroces, vomere immunem prius
sulcare terram, laesa quae fruges suas…
interior, alte condidit sacro sinu.
Sed in parentis viscera intravit suae
deterior aetas; eruit ferrum grave
aurumque, saevas mox et armavit manus;
partita fines regna constituit, novas
exstruxit urbes, tecta defendit sua 
aliena telis aut petit praedae imminens.
Neglecta terras fugit et mores feros
hominum, cruenta caede pollutas manus
Astraea virgo, siderum magnum decus.

 

Seneca the Younger [Lucius Annaeus Seneca; 4 BCE – 65 CE, modern Spain] Originally from Corduba, Hispania, Seneca the Younger was a Roman statesman with a tumultuous career. First exiled to the island of Corsica by the emperor Claudius, he was later recalled and became the emperor Nero’s mentor and tutor. Seneca wrote prolifically in several genres, including Stoic philosophy and Roman tragedies. He was ultimately put to death by the emperor Nero for his participation in the Pisonian Conspiracy of 65 CE.

Not Doing What They're Told: Women Subverting Gender Roles in Seneca, Epist. XCV.20-21

Name:  Seneca the Younger Date:   4 BCE – 65 CE Region:   Corduba, Hispania [modern Spain] Citation:   Epistl.95.20-21

[Hippocrates] the greatest doctor and founding father of our craft stated that women did not lose their hair nor suffer from foot problems. But nevertheless they do. The nature of womanhood did not change, but instead was conquered, for now women rival men in men's indulgences, and so they suffer men's illnesses. They stay up late at night just like men, they drink as much as men, they rival men in sports and drinking games.  They vomit from too much alcohol like men, they gnaw on ice to quell their heartburn. They even rival men in their lust, --damn them!--they were born to serve and submit [pati natae]! Therefore, why are we surprised that the greatest medical mind is caught in a mistruth, knowing that there are so many women with bald heads and gout in their feet? They have lost the benefit of their gender by their own vices, and, because they have stripped off the label of womanhood, they are damned with manly diseases.

Maximus ille medicorum et huius scientiae conditor feminis ne capillos defluere dixit nec pedes laborare; atqui et capillis destituuntur et pedibus aegrae sunt. Non mutata feminarum natura, sed victa est; nam cum virorum licentiam aequaverint, corporum quoque virilium incommoda aequarunt. Non minus pervigilant, non minus potant, et oleo et mero viros provocant; aeque invitis ingesta visceribus per os reddunt et vinum omne vomitu remetiuntur; aeque nivem rodunt, solacium stomachi aestuantis. Libidine vero ne maribus quidem cedunt, pati natae, di illas deaeque male perdant! ...Quid ergo mirandum est maximum medicorum ac naturae peritissimum in mendacio prendi, cum tot feminae podagricae calvaeque sint? Beneficium sexus sui vitiis perdiderunt et, quia feminam exuerant, damnatae sunt morbis virilibus. 

Seneca the Younger [Lucius Annaeus Seneca; 4 BCE – 65 CE, modern Spain] Originally from Corduba, Hispania, Seneca the Younger was a Roman statesman with a tumultuous career. First exiled to the island of Corsica by the emperor Claudius, he was later recalled and became the emperor Nero’s mentor and tutor. Seneca wrote prolifically in several genres, including Stoic philosophy and Roman tragedies. He was ultimately put to death by the emperor Nero for his participation in the Pisonian Conspiracy of 65 CE.