Final: Readings Flashcards
Cicero: after Caesar
has to spend a year governing a province though he tries to get out of it, returns to Italy in 50 on the eve of war
meets with Caesar, but eventually leaves Italy for Greece after Pompey
returns to Italy after the Battle of Pharsalus
Letter to Atticus
written by Cicero 12 March 49 - before Ides
basically philosophical questions like - is it right to stay in your country even if it is being ruled by a tyrant?
also more specific to Cicero: I’ve been through so much, can I be expected to stay? I keep giving so much to Rome but they don’t respect or appreciate me
lots of whining
doesn’t know if it’s worth fighting against Caesar
The Second Philippic
written by Cicero after Ides
attack against Mark Antony, which whom he has been squabbling since Caesar’s death
Antony gives a very hostile speech against Cicero, and the Second Philippic (written and distributed, not given) is the response
different from Verrine, because specificity/accuracy are no longer as important as creating outrage around Antony and trying to undermine him politically
similarities, though - he tries to frame Antony as an outcast of society
just as much time spent defending Cicero as attacking Antony
Cicero is risking it all - death a definite possibility
challenge to: Antony’s loyalty, honesty, sexual morality, intelligence, rhetorical ability, religious piety
C. Sallustius Crispus (Sallust)
c. 86-35
tribune 52 BCE, antagonized Cicero
50 BCE expelled from Senate
joined Caesar in 49; comes back from fighting in Africa charged with extortion but is protected by Caesar
then withdraws from public life, turns to writing about history
Sallust’s Writing
as with Latin poetry, Sallust’s work exploits a Greek model (like Thucydides)
outlook - vision of ambition leading human beings in a foreseeable but inexorable way to ruin, abuse of language in politics
language - difficult, obscure, uneven, unCiceronian (reflects and reinforces the outlook)
Sallust’s Turn to History
explains shift in career - in initial political ambitions, got carried away with general atmosphere of corruption
writing of history as alternative method of politics
nature of career is a consequence of the moral decline that Sallust’s history itself records
Sallust’s Theoretical Model
a “monograph” of events of part of one year
however, a year fit into a “from the beginning” vision of history
explains Roman history in moral terms: integrity vs corruption
divides history into clear periods, defined by Roman control of/direction of own desires
Sallust’s Periodization of Roman History
the monarchy:
-characterized by altruistic use of power
-power concentrated in the hands of a king, whose desire for power became too great
the zenith of Roman society (409-146 BCE):
-in absence of kings, desire for glory grew (jealous kings had suppressed it)
-accidental consequence of competitive desire for glory is empire
step one of collapse (146-78 BCE)
-after Carthage eliminated, Fortune takes over; ambition plagues Romans (bad desire #1)
step two of collapse (78 BCE - present)
-with Sulla, avarice appears
Parallel Between Catiline and Sallust
both formed by contemporary bad mores
both have political ambitions frustrated, and turn elsewhere - Sallust turns to writing, but Catiline turns to revolution
Catiline’s speech appealing to equity is very similar to Sallust’s analysis of Rome (moral decline, concentrated power in the hands of a few)
Sallust: The Figure of Catiline
a product of the atmosphere (morally decrepit Rome)
personification of unbounded desire
complicated character - on one hand, Sallust explicitly calls him wicked
but also evinces admirable qualities
Catiline’s Last Stand
Catiline performs in exemplary fashion in his last stand
striking image of conspirators fighting bravely
abrupt ending leaves us unsure how to feel
Caesar, Cato, and the Conspirators
end of Sallust’s Catiline’s War, Caesar and Cato are debating how best to deal with the conspirators
similar problem to that of ending:
1) both speakers earn Sallust’s praise
2) each speaker’s argument has appealing features
Caesar is against execution, Cato in favor
The Aeneid
title - “The Aeneas Tale”
picks up the legend that, upon capture of Troy by the Greeks, Trojan warrior Aeneas (son of Anchises and the goddess Venus) fled with a company of Trojans to establish a new home
wanderings brought them to Italy, where they joined with the Latins and found the town of Lativium
Aeneas’ son founds Alba Longa and is the ancestor for Romulus, Remus, and the Julian family (including Augustus!)
Aeneid: Books I-VI
Book I: Aeneas lands at Carthage and meets Dido, whom Venus bewitches via Cupid
Book II: at banquet, Aeneas tells the story of the destruction of Troy and his setting forth at divine behest to find the Trojans’ home
Book III: Aeneas’ tale continues, covering the several efforts of the Trojans to settle; at every place, divine signs that there is someplace else they are meant to be
Book IV: return to main timeline, Aeneas and Dido become romantically involved; Aeneas is prodded by the gods to keep moving, Dido commits suicide
Book V: Trojans arrive in Sicily, celebrate funeral games for Anchises
Book VI: as instructed by father’s ghost in book V, Aeneas visits Sibyl (priestess of Apollo) and visits the underworld, where he receives instruction from his father’s shade
Aeneid: Books VII-IX
Books VII: Aeneas and Latin king Latinus are ready to ally, but Juno summons the fury Allecto to madden Amata and Turnus
Book VIII: Aeneas allies with Greek Evander living on site of Rome, and receives gift of armor
Book IX: Trojans hemmed in, Nisus and Euryalus try to break through; Turnus breaks into Trojan camp, barely expelled
