La Religión En La Literatura Romana Hasta El Fin Del Período Augústeo

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

La Religión En La Literatura Romana Hasta El Fin Del Período Augústeo La religión en la literatura romana hasta el fin del Período Augústeo Mainero, Jorge 2001 Tesis presentada con el fin de cumplimentar con los requisitos finales para la obtención del título Doctor de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de Buenos Aires en Letras 1 TESIS DOCTORAL : LA RELIGIÓN EN LA LITERATURA ROMANA HASTA EL FIN DEL PERÍODO AUGÚSTEO INDICE GENERAL 1. INTRODUCCIÓN: STATUS QUAESTIONIS, HIPÓTESIS, OBJETIVOS, ESTRATEGIAS DE ABORDAJE 2. INTERPRETACIONES Y TEORÍAS DE LA RELIGIÓN ANTIGUA Y DEL MITO DIVINO 2.1. Religión y mito: deslinde conceptual y bases para un análisis 2.1.1. Religión 2.1.2. Mito 2.1.3. Símbolo 2.2. Teorías del mito 2.2.1. Teorías de los antiguos. Teoría alegórica. Histo- ricismo mítico o evemerismo 2.2.2. Las teorías modernas. Teorías etiológicas: de J.G. Frazer a la escuela de Cambridge. Teorías psicologistas y arquetípicas. Génesis de los dioses griegos según E.R. Dodds. Interpretaciones ontoteológicas o esencialistas. Teorías antropológicas: a)funcionalista; b)estructural. Teorías comparatistas con base lingüística. Eclecticismo 2 3. ORIGEN Y EVOLUCIÓN DE LA RELIGIÓN ROMANA HASTA LOS TIEMPOS DE LA BAJA REPÚBLICA 3.1. Religión, estructura e historia en Roma 3.1.1. Fundación de Roma: Ab Vrbe condita I, 6-7. El pro- blema de los orígenes de la religión romana. Primitivistas vs. comparatistas. Numen. Deus. Los dioses de los indo- europeos. A) Panteón indoiranio. B) Panteón germánico 3.1.2. Estructura de los sacerdocios. Ab Vrbe condita I, 20, 1-7; Varrón: De ling. Lat. V, 83-86; a)Sacerdocios de la esfera pontifical. Aulo Gelio, Noctes Atticae I, 12, 1-4 y 14; b)Otros colegios. N. Att., I, 19, 1-11; c)Hermandades arcaicas. N. Att. VII, 7, 8 3.1.3. Tratamiento sacralizado del espacio y del tiempo. A)Lo divino y el espacio. Fasti V, 129-146; Tibulo, Eleg. I, 11-24. B)El tiempo sagrado. Fasti III, 523-540. El ca- lendario romano. El culto privado. Simbolismo funerario 3.1.4. El culto público: De rerum natura V, 1194-1210. a)Los sacrificios. b)Los ritos arcaicos: devotio (Ab Vrbe condita VIII, 9, 2-8 y X, 28, 10-18) y evocatio (Saturnalia III, 9) c)Los ritos nuevos 3.1.5. La adivinación (De divinatione I, 1): a)inspirada; b)inductiva. Signa: Georgicon I, 461-514. De natura deorum III 2, 5-6: estructura de la religión 3.1.6. El panteón romano: I. Personificaciones: a) Atri- buciones; b) Abstracciones; c) Divinidades funcionales. II. Dioses personales. La tríada arcaica. Los dioses del calendario de Numa. Vesta: Fasti VI, 249-304. La tríada capitolina. Llegada de dioses extranjeros: Diana, Cástor y Pólux, Hércules, Mercurio, Apolo, Asclepio. Transfor- maciones durante las Guerras Púnicas. Juno. Venus. Intro- ducción de Cibeles. De rerum natura, II, 598-628. Rechazo del culto de Baco 3 3.2. La helenización 3.2.1. El panteón griego: los Olímpicos. Los órdenes del ser. Dioses uránicos y ctónicos. Figuras divinas: Zeus, He- ra y el Olimpo. Diónysos y Apolo. Hermes. Atenea. Ártemis. Tríadas: Afrodita, Ares, Hefaistos. Poseidón. Deméter 3.2.2. Límites de la helenización 3.2.3. La helenización en la literatura. Lucrecio o la salvación por el conocimiento: I, 80-100 y II, 644-660. Cicerón y la restricción de la inmortalidad. Somnium Scipionis. Un comentario 4. LAS MUTACIONES RELIGIOSAS DURANTE EL SIGLO I a.C. 4.1. Poder y pietas 4.2. La religión de los generales (Mario: Bellum Iugurthinum, LXIII, 1-5; César: Vitae Caesarum, Caes. VI, 1-2 y LXXVI, 1) 4.3. La redefinición augustal 4.3.1. Tradición sagrada e innovación bajo Augusto: a)Re- construcción de edificios sacros y erección de otros nuevos (Res Gestae, 20 y 12); b) Revalorización del sacerdocio y la liturgia (Res Gestae, 10); c) Refuncionalización y promoción de divinidades 4.3.2. La confirmación por la literatura. Virgilio y el simbolismo del libro sexto de la Eneida: religión, filoso- fía, historia. Aen. VI, 719-751 y VI, 752-853. Comentario in Aeneidos librum VI. Horacio o la lírica de la identificación con el destino político de Roma. El Carmen saeculare como séptima oda nacional. Tibulo y la tensión entre la religión romana y los cultos orientales: I, 3, 23-34 4.3.3. Predivinización y apoteosis del soberano 4 5. INFERENCIAS FINALES 5.1. Cuatro líneas de fuerza: a)la religión cívica; b)el espectáculo social; c)el dispositivo sacrificio-adivinación; d)la negación de la negación 5.2. Tipología de la religión romana, en comparación con los cultos orientales y con el cristianismo 6. BIBLIOGRAFÍA 6.1. Signa. Fuentes latinas 6.2. Tratados, diccionarios y obras generales: a. Sobre mito y religión b. Sobre historia antigua y filosofía c. Sobre lingüística histórica 6.3. Ensayos e historias de la literatura latina 6.4. Diccionarios, manuales y estudios acerca de la religión romana 5 TESIS DOCTORAL La religión en la literatura romana hasta el fin del período augústeo 1. INTRODUCCIÓN: STATUS QUAESTIONIS, HIPÓTESIS, OBJETIVOS, ESTRATEGIAS DE ABORDAJE El rico desarrollo en materia religiosa de la antigua cultura romana ha sido abordado en el pasado siglo por la investigación europea desde tres vías convergentes, a saber: a)la busca de perdidos monumentos por parte de los arqueó- logos; b)la lingüística y la mitología comparadas, cuyos máximos representantes han sido, respectivamente, E. Benve- niste y G. Dumézil; c)la indagación en torno a los testimo- nios literarios, principalmente el último Cicerón, Varrón, Lucrecio, Virgilio, Horacio, Propercio, Ovidio, Tito Livio, Plinio el Viejo, Tácito. La tercera vía es la única que se extiende, obvia, ante el estudioso latinoamericano. La distancia oceánica, la im- posibilidad de financiar costosas expediciones y la penuria de archivos y materiales sobre civilizaciones remotas vedan los restantes accesos. En la Argentina, en particular, no se ha publicado acerca del asunto en cuestión más que una traducción, en los años sesenta, de uno de los libros de Raymond Bloch, Los prodigios en la antigüedad clásica, que lo aborda sólo de manera parcial. España fue más fecunda en las dos últimas décadas, según lo atestiguan, entre otras, buenas versiones de Dumézil, de Eliade, de Bayet, de Seznec, de Cumont (cf. 6.Bibliografía). Por lo demás, no hay en len- gua castellana gran número de traducciones que nos acerquen a los nuevos conocimientos adquiridos por la erudición 6 francesa, alemana o inglesa; menos aún, claro está, ensayos originales. No faltan los que señalan el camino que aquí se ha adoptado: “El recurso sistemático a las fuentes litera- rias ha abierto nuevas perspectivas. (...) La investigación moderna se ha interesado en los tratados filosóficos de Cicerón, en especial De natura deorum, De divinatione y De legibus (...). Un poeta como Ovidio constituye otra mina de información” (Lehmann, p.4; cf. 6.Bibliografía). Toda vez que en la actualidad contamos con un adecuado repertorio de tales textos, es preciso tan sólo que exista la voluntad de fatigarlos y la capacidad de extraer con- clusiones a partir de sus contenidos significativos. No es otra, por cierto, la tarea de la cual hemos tratado de en- cargarnos. Se parte de las siguientes hipótesis: 1) Una mitología es un sistema de símbolos que expresan intelecciones en forma metafórica (una máscara de la divinidad, una visión de la naturaleza, un mapa de la sociedad o un plano de la conciencia). 2) El sistema mitológico suele integrarse en contextos religiosos cuando un grupo social relevante se identifica con él, asumiendo la defensa de su cosmovisión. En términos generales, una religión supone cierta presencia institucional. La religión antigua era un conjunto articu- lado, en un mismo registro de pensamiento simbólico, de conceptos, acciones e imágenes (mitos, rituales, represen- taciones figuradas), que formaban como una red comprensiva de toda la experiencia humana. 3) Las letras romanas dan testimonio de la cohesión entre política, religión y arte, orientadas en pos de un fin común, la gloria y la grandeza de la nación; la literatura solía convertirse en auxiliar de la religión, entendida como brazo metafísico del Estado. 4) Sacrificios y adivinación eran las formas aceptadas para 7 la comunicación humano-divina en la civilización clásica, fundándose una suerte de circuito religioso que ponía en contacto los distintos órdenes ontológicos o, dicho de otro modo, los planos opuestos (y supuestos) del ser. 5) Varias modalidades institucionales y elementos léxicos del ámbito religioso de Roma han sobrevivido, si bien fuertemente trans- formados, hasta llegar al mundo actual. Se procura alcanzar los siguientes objetivos: 1) Demostrar las hipótesis mediante pruebas emergentes de los textos. Se prevé su eventual ampliación y/o corrección como consecuencia de los datos procedentes del trabajo de campo. 2) Estudiar la religiosidad latina poniendo de ma- nifiesto la interacción con su literatura, para intentar enriquecer la comprensión de ambas. 3) Contribuir al afianzamiento de la posición crítica que tiende a destacar la originalidad y creatividad de los romanos en el campo del pensamiento mítico-religioso. 4) Mostrar cómo esos romanos se inventaron a sí mismos al transformar los mitos griegos o indoeuropeos, cómo su redefinición, historización y poli- tización de los mismos constituyen acabadamente una rein- terpretación singular. 5) Consignar qué es lo que se perdió y qué es lo que perdura. Esta propuesta apunta a hacer una descripción de los fenómenos religiosos, tal como se manifiestan en los escri- tos de los autores clásicos, a través del hilo conductor de la historia de la literatura de Roma, con el objeto de po- ner en evidencia sus implicaciones institucionales, polí- ticas, lingüísticas, literarias y filosóficas. En razón de que las etapas arcaicas de la latinidad han sido inspeccionadas ante todo por epigrafistas y arqueólo- gos, parece pertinente delimitar en el tiempo la tarea in- vestigativa, ciñéndola a los representantes de los sistemas 8 literarios de la República tardía (primera mitad del siglo I a.C.) y del Siglo de Oro de Augusto (convencionalmente, 31 a.C.-14 d.C.), cuyas obras asisten ubicuamente tanto en nuestras bibliotecas como en las bibliotecas digitales de la red universal.
Recommended publications
  • Reading for Monday 4/23/12 History of Rome You Will Find in This Packet
    Reading for Monday 4/23/12 A e History of Rome A You will find in this packet three different readings. 1) Augustus’ autobiography. which he had posted for all to read at the end of his life: the Res Gestae (“Deeds Accomplished”). 2) A few passages from Vergil’s Aeneid (the epic telling the story of Aeneas’ escape from Troy and journey West to found Rome. The passages from the Aeneid are A) prophecy of the glory of Rome told by Jupiter to Venus (Aeneas’ mother). B) A depiction of the prophetic scenes engraved on Aeneas’ shield by the god Vulcan. The most important part of this passage to read is the depiction of the Battle of Actium as portrayed on Aeneas’ shield. (I’ve marked the beginning of this bit on your handout). Of course Aeneas has no idea what is pictured because it is a scene from the future... Take a moment to consider how the Battle of Actium is portrayed by Vergil in this scene! C) In this scene, Aeneas goes down to the Underworld to see his father, Anchises, who has died. While there, Aeneas sees the pool of Romans waiting to be born. Anchises speaks and tells Aeneas about all of his descendants, pointing each of them out as they wait in line for their birth. 3) A passage from Horace’s “Song of the New Age”: Carmen Saeculare Important questions to ask yourself: Is this poetry propaganda? What do you take away about how Augustus wanted to be viewed, and what were some of the key themes that the poets keep repeating about Augustus or this new Golden Age? Le’,s The Au,qustan Age 195.
    [Show full text]
  • Ego Quidem Semper Cum Probatis Doctrina Et Uitae Integritate Uiris Ita
    [p.647] Amplissimo patri ac illustrissimo linguam et consuetudinem conuertunt. PRINCIPI, EPISCOPO PORTVENSI, CAR. Quibus utrisque, si corporis mihi uires, uel SALVIATO, LILIUS GREGORIUS manus saltem suppeterent (ita enim mihi GYRALDUS, OBSEQVENTISSIMVS hac de re instructa et parata est supellex) SERVVLVS, S.P.D. sperarem me solidis et indissolubilibus argumentis, ualidisque sententiis [p.648] Ego quidem semper cum probatis respondere posse, eorumque ita diluere ac doctrina et uitae integritate uiris ita sensi, infirmare commenta, et plane cauillos, ut et credidi, Deum Optimum Maximum uel plerosque sententiam mutare publice coli debere, et expedire, publicis compellerem, uel saltem iuuentutem non patrum cerimoniis et institutis: priuatim deterrerent a linguae latinae et graece usu, uero pura tantum mente, ac incontaminata: quo minus earum perennibus, consuetisque nec plus sapere quenquam sibi arrogare, studiis operam nauarent. Sed non diffido quam decreta et maiorum instituta per tot alios, et me longe doctiores, et magis firma iam secula per manus subinde tradita corporis ualetudine futuros, qui peruersis permittunt. Quod cum plerique alias, tum ac praeposteris opinionibus sint responsuri, hac in primis nostrorum temporum fece et in bonam uiam reuocaturi: ut nonnihil seruare contempserunt, in uarias sectas, certe iam praestitit Bartholomaeus Riccius, falsaque et impia dogmata inciderunt, in suis de Imitatione libris. Quare nunc ego turbasque plurimas et dissidia in populis his missis, ad te de uariis et multiplicibus concitauerunt. qua ex re praeter sacrificiorum gentium cerimoniis (quae dissensiones passim et uulgo disseminatas, alias magis animi gratia, quam ingenii pacis quoque tranquillitatem et honorum uiribus a me collecta sunt) mittere ciuium ocium ac quietem interturbant, sic constitui, ea in primis ratione, ut nostri ut indies magis magisque seditiones et adolescentes his nugis potius oblectentur, schismata fieri uideamus: ut nunc bella et erudiantur, quam tanto cum periculo plusquam ciuilia, et cognatas acies mittam.
    [Show full text]
  • Mercury (Mythology) 1 Mercury (Mythology)
    Mercury (mythology) 1 Mercury (mythology) Silver statuette of Mercury, a Berthouville treasure. Ancient Roman religion Practices and beliefs Imperial cult · festivals · ludi mystery religions · funerals temples · auspice · sacrifice votum · libation · lectisternium Priesthoods College of Pontiffs · Augur Vestal Virgins · Flamen · Fetial Epulones · Arval Brethren Quindecimviri sacris faciundis Dii Consentes Jupiter · Juno · Neptune · Minerva Mars · Venus · Apollo · Diana Vulcan · Vesta · Mercury · Ceres Mercury (mythology) 2 Other deities Janus · Quirinus · Saturn · Hercules · Faunus · Priapus Liber · Bona Dea · Ops Chthonic deities: Proserpina · Dis Pater · Orcus · Di Manes Domestic and local deities: Lares · Di Penates · Genius Hellenistic deities: Sol Invictus · Magna Mater · Isis · Mithras Deified emperors: Divus Julius · Divus Augustus See also List of Roman deities Related topics Roman mythology Glossary of ancient Roman religion Religion in ancient Greece Etruscan religion Gallo-Roman religion Decline of Hellenistic polytheism Mercury ( /ˈmɜrkjʉri/; Latin: Mercurius listen) was a messenger,[1] and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx ("merchandise"; compare merchant, commerce, etc.), mercari (to trade), and merces (wages).[2] In his earliest forms, he appears to have been related to the Etruscan deity Turms, but most of his characteristics and mythology were borrowed from the analogous Greek deity, Hermes. Latin writers rewrote Hermes' myths and substituted his name with that of Mercury. However, there are at least two myths that involve Mercury that are Roman in origin. In Virgil's Aeneid, Mercury reminds Aeneas of his mission to found the city of Rome. In Ovid's Fasti, Mercury is assigned to escort the nymph Larunda to the underworld.
    [Show full text]
  • {Download PDF} Greek Gods and Heroes
    GREEK GODS AND HEROES PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Robert Graves | 160 pages | 01 Jan 2001 | Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc | 9780440932215 | English | New York, United States List of Greek mythological figures - Wikipedia They are called demi-gods or in modern term semi-gods , because one of their parents were a god or a goddess. However, mortal heroes were no less respected than semi-gods. Some of the mortals even exceeded semi-gods in terms of bravery and reputation. Regardless of their origin, these heroes accomplished many great tasks and even tasks thought being impossible to accomplish. Because of the deeds, they had done and helping humanity to progress, they were favoured by the gods. If enough favours were gained or devotion showed, the gods would even help the heroes by either giving them wisdom or intervening themselves with their powers. The ancients Greeks were polytheistic — that is, they worshipped many gods. Their major gods and goddesses lived at the top of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, and myths described their lives and actions. In myths, gods often actively intervened in the day-to-day lives of humans. Myths were used to help explain the unknown and sometimes teach a lesson. For example, Zeus, the king of the gods, carried his favorite weapon, the thunderbolt. When it rained and there was thunder and lightning, the ancient Greeks believed that Zeus was venting his anger. Many stories about how the Greek gods behaved and interacted with humans are found in the works of Homer. He created two epic poems: the Iliad , which related the events of the Trojan War, and the Odyssey , which detailed the travels of the hero Odysseus.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dioskouroi on Four-Figure Etruscan Mirrors
    THE DIOSKOUROI ON FOUR-FIGURE ETRUSCAN MIRRORS By DANIEL “WOOD D” WEBER A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2006 Copyright 2006 by DANIEL “WOOD D” WEBER Oh Muses, sing of my very own ‘divine’ twins, clear-voiced Ariel Faith and lovely-haired Gabryelle Raina, to whom I lovingly dedicate this study. TABLE OF CONTENTS page LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................1 Etruscan Bronzeworking ..............................................................................................1 The Dioskouroi/ Tinas Cliniar......................................................................................2 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF ETRUSCAN BRONZE MIRRORS..................................4 Material and Limitations...............................................................................................4 Types of Mirrors and Terminology ..............................................................................6 Inscriptions ...................................................................................................................9
    [Show full text]
  • ITALY, VILLANOVANS and ETRUSCANS Biconical Cinerary
    ITALY, VILLANOVANS AND ETRUSCANS Biconical Cinerary Urn with Incised Decoration Etruria, Tarquinia (?), Villanovan, 750-700. BCE Impasto ware 63.15 A and B Museum Purchase The culture of the Villanovans, the Iron Age inhabitants of Etruria, was first uncovered at the small town of Villanova, near Bologna. In the 19th century, archaeologists began excavations here and named the characteristic urnfield culture Villanovan. The name "urnfielders" denotes the burial practices of people who, after cremating their dead, bury the ashes in urns placed in tombs. Villanovan cinerary urns are usually made of impasto ware, the typical, thick-walled, black burnished pottery fabric of the Villanovans. The clay still retains many of the impurities that naturally occur in clay-beds. Impasto pottery is handmade, until the introduction of the potter's wheel ca. 750-700 BCE The Villanovans buried the ashes of their dead in two types of cinerary urns: biconical and hut. The museum's urn is the biconical type, which is so-called from the resemblance of the body to two cones, one inverted on top of the other. Biconical urns are more common than hut urns. The general shape and decoration are fairly standard throughout the region, but the lids in the northern area were covered with a bowl, whereas in the south the Villanovans used a lid made in the shape of a helmet. Sometimes the lids were made of bronze. The museum's lid imitates a bronze bell-shaped helmet. Villanovan urns were buried in small graves. These were rectangular pits, usually lined with stone slabs and covered by a large roof slab.
    [Show full text]
  • Print This Article
    Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections MARRIAGE AND PARENTHOOD ON CLASSICAL PERIOD BRONZE MIRRORS : T HE CASE OF LATVA AND TUNTLE Alexandra A. Carpino Northern Arizona University ABSTRACT The scenes that enhanced the reverse sides of the Etruscans’ bronze mirrors were not just a form of entertainment. Rather, mirror iconography provided elite Etruscans of both genders with a range of ideas to ponder as they fashioned their appearances daily within the domestic sphere. During the 4th century BCE, the number of depictions of parents drawn from the broad Hellenic repertoire known to the Etruscan aristocracy soars. Two individuals who stand out as particularly popular were Latva (Leda) and Tuntle (Tyndareos), who appear in the context of a specifically Etruscan narrative known as the “Delivery of Elinai’s (Helen’s) Egg.” This study focuses on the social significance of these scenes and the messages they imparted through their compositional structure and the various attributes of the characters depicted. It is suggested that they can be read as promoting positive paradigms of marriage and parenthood that served as enduring inspirations for the mirrors’ users and viewers. uring the 4th and 3rd centuries in Etruria, ponder as they fashioned and refashioned their communities in both the south and the north had to appearances on a daily basis within the private sphere of cDontend with foreign incursions, raids and the their homes. It also offers scholars today a window into consequences of conquest. Despite these challenges, this the mindsets of the artifacts’ aristocratic purchasers/ time in Etruscan history was especially prolific with owners, expressing many of the values and beliefs they respect to the creation and diversity of high quality art: and their families prized from the Archaic period onward.
    [Show full text]
  • The Singer in the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy
    The Singer in the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy The Early History of the Order Kaija Ravolainen STUDIA MUSICA 59 2014 © Kaija Ravolainen 2014 Doctoral dissertation University of the Arts Helsinki Sibelius Academy DocMus Doctoral School Studia Musica 59 Juvenes Print – Suomen Yliopistopaino Oy Tampere 2014 ISBN 978-952-5959-77-2 ISSN 0788-3757 Abstract The present study examines the origin and the early phases of the ecclesiastical order of the singer, nowadays generally called cantor. The constitutive regulations concerning the order derive from the late fourth century in the canons of the Synod of Laodicea and the Apostolic Constitutions. The order of the singer was established in eastern Christendom, while in the West, it never was added to the ranks of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. There, the members of other ecclesiastical grades answered for the psalmody, although allusions to singers occasionally appear. The study period extends to the seventh century CE. The development of both ecclesiastical singing and the hierarchy is treated from the beginning of the history of the Church. This is necessary for identifying the standing and the role of the singer, whose order emerges rather late in comparison with other ecclesiastical orders. One of the earlier orders belongs to the reader, who is considered to have preceded the singer, but also to have been one, as all reading was performed in recitation. The study also aims to define why a separate order of the singer was needed, if the reader was able to execute these duties as well. The materials include both normative – the canons of ecclesiastical councils and synods, and church orders – and descriptive sources, the latter consisting primarily of the texts of the patristic authors.
    [Show full text]
  • John Lydus, De Mensibus (Book 1)
    John Lydus, De Mensibus (Book 1) [1] 1. Rightly, then, those who <composed accounts> of the mythical [matters] represented Cronus as doing away with his own children: they were hinting, I suppose, that time [chronos] is both father and destroyer of all those who are begotten by him. †pharygos. 2. The servants of Dionysus called their procession thriambos, from thyrsi and iambi1— that is, "jibes"—as though [the word was] thyrsiambos. Or [the word came] from throein ["to cry aloud"], according to Plutarch.2 3. The Lydians (they say) discovered wine—and not only wine, but also the fig-tree. 4. The Romans decided to call wine "mustum"—that is to say, mystês ["initiate"]. The Sardians were the first to use the term "mystery." 5. Sabinus was well-named, after his husbandry of the vine. For the name Sabinus signifies "sower" and "planter" of wine.3 6. Calabria [is called] Messapia, from Messapus. 7. Lucania [means] "very thicketed." For the Romans call a thicket a lucus [2] by way of negation—from the lack of light,4 as [we speak of] an "untimbered" forest.5 8. Evander first brought letters (the so-called Cadmeian [letters]) from Greece to Italy;6 there were not as many as there are now, for antiquity did not pass them down in that way. There were only six in addition to 10: invented later were xi and zeta and psi, for double [consonants], theta and phi and chi for aspirates, eta and omega for long [vowels].7 Of old there were five vowels, with epsilon filling the role of eta, and omicron that of omega, as is still the case even now among the Romans; their value changes only with respect to [length] of time.
    [Show full text]
  • Reconstructing Religion Augustus and the Fratres Arvales
    Reconstructing Religion Augustus and the Fratres Arvales Sarah Limoges Department of History McGill University Montreal, Canada August 2010 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts Sarah Limoges 2010 1 Abstracts The following thesis is an examination of the underlying reasons for the re‐establishment of the cult of the Arval Brothers under Augustus, the first Roman Emperor (31 BC‐AD14). It aims to prove that the re‐foundation of this archaic Roman cult fits within the parameters of Augustus’ religious, as well as political reforms after the victory at Actium in 31 BC. Moreover, it seeks to determine the reasons behind the choice of this particular cult. Although Augustus had significantly reduced the number of men in the Senate, there was still a bottleneck for the few major political offices available. Thus, he decided to give out priesthoods as thanks to his loyal supporters, and to reward those that had crossed over to his side. The members of the brotherhood in 21 BC are highly prominent men both militarily and politically, and this shows that Augustus wanted to solidify his support among the members of the aristocracy. La présente thèse est une examination des raisons sous‐jacentes du rétablissement du culte des Frères Arvales sous Auguste, le premier empereur Romain (31av. J.‐C.‐14 de notre ère). Elle propose de prouver que le rétablissement de ce culte romain archaïque s’accorde avec les paramètres des réformes politique et religieuse suivant la victoire à Actium en 31 av. J.‐C.
    [Show full text]
  • Ancient Roman Munificence: the Development of the Practice and Law of Charity
    Texas A&M University School of Law Texas A&M Law Scholarship Faculty Scholarship 3-2004 Ancient Roman Munificence: The Development of the Practice and Law of Charity William H. Byrnes IV Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.tamu.edu/facscholar Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation William H. Byrnes IV, Ancient Roman Munificence: The Development of the Practice and Law of Charity, 57 Rutgers L. Rev. 1043 (2004). Available at: https://scholarship.law.tamu.edu/facscholar/421 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Texas A&M Law Scholarship. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Texas A&M Law Scholarship. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ANCIENT ROMAN MUNIFICENCE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRACTICE AND LAW OF CHARITY William H. Byrnes, IV* INTRODUCTION This article traces Roman charity from its incipient meager beginnings during Rome's infancy to the mature legal formula it assumed after intersecting with the Roman emperors and Christianity. During this evolution, charity went from being a haphazard and often accidental private event to a broad undertaking of public, religious, and legal commitment. To mention the obvious, Rome was the greatest and most influential empire in the ancient world. It lasted more than a thousand years, traditionally beginning in 753 B.C. as a kingdom under Romulus.' In 509 B.C. it became a republic with permanent tyranny beginning in 31 B.C. under direction of the immortal Julius Caesar.2 The exact date of the end of * Professor and Director, Walter H.
    [Show full text]
  • More on Dioscorides' Etruscan Herbs the Capitoline Museum and The
    VOLUME: 6SUMMER, 2006 Moreon The Capitoline Museumand Dioscorides’ the Castellani Collection Etruscan by AntonellaMagagnini CuratoreArcheologo,Musei Capitolini Herbs OnDecember 23, 2005, theCapitoline Museums,after along effort coordinated by by JohnScarborough AnnaMuraSommella, Director of theMusei University of Wisconsin Capitolini,andagreat financialcommitment, wereenriched by anew wing,focused on a Inhis “AnEtruscanHerbal?” ( Etruscan largelight-filled, glassed-in hall in the spaces News,5[Winter, 2006]),KyleP. Johnson previously occupied by theRomanGardenof makes someinteresting points regarding the thePalazzodeiConservatori. Theoriginal manuscript traditions that include alternative bronzeequestrian statueof Marcus Aurelius names for theplants andherbs in Dioscorides’ has finally foundits worthy homein this piaz- Materiamedica. 1 It was beyond the scopeof za-like space, along with thelargebronzes Johnson’s briefintroductory note, however, donated by Sixtus IVto theRomanpeoplein andhence it is thegoalof this article, to sug- Pimpernel,from the ViennaDioscurides 1472. From this hall onecanmarvelat the gest how and why these synonyms,not (WikimediaCommons) enormous,imposing remains of thefounda- included by Dioscorides in his original work, 2 5 tions of theTempleof Jupiter Capitoline enter themanuscript history,andmoreimpor- inal work. revealed by recent archaeologicalexcava- tantly, why thesenames might indicateapar- Inestablishing his Greek text of the tions. ticularly Etruscanherbalism. Materiamedica,Max Wellmann pulled most In thegalleries
    [Show full text]