Since I was talking about “greatness” in the previous post,
I wanted to share a small part of my own research on Pliny because I think it
shows part of the Roman “value system”.
Written around 106-107 AD Epistula 6.16 is Pliny’s response
to the request made by the Roman politician and historian Publius Cornelius
Tacitus to furnish him with the details of Pliny the Elder’s death - he died
during the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79 - in order for this to be included in
the former’s historical chronicles. The Historiae of Tacitus
were published c.110-111 but the surviving work only reaches AD70. Therefore,
if Tacitus did ultimately refer to the death of Pliny the Elder in the
chronicles, there is no confirmation of that although, given that Pliny the
Elder was an eminent scholar, author, commander and prominent figure in Rome,
being a personal friend of the Emperor Vespasian, there is equally no reason to
assume that Tacitus would have omitted him. Nevertheless, what transpires in
the opening remarks of 6.16 is Pliny’s determination to ensure that it is
included.
In responding to Tacitus’ request, Pliny the Younger joins
the march of an historico-literary tradition that precedes him by centuries and
has continued ever since: the criteria for the task that Pliny is now willing,
indeed demanding to fulfil were already set in stone by the funerary epitaph of
Scipio Barbatus, consul in 298BC.
Those three criteria are not only set in stone, but set
precisely in the middle of the stone and all on the same line [image #1].
FORTIS (strong; brave) │SAPIENS (wise) │VIRTVS (virtue)
The other interesting aspect of this tomb inscription is a
language structure known as the “rule of three”, a technique still used in our
advertising i.e. three pieces of memorable information, a technique used by
Cicero and, indeed, by our politicians today. That rule of three continues on
the next line that states Scipio’s positions of authority:
CONSOL │ CENSOR │ AEDILIS
Cornelius Lucius Scipio Barbatus, Gnaeo patre
prognatus, fortis vir sapiensque, cuius
forma virtuti parissima fuit, Consul, Censor, Aedilis,
qui fuit apud vos; Taurasiam Cisaunam, Samnio cepit, subigit omnem Lucaniam,
obsidesque abducit.
Cornelius Lucius Scipio Barbatus, sprung from Gnaeus his
father, a man strong and wise, whose appearance
was most in keeping with his virtue, who was consul, censor,
and aedile among you – He captured Taurasia Cisauna in Samnium
– he subdued all of Lucania and led off hostages.
In the ancient world being remembered mattered: Ramesses II
ordered his cartouches to be so deeply carved in the columns at Karnak that
they could never be erased, and the inscriptions known as res gestae
Divini Augusti gave a first-person account of the life achievements of
the Emperor.
But the desire for eternal memory was not the exclusive
domain of pharaos, emperors and consuls: the tombstones of far less illustrious
Romans frequently give considerably more information than the name, date of
birth and date of death, historians gaining insights into, for example, the
deceased’s manner of death, occupation, accomplishments and personal
characteristics. Indeed, even the hypostyle chamber of the 6th century cistern
of Philoxenos at Constantinople (Istanbul) bears the masons’ marks on the columns,
as deeply carved as the cartouches of Ramesses and similarly withstanding the
test of time and water erosion.
Immortality, of course, was not only achieved in stone but
most often in the chronicles of the most notable Roman authors, chronicles that
would be read by the most notable Roman citizens. The poet Horace believes that
he does not require the testimony of others, but that his own works will speak
on his behalf:
exegi monumentum aere perennius
regalique situ pyramidum altius,
quod non imber edax, non Aquilo inpotens
possit diruere…
[Odes III: XXX, ll1-4, published 23BC]
I have built a monument more lasting than bronze,
higher than the Pyramids’ regal structures,
that no consuming rain, nor wild north wind
can destroy…
And, what’s interesting, of course, is that, over 2000 years
later, we still remember them.
Nike might be proud of its memorable rule of three
advertising slogan: Just Do It, but the Romans were doing just that long before
Nike ever did. I wonder if Nike will last 2000 years.
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