Caput II. Fellowship
by Michael Lambert
August 2023
Caput II. Fellowship
by Michael Lambert
August 2023
Friendship comes in many forms. Two short stories highlight contrasting relationships; that of Titus Pomponius and Septico Claro. Of the two men, let us first look at Pomponius to see if he is deserving of praise
Titus Pomponius was born in November 110 BCE. As a youth, he met and formed a life-long companionship with Marcus Tullius Cicero. Young Pomponius excelled at his studies, and in 85 BCE he travelled to Athens to further his education, studying philosophy. He was so enamoured of Greek culture, he adopted the sobriquet of Atticus, Man of Attica. Pomponius soon had a following, and when Gaius Julius Caesar too stayed in Athens to complete his education, Caesar lodged with Atticus (as he was now known). In 65 BCE, Atticus returned to Rome. In alignment with his Epicurean views, he stayed out of politics. He taught slaves how to read and write and, how to make papyrus scrolls to publish his own works. In 58 BCE when Cicero had to flee Rome for Greece, Atticus lent Cicero the sum of 250,000 sesterces. When Atticus’s maternal uncle died, in addition to a fortune, he assumed the name of Quintus Caecillius Pomponianus Atticus. Though not a participant in the assassination of Caesar, he was friendly towards some of the Liberators. He survived the purges. After his 77th birthday he sickened. Realizing there was no cure, he starved himself and died five days later in March 32 BCE. In all, he was noted as a man of letters, who stood by his friends. He was buried in the family tomb, the Fifth Mile of the Appian Way
Age, age! is the Roman equivalent of, Go for it, go for it! Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, 61-113 CE, known as Pliny the Younger, served in several official roles for the emperor Caesar Nerva Trajan, 53-117 CE, reigning 98-117 CE. Climbing the honoris causa was no guarantee to success, so making an impression was important. Trajan was born in Spain, and by chance; the dancers at Pliny’s smart dinner-party were from Spain. And too…possibly…Spanish musicians and a Spanish songstress…is Pliny laying it thick? No mention of select vintages… No doubt…no further invitations for Septico Claro…
Fellowship
A Friend in Times of Civic Tumult
Antonius autem, etsi tanto odio ferebatur in Ciceronem 1, ut non solum ei, sed etiam omnibus eius amicis esset inimicus eosque vellet proscribere, multis hortantibus, tamen Attici memor fuit officii, et ei, cum requisisset ubinam 2 esset, sua manu scripsit, ne timeret statimque ad se venire: se eum et illius causa Canum 3 de prosciptorum numero exemisse. Ac 4 ne quod periculum incideret, quod noctu fiebat, praesidium ei misit. Sic Atticus in summon timore non solum sibi, sed etiam ei qui carissimum habebat praesidio fuit. Neque enim suae solum a quoquam auxilium petit salutis, sed coniuncti 5, ut appareret nullam seiunctam sibi ab eo velle fortunam. Quod si gubernator 6 praecipua laude effertur, qui navem ex hieme marique scopuloso 7 servat, cur non singularis eius existimetur prudentia qui ex tot tamque gravibus procellis civilibus ad incolumitatem pervenit?
Cornelius Nepos: Atticus, 10
Fellowship
Hey you! An Absent Guest
Heus tu! promittis ad cenam, nec venis? Dicitur ius: ad assem impendium reddes, nec id modicum. Paratae erant lactucae singulae, cochleae ternae, ova bina, halica cum mulso et nive (nam hanc quoque computabis, immo hanc in primus quae perit in ferculo), olivae betacei cucurbitae bulbi, alia mille non minus lauta. A udisses comoedos vel lectorem vel lyristen vel (quae mea liberalitas) omnes. At tu apud nescio quem ostrea vulvas echinos Gaditanas 1 maluisti. Dabis poenas, non dico quas. Dure fecisti: invidisti, nescio an tibi, certe mihi, sed tamen et tibi. Quantum nos lusissemus, risissemus, studuissemus! Potes adparatius cenare apud multos, nusquam hilarious simplicius incautius. In summa experire, et nisi postea te aliis potius excusaveris, mihi semper excusa. Vale.
Pliny: Epistulae, I, XV
- Epistulae ad Atticum.. Written by Marcus Tullius Cicero regarding his friend Titus Pomponius
- ubinam. adv. non-declinable. Where in the world, Where on Earth
- Quintus Gellius Canum. proper noun, name. An acquaintance of T. Pomponius
- ac. (before a consonant), also spelt atque or adque. conjunction. And, and also, and even, and too
- sed coniuncti. phrase. Not included in anthology: Roman Thoughts. UTP Ltd. London, UK. 1950. Pg 36
- gubernator, –toris. 3m noun. Helmsman or pilot of a boat
- scopulus, –i. 2m noun. A rock (in and under the sea, hazard to sailing)
- Gaditana, –ae. 1f proper noun. Spanish dancers. Inhabitants of Gades, Iberian Peninsula