Freeing A Friend: Phaedo of Elis, Aulius Gellius 2.18.1-5

 

Name: Aulus Gellius  Date: 125 – 180 CE Region:  Rome [modern Italy] Citation:  Athenian Nights 2.18.1-5

Socrates' circle of friends included people of multiple social classes, including Phaedo.

Phaedo of Elis was one of Socrates’ circle, who was close to both Socrates and Plato (Plato even named one of his books after him). Yet Phaedo was a slave, with beauty and a freeborn person’s mind, and as some people allege, was driven to serve as a prostitute. At Socrates’ urging, Cebes (another one in Socrates’ circle) bought him and enrolled him into philosophical training. And thus Phaedo became a famous philosopher, and his books are read even today.

 1 Phaedon Elidensis ex cohorte illa Socratica fuit Socratique et Platoni per fuit familiaris. 2 Eius nomini Plato librum illum divinum de immortalitate animae dedit. 3 Is Phaedon servus fuit forma atque ingenio liberali et, ut quidam scripserunt, a lenone domino puer ad merendum coactus. 4 Eum Cebes Socraticus hortante Socrate emisse dicitur habuisseque in philosophiae disciplinis. 5 Atque is postea philosophus inlustris fuit, sermonesque eius de Socrate admodum elegantes leguntur.  

 

Aulus Gellius [125 – 180 CE] lived during the 2nd century CE. His work, the Attic Nights, are a collection of anecdotes about literature, history, and grammar.  From internal evidence, we can deduce that he was in the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ social circle, having close friendships with Herodes Atticus and Fronto.

Servitium Amoris in Literature vs. Reality

One of the popular themes in love poetry is servitium amoris, literally "being enslaved to love," i.e., a poet's willingness to offer complete submission and humiliation to their lover. Although this imagery remains popular in both Roman love poetry and even in music today (e.g., "I'm a slave 4 you," by Britney Spears and "You see these shackles, baby, I'm your slave / I'll let you whip me if I misbehave" in Justin Timberlake's SexyBack), it is important to not mix metaphor with reality. Although Roman historians used anecdotes of tenderness to add drama and pathos to their narrative, it is important to not romanticize the master/slave relationship. When reading the following examples of this theme in Roman history, please remember that these relationships lacked the ability for consent and should not be emulated or idealized today.  

Once he had fulfilled his wildest dreams in pleasures and gladiatorial fights, [the Roman Emperor] Commodus then turned to murder plots and began killing the noblemen of Rome.
One of his victims was Julianus the Prefect, whom he used to embrace and kiss in public, even calling him "Father."
Another was Julius Alexander, a man who was condemned for killing a lion while on horseback. Once he realized that assassins were at his door, Julianus killed them under the cover of night; he also killed all of his enemies at Emesa, his birthplace. Once this was done, he hopped on his horse, intending to head for the border; he would have been successful in his escape except he took his bed slave [puerum, quem habebat in deliciis] as his travel companion. While they were making their way as quickly as they could, the lad grew tired, and Julianus refused to leave him behind. Because of this, the couple was overtaken by their pursuers, and both were killed.

Κόμμοδος δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν εὐθυμιῶν καὶ παιδιῶν ἀνανεύων ἐφόνα καὶ τοὺς ἐπιφανεῖς ἄνδρας διεχειρίζετο: ὧν ἦν καὶ Ἰουλιανὸς ὁ ἔπαρχος, ὃν καὶ δημοσίᾳ περιελάμβανέ τε καὶ κατεφίλει καὶ πατέρα ὠνόμαζεν, Ἰούλιός τε Ἀλέξανδρος, οὗτος μὲν ὡς καὶ λέοντα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἵππου κατακοντίσας: [p. 100] [2] ὅστις ἐπειδὴ καὶ τοὺς σφαγέας παρόντας ᾔσθετο, ἐκείνους τε τῆς νυκτὸς ἐφόνευσε, καὶ τῶν Ἐμεσηνῶν, ὅθεν ἦν, τοὺς ἐχθροὺς τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ πάντας προσκατεχρήσατο, ποιήσας δὲ ταῦτα ἵππον τε ἀνέβη καὶ πρὸς τοὺς βαρβάρους ὥρμησε. κἂν [3] ἐξέφυγεν, εἰ μὴ παιδικά τινα συνεπῆκτο: αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ κράτιστα ἵππευε, τὸ δὲ μειράκιον καμὸν οὐχ ὑπέμεινε καταλιπεῖν, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς κατελαμβάνετο, ἀπέκτεινε καὶ ἐκεῖνον καὶ ἑαυτόν..
Commodus autem, ubi expleverat animum voluptatibus ludisque, tum demum caedes meditabatur, occidebatque nobiles viros: in quorum numero fuit Julianus praefectus, quem publice amplecti atque osculari, patremque appellare consueverat: itemque Julius Alexander, is qui iaculis confecerat leonem ex equo: qui postquam interfectores adesse cognovit, eos de nocte trucidavit, et praeterea Emesenorum, ex quibus ipse erat ortus, quotquot inimici, sui fuerant, omnes interemit. Quo facto, equo contendit ad barabaros: effugissetque omnino, nisi puerum, quem habebat in deliciis, comitem cepisset. Quum enim incitato equo iter faceret, adolescentulum defessum labore itineris nolebat relinquere, ac deprehensus ab insecutoribus, et illi et sibi mortem attulit. 

--Cassius Dio, Epit. LXXIII.14; translated from the Greek by Johannis Albertus Fabricius, 1752

***

This is an equally famous instance: Because he feared he’d be tortured by his enemies, Gaius Gracchus asked his slave Philocrates to kill him. Philocrates obeyed, but then took the sword still dripping with his master’s blood and slew himself with it. Some people think this slave’s name was “Euporus;” I don’t really care about the slave’s name, I just admire the strength of his loyalty.

Aeque inlustre quod sequitur. C. Gracchus, ne in potestatem inimicorum perueniret, Philocrati servo suo cervices incidendas praebuit. quas cum celeri ictu abscidisset, gladium cruore domini manantem per sua egit praecordia. Euporum alii hunc vocitatum existimant: ego de nomine nihil disputo, famularis tantum modo fidei robur admiror.

--Valerius Maximus, Memorable Deeds and Sayings VI.8.3

***

Once he had fortified Munda, Caesar headed for Corduba. Those who had fled the carnage of the battle had taken possession of a bridge. When Caesar arrived, they began to reproach us, thinking only a few of us had survived battle: where could we go? So they made a stand at the bridge. Caesar crossed the river and set up camp.

When Scapula, the mastermind of the uprising, arrived at Corduba after the battle, he assembled his family and freedmen, created a pyre for himself, ordered the best possible last meal, put on his best outfit, and gave money and silver to everyone in the household. Once he was done eating, he anointed himself with perfumes and oils. Finally, he ordered his slave and a freedman who’d been his lover to slice his throat and light his pyre. 

[33] Caesar ex proelio [Munda] munitione circumdata Cordubam venit. Qui ex caede eo refugerunt, pontem occuparunt. Cum eo ventum esset, conviciare coeperunt, nos ex proelio paucos superesse; quo fugeremus? Ita pugnare coeperunt de ponte. Caesar flumen traiecit et castra posuit. Scapula totius seditionis [familiae ac libertinorum] caput ex proelio Cordubam cum venisset, familiam et libertos convocavit, pyram sibi extruxit, cenam adferri quam optimam imperavit, item optimis insternendum vestimentis; pecuniam et argentum in praesentia familiae donavit. Ipse de tempore cenare, resinam et nardum identidem sibi infundit. Ita novissimo tempore servum iussit et libertum qui fuisset eius concubinus, alterum se iugulare, alterum pyram incendere.

--Julius Caesar, de Bello Hispaniensi 33

***

 As [Galba] marched on the city of Rome, Nero was abandoned by everyone except his eunuch [Sporus], whom he had tried to shape into a woman; Nero stabbed himself, begging someone to kill him, but he didn’t deserve even that ounce of mercy.

Ac ni Galba, qui Hispaniae praesidebat, cognito mandatum sui exitium quamquam senecta aetate imperio correpto subvenisset, tantum facinus haud dubie patraretur. 16 Verum eius adventu desertus undique nisi ab spadone, quem quondam exsectum formare in mulierem tentaverat, semet ictu transegit, cum implorans percussorem diu ne ad mortem quidem meruisset cuiusquam officium.

--Sextus Aurelius Victor 5.15

 Julius Caesar (100 - 44BCE) is without a doubt one of the most influential Romans in history. His name became the title of monarchy (Kaiser in German; Czar in Russian), and celebrated in food (Caesar dressing, Kaiser rolls), but despite his major impact on world history, this larger-than-life figure has a complex role in history.

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.

 Cassius Dio was a Roman statesman born in Nicaea, Bithynia who wrote an 80 volume work on Roman history that spanned from Aeneas’ flight from Troy to the rise of the emperor Severus Alexander. Although much of his history is lost, the fragments that we do have show rare insight into the Roman world.

Daphne's Escape: Pseudo-Palaephatus XLIX

 Ladon’s Tale

Mother Earth manifested herself into a body to mate with the river Ladon; she conceived from this union and gave birth to Daphne. Pythian Apollo fell in love with her, and wooed her with words; however, Daphne wished to preserve her chastity, and refused to be wooed.  Apollo therefore pursued her, then finally hunted her down; she was forced to flee.

When Daphne could no longer hold out against him, she called for Mother Earth to help her. She begged to be swallowed up into the earth again in order to preserve the virginity. Mother Earth answered her prayers, and hid Daphne within herself. After some time, a laurel tree emerged from the earth. Apollo, eager for love, took her blossoming branches in his arms, refused to leave it.  He took her branches in his hands and began to adorn his temples with her leaves.

De Ladone Narratio

Terrae visum fuit cum Ladone fluvio ad coitum descendere et posteaquam cum eo se miscuit, ex cuius compressu concipiens, Daphnem gignit. Hanc Apollo Pythius amavit, verbaque amatoria ad illam faciebat; sed cum ipsa castitatem servare vellet, illum minime audire volebat, necesseque ei ob id erat puellam aversantem insequi, veluti sic illam denique persequebatur: quae cum fugeret, denegare ei quicquam non prius ausa est, quam terram matrem suam in auxilium advocaret, a qua precibus petebat, ut sese iterum intra se admitteret, ac in eadem virginitate talem, qualis nata erat, custodiret, quod et mater fecit, Daphne nanque intra se occultavit. Post vero tempus, illud e terra egressa Daphne, arborque facta, eodem in loco pullulabat, cuius ramis, cum propeter amoris impatientiam, deus inhaereret, illi quo minus in lauram commutaretur resistere nullo modo potuit. Nam manus illius iam intra arboris truncu comprehendi caputque et reliqua corporis frondibus ornari coepere, sine quibus lauri foliis ut dicitur Tripos in Boeotia, ubi antrum erat, nullo modo erigi poterat.

--Pseudo-Palaephatus, Peri Apiston / Incredibilia 49; Translated into Latin by Phillip Phasiannus (1542)

 Little is known about the life and time period of Palaephatus, but his book, On Unbelievable Tales, was a popular text in the ancient world. In this work, Palaephatus attempts to find logical explanations for popular Greek myths. Due to the high level of interest in the topic and the relatively straightforward grammar and syntax, Palaephatus’ work is a popular text for intermediate Ancient Greek classrooms.

W/W: Together in the Tomb, CIL 6.18524

Just Two Roommates Holding Hands

Name: Unknown Date:      1st century BCE Region:     Unknown Citation:   CIL 6.18524

These two women who were buried together are depicted clasping hands, symbolism  usually reserved for married couples. This relief is currently located in the British Museum.

Fonteia Eleusis, freedwoman of Gaia, and Fonteia Helena, freedwoman of Gaia, are buried here.

Figure 1. Tombstone Relief of Fonteia Eleusis and Fonteia Helena [British Museum, Object 1973,0109.1]

Just Two Roommates Holding Hands

Fonteia C L Eleusis H O Data Fonteia C L Helena

M/M: Apollo and Hyacinthos, Pseudo Palaephatus, Peri Apiston 46

 Hyacinth was a beautiful and noble youth from Amyclae. Both Apollo and Zephyr saw him and were smitten by his beauty; both competed to win his affection. Apollo showed off his archery skills, and Zephyr sent a wind. Apollo approached Hyacinth with joy and singing; but Hyacinth felt anxious and fearful around Zephyr, so he shared his affection with Apollo. Because of this, Zephyr grew jealous and plotted his revenge.

 Later on, when Hyacinth was training with Apollo, (something he was too afraid to do with Zephyr), Zephyr maliciously struck down the discus that Apollo had thrown; it struck the youth, and he died. The earth could not erase the memory of such a tragedy, and so in honor of the youth, it created a flower with the name Hyacinth, and inscribed the first letter of his name on the petals of the flowers.

De Hyacintho Narratio:

Hyacinthus adulescens Amycleus erat, pulcher & honestus satis. Hunc Apollo quidem vidit, vidit & hunc Zephyrus, amboque illius formae amore capti sunt, in cuiusque gratiam et honorem certatim artes uterque suas illi exhibebant. Sagittabat namque Apollo, Zephyr vero spirabat, sed ab illo cantus & voluptas veniebat, ab hoc vero timor non nisi ac perturbatio sibi erat. Itaque in Phoebi amorem sese iuvenis inclinat. Ob idque Zephyrum prae zelotypia ad bellum armare fecit. Post haec quaedam Hyacintho exercitamenta cum Apolline erant, in quibus cum sese exerceret a Zephyro sibi maxime timendum erat, discoque praesertim, quem cum adulescentis lusui Deus praeparasset, et ab illo iam descendisset, a pueroque mox levaretur, Zephyri fraude in eum ipsum decidit, qui ita mortuus est. Terra vero tantae calamitatis memoriam ullo modo desertam omittere non debuit, quin pro adulescentulo, quod fecit, florem Hyacinthi nominis emitteret, in cuius quidem foliis eius ipsius Hyacinthi nominis pricipium inscriptum fuisse memorant.

--Pseudo-Palaephatus, Peri Apiston 46; Translated into Latin by Phillip Phasiannus (1542)

 Little is known about the life and time period of Palaephatus, but his book, On Unbelievable Tales, was a popular text in the ancient world. In this work, Palaephatus attempts to find logical explanations for popular Greek myths. Due to the high level of interest in the topic and the relatively straightforward grammar and syntax, Palaephatus’ work is a popular text for intermediate Ancient Greek classrooms.

Palaephatus on the "Impossible" Myth of Caeneus, Peri Apiston XI

 It is important to note that Palaephatus does not challenge Caeneus' gender, only his invulnerability.

They say that Caeneus was invulnerable. However, you’re an idiot if you think he couldn’t get wounded by iron. Here’s the truth: Caeneus was a Thessalian man who was mighty and skilled in the art of war. Although he fought in many battles, he was never wounded.  Even when he died battling the Centaurs on behalf of the Lapiths, he was crushed to death by rocks, not iron. When the Lapiths recovered his body, they found no wounds on him, and so they said that “he was invulnerable in life, as well as in death.”

Caenea invulnerabilem omnino fuisse aiunt. Quicumque, autem hoc ad credendum suscipit, quod homo quispiam ferro invulnerabilis existat, amens hic reputandus est. Veritas itaque; sic se habet: Caeneus genere Thessalus, vir erat bellicis in rebus strenuus ac potens, pugnandique scientia praeditus, qui cum multis in bellis olim fuisset, nullo tamen unquam tempore vulneratus fuerat. Atque adeo cum Lapithis simul quandoque pugnans, a Centauris interfici nullo modo potuit, sed ab illis solii comprehensus cum fuisset, multitudine ullorum obrutus est, sicque consumptus fuit. Eius itaque defuncti Lapithae cadaver suscipientes, nullisque confossum vulneribus corpus invenientes, dicere consueverant. Caeneus cum alias toto suae vitae tempore invulnerabilis fuerit, itidem sine ullis nunc quoque vulneribus mortuus est.

Καινέα φασίν ότι άτρωτος ήν. όστις  δ υπολαμβάνει άτρωτον από σιδήρε άνθρωπον, ευήθης εςιν. η δε αλήθεια έχει έτως. Καινεύς ήν ανής Θετταλος τω γένει, αγαθός τα πολεμικά  και επισήμων τα μάχεσθαι . γενόμενος δε εν πολλαϊς μάχαις, έδέποτε ετρώθη, έτε Λαπίθαις συμμαχών πρός των Κενταυρων απέθανεν, αλλα συλλαβόντες αυτόν μόνον κατέχωσαν και ωτως έτε λέυτησεν.  έλεγον ων οι Λαπίθαι ανελόμενοι τον νεκρόν αυτέ, και ευρόντες μη τετρωμένον το σώμα, Καινεύς τόν γε άλλον βίον άτρωτος ήν, και απέθανεν άτρωτος.

--Palaephatus, Peri Apiston X, Translated into Latin by Phillip Phasiannus (1542)

Little is known about the life and time period of Palaephatus, but his book, On Unbelievable Tales, was a popular text in the ancient world. In this work, Palaephatus attempts to find logical explanations for popular Greek myths. Due to the high level of interest in the topic and the relatively straightforward grammar and syntax, Palaephatus’ work is a popular text for intermediate Ancient Greek classrooms.

W/W: Double Harness, Sappho fr. 213

Name: Sappho Date: d. 570 BCE Region: Lesbos [modern Greece] Citation: Fragment 213

One of the most powerful symbols of love in Classical literature is the image of the yoke that binds a couple together (One example can be seen here ).  In one of the fragments of Sappho's poetry, a grammarian preserved the poet's use of the yokemate (συνδυγος) to describe two women: 

My [missing name] and Gorgo’s yokemate,* Archeanassa.

* Feminine form of yokemate, instead of masculine form. Pleistodike is named Gorgo’s yokemate, as well as Gongula. . . 

 ...…σε εμα κἈρχεανασ

σα Γοργω.  συνδυγος.

 

αντι του

συνζυξ. η Πλειστοδικη

τηι Γοργοι συνζυξ μετα της Γογγυλης

ονομασθησεται ...

 

mea Archaeanassaque

Gorgonis coniuga.

 

Coniuga, pro “coniunx.” Pleistodika nominatur Gorgonis coniunx, cum Gongula.

 

--Sappho fr. 213; P. Oxy. 2292; Translated into Latin by K. Masters

Sappho [d. 570 BCE, modern Greece] was universally applauded by the ancient world as the “Tenth Muse.” Because she was one of the earliest Greek lyric poets, there is very little definitive information on Sappho’s life.  It is generally agreed that Sappho was a wealthy noblewoman from the island of Lesbos who had three brothers and a daughter named Kleis. She used her prominent social position to support a cohort of other women artists, and composed many poems about them, expressing her love for them, praising their beauty, and celebrating their marriages. Whereas earlier Greek poetry was epic poetry with serious themes of gods, warfare, and the state, Sappho’s lyric poetry was emotional, intimate and personal. Her poetry centered around womanhood and womanly love, providing rare insight into the time period. The modern terms “sapphic” and “lesbian” reveal the longevity of her impact upon modern culture. Unfortunately, although her poetry was universally revered by the Greeks and Romans alike, Sappho’s works only exist as fragments, adding mysterious allure to her larger-than-life status but unfortunately hindering our understanding of her life and thoughts.