The Government of Ancient Rome

From the time Rome was founded, to the time it fell, it was an odd combination of a republic and a democracy. Many of the ideas of Roman government came from the Greek govermnet. just as the Romans took ideas of thr Greek government, we took the Roman idea of the three branch system of government.

For 2,000 years Rome had, essentially, the same government system. This prevailing government system was the Roman Rebublic. The Roman Rebuplic began in 500 B.C. and lasted until 1500 A.D. There were two consuls in charge of the Roman Republic. Theseconsuls were in charge of the army/war.

Under the consuls, there were many other rulers. There were pretors, who were in charge of the courts. They were the chief law officers. There were also aedlles who were in charge of markets and construction. There were also censors. The censors were in charge of filling any vacancies in the Senate.

In Rome there began what is known as the first triumvarate. it consisted of three men, Pompey, Cassus, and Julius Caesar. Though each of the men in the triumvarate Caesar was overwhelmimgly popular among the citizens of Rome. Caesar then ends up havung an affair with Cleopatra VII. His affair eventually causes his death.

Then the second triumvirate was formed. It consisted of Octavian, Marc Antony, and Lepidus. It was created in 43 B.C.in many ways our government is like that of Ancient Rome. Although in some aspects our government is completly differnet.

Barnett, Mary. Gods and Myths of the Romans: the Archaeology and Mythology of Ancient Peoples. Smithmark Publishers. New York. 1996

Hadas, Moses. Imperial Rome. Time Inc Publishers. Canada 1965

The Aeneid and The Odyssey

Vergil, a Roman poet, was the author of The Aeneid. His real name was Publius Vergilius Maro. He was born on October 15th in 70 B.C. Although he was a Roman poet, he was originally from Ireland. Virgil studied science, astronomy, and philosophy under the Epicureans.

Homer was a Greek poet who attributed many great epics, one of them being The Odyssey. Homer was born in a Greek colony on the coast of Asia Minor around 1200 B.C. There have been arguments for a long period of time regarding weather or not Homer’s works were really written by him. Nothing about Homer can be known as completely factual.

“The Aeneid follows prince Aeneas and fellow Trojans as they sail to Italy after the fall of Troy. Aeneas suffers many hardships and sacrifices as the warrior prepares for his destiny: personifying the virtues that would bring a rebirth and golden age to Rome. Considered a fictional narrative, Virgil's myth-history brims with immortals, gods and goddesses, and glorification of Rome under its first emperor, Augustus, to whom Virgil dedicated his epic work.” (source)

The Odyssey is a Homeric poem about a man named Odysseus. The Odyssey tells the of the 10 year struggle of Odysseus while he’s trying to get back home after the Trojan War. Odysseus battles divine creatures and faces the rage of the gods. “His wife Penelope and his son Telemachus stave off a gaggle of suitors vying for Penelope's hand and the throne of Ithaca long enough for Odysseus to return. The Odyssey ends as Odysseus wins a contest to prove his identity, slaughters the suitors, and retakes the throne of Ithaca.” (source)

These two books and authors are very different, but they are similar as well. The Aeneid was non-oral and was developed with the aid of writing. However, in The Odyssey there were forms of improvised techniques that were utilized. Vergil imitates Homeric language in his plays. Vergil imitates the Homeric simile. He also uses some of Homer's poems as a basis for his story patterns.

Barnett, Mary. Gods and Myths of the Romans: the Archaeology and Mythology of Ancient Peoples. Smithmark Publishers. New York. 1996

Hadas, Moses. Imperial Rome. Time Inc Publishers. Canada 1965

Foundation Myths of Ancient Rome

Nobody is really sure who founded Rome. Some believe that Aeneas was responsible for it. Others believe that Romulus, and his twin brother, Remus founded Rome. Both assumptions are based on legend. The story of Romulus and Remus is a little far-fetched compared to the story of Aeneas.

The story of Romulus and Remus goes something like this: Romulus and Remus were the sons of Vestal Virgin and Rhea Silvia. When the twins were born, Numitor (their grandfather) wished to have them put to death. The boys were then left on a river bank. Left for dead, the boys were found by a she-wolf. The she-wolf nursed the boys and a woodpecker fed and guarded them.

Faustulus, a swineherd, took them into his care. He gave them a fine education. The boys grew up to have incredible strength and looks. Romulus, the name that inspired Rome, killed his brother Remus in a fight over which one of them would rule over Rome. It is recorded that Romulus served as the first king of Rome.

The story of Aeneas, also based on myth, is more believable and real: Aeneas is known to some as the father of Rome. Aeneas is a heroic character in the Iliad.
it is prophesied that the descendants of Aeneas would be kings . It is recorded by historians that Aeneas founded Rome and named it "Rhome", meaning strength.

These two ideas of the founding of Rome are very different. Though they are similar in the fact that they are both based on myth. One of these myths is more believable than the other, but they are both ,still, very trusted in. I guess we will never know how Rome was really founded and who founded it.

Barnett, Mary. Gods and Myths of the Romans: the Archaeology and Mythology of Ancient Peoples. Smithmark Publishers. New York. 1996

Marks, Anthony, and Graham Tingay. The Romans. Usborne. London. 1990.

Philosophy of Epicurus

Epicurus was born in 341 B.C. in Samos, Greece. He never married and we don't know of any children. Epicurus studied philosophy, for about four years, under Pamphilus. Later, at the age of eighteen, Epicurus went to Athens to serve in the military for two years.

At the age of thirty, he began to teach at Mytilene; he was later was forced to leave for causing strife. Since he could no longer teach at Mytilene, Epicurus founded a school in Lampsacus.Epicurus stressed, to his students, the importance of friendship as an "ingredient" of happiness. His school reflected this philosophy.

Epicurus' philosophy is known as the "philosophy of pleasure". His philosophy consisted of four major ideas:

"1) Let no one be slow to seek knowledge and understanding when they are young,
nor be quick to tire of the search for wisdom when they grow old. For no age is
too early or too late to be concerned with the health of the mind. And to say
that the time for philosophy has not yet come, or that it is passed and gone, is
like saying that the time for happiness is not yet come, or that it is gone for
ever.

2) By the love of true philosophy every troubling and painful
desire is destroyed. Vain is the discourse of that philosopher by which no human
suffering is healed.

3) We must laugh and philosophize at the same time
as we do our household chores and go about our other business, and never stop
bringing out the sayings of the true philosophy.

4) You must become a
slave to philosophy if you would gain true freedom."(source)

Epicurus believed that in order to have an upright life, you must pursue pleasure. He believed that in order to live a pleasant life, you must live wisely,honorably,and justly; and in order to live wisely,honorably, add justly, you must live pleasantly. If any these things were missing, a man could not live an upright life.

" The essential doctrine of Epicureanism is that pleasure is the supreme good
and main goal of life. Intellectual pleasures are preferred to sensual ones,
which tend to disturb peace of mind. True happiness, Epicurus taught, is the
serenity resulting from the conquest of fear of the gods, of death, and of the
afterlife. The ultimate aim of all Epicurean speculation about nature is to rid
people of such fears."(source)

Epicurus did not deny the existence of the gods, but he viewed them as indestructible.He believed that it was selfish to ask for something, that would benefit yourself, from the gods. He also believed that dreams had no divine character, or prophetic power. he believed that dreams came from images that were appealing to your senses.

Pain: The removal of all pain, is the boundary of pleasure. When pleasure is present, there is an absence of pain of the body and mind. Happiness: the main part of happiness, is the happiness that is under our own control.Epicurus also believed that in order to be truly happy, you must free your self of business and politics. All these concepts of Epicurieanism are very strange and some are even contradictory.

Nardo, Don. Living in Ancient Greece. Farmington Hills MI: Green Haven Press, 2004.

Nardo, Don. Lost Civilizations:The Ancient Greeks. San Diego Ca: Lucent Books, 2001.

Biography of Plato

Plato was born in 427 B.C. in Athens. Plato's birth name was "Aristocles", but he later received the nickname "Platon", which mean broad. He was given this nickname because he had a broad build. Plato was the youngest son of his parents, Ariston and Perictione. Both of Plato's parents came from famous and wealthy Athenian families. Ariston died when Plato was a young man. Short after the death of Ariston, Perictione married a man named Pyrilampes. Palto was mostly brought up in Pyrilampes' house, where he had a mentor named Cratylus.

His family had a history in politics, and Plato was destined to a life in keeping with this history. He studied at a gymnasium owned by Dionysios, and at the palaistra of Ariston of Argos. When he was young he studied music and poetry. According to Aristotle, Plato developed the foundations of his metaphysics and epistemology by studying the doctrines of Cratylus, and the work of Pythagoras and Parmenides. When Plato met Socrates, however, he had met his definitive teacher. As Socrates' disciple, Plato adopted his philosophy and style of debate, and directed his studies toward the question of virtue and the formation of a noble character.
(source)

Besides being absolutely brilliant, Plato served in the military. He served from 409-404 B.C. After the Peloponnesian war ended in 404 B.C., Plato was more interested in being politically successful rather than militarily successful. Plato was then invited by Charmides (his uncle) to join the oligarchic tyranny, which was called "Thirty Tyrants".

As a young boy, Plato had an encounter with Socrates, and ever since then he had become a great follower of Socrates. this is important in Plato's life because while he was one of the Thirty Tyrants, Socrates was sentenced to death for impiety and corruption of the youth. this devastated Plato. Plato was so desperate to keep Socrates alive, that he offered to pay bail for Socrates, but his money wasn't accepted.

In about 387 B.C., Plato founded a school in Athens, which he called "Academy". This is where we get the word "academics" from today. The students of the Academy were introduced to physical science, astronomy,mathematics, and philosophy. most of Plato's life was dedicated to teaching at and running the Academy. The Academy, where Aristotle learned and later taught, was so successful that it continued functioning many years after Plato's death.

Plato died in 347 B.C. (at the age of 80). He was buried in the ground at the Academy. By this point, Aristotle had been involved with the Academy for about 20 years, as both a student and teacher. Yet he still did not succeed at the head of the Academy. Instead Aristotle's nephew, Speusippus, succeeded at the head of the academy.

Nardo, Don. Lost Civilizations:The Ancient Greeks. San Diego Ca: Lucent Books, 2001.

Nardo, Don. Living in Ancient Greece. Farmington Hills MI: Green Haven Press, 2004

Essential Ideas of Meno

When Plato was a young man, he had a mentor named Socrates. Plato gained much knowledge from the teachings of Socrates. Socrates taught Plato how to think, and what kind of questions he should think about. When Socrates died,Plato began to write down the conversations that he had with people; he later wrote down his own thoughts and ideas. Not only did Plato become incredibly intelligent from the teachings of Socrates, he became the mentor of Aristotle. (Nardo,55)

Socrates was a great Athenian philosopher. He was born in the fifth century B.C., the golden age of Greece. Socrates didn't write down any of his own works. Other people, such as Plato, wrote down conversations that they heard him have with people.Socrates was put to death in 399 B.C. because he didn't believe in the Greek gods.(Kreeft)

Plato is the author of Meno. Plato is one of the greatest philosophers of all time. He was born in 429 B.C., this was around the time that Pericles died and Alexander the Great was born. Plato was born into a wealthy and aristocratic family in Athens.

The conversation of Meno was written in about 380 B.C.E. Meno took place around 402 B.C.E. The whole conversation of Meno began with Meno asking Socrates if virtue could be taught. Meno thinks of many possible definitions of virtue, but each one is ripped to shreds by the brilliant mind of Socrates.

"Important and recurring Platonic themes are introduced in the Meno, including the form of the Socratic dialogue itself. Socrates attempts to dissect an ethical term by questioning a person who claims to know the term's meaning, and eventually concludes that neither he nor the "expert" really know what the term means. Other important themes raised here in an early form include that of amanuensis (the idea that the soul is eternal, knows everything, and only has to "recollect" in order to learn) and that of virtue as a kind of wisdom." (source)

Meno is ended in such a way that is unsatisfying to the reader. All of the characters that Socrates it speaking to are completely perplexed. We now call this a state of Socratic aporia. By the end of Meno you still aren't sure what virtue is. Socrates never actually defines virtue; this is the reason for the implied Socratic aporia.

Kreeft, Peter. What Would Socrates Do?: The History of Moral Thought and Ethics (CD 2, Lecture 3-Being Good and Being Wise:Can Virtue Be Taught). New York, NY: Barnes and Noble, 2004.

Nardo, Don. Lost Civilizations:The Ancient Greeks. San Diego Ca: Lucent Books, 2001.

Advances in Ancient Greek Archiecture

The Greeks were known for their extravagant architectural design. Not only were the Greeks' designs beautiful and extremely detailed, they are the inspiration of many buildings, today. The most common materials used in Greek architecture were wood, unbaked brick, limestone, bronze, and marble. These building materials were used in the construction of religious, civic, domestic, funerary, and recreational buildings.(Nardo,28)

Most of the knowledge we have of Greek architecture, comes from 550-500 B.C., which is also known as the late archaic period. During this period, temples were built in numbers. There were three different types of architecture created during this time: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

An example of a Doric style building is the Parthenon in Athens. The Parthenon is a temple, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena. In 447 B.C., when the Athenian empire was at the height of its power, construction of the Parthenon began. The Parthenon was finally completed in 432 B.C. The Parthenon is a symbol of great power of Pericles,the Athenian politician.(Nardo,10)

The Erechtheum, an Ionic temple built in the middle classical period of Greece, sat upon the Acropolis of Athens. The construction time of the Erechtheum was about 16 years (421-405 B.C.). In this enormous temple, there were sanctuaries dedicated to Athena, Poseidon, and Erechtheus.

The Corinthian style of building, was used on temples and on the Roman capital. One temple it was used in was the temple of Zeus. This was not the only temple Corinthian order was used in, but perhaps the most notable. Corinthian order came into full bloom in the fourth century B.C. Corinthian order was the least used of all other orders used in Greece.

These are some examples of the advances in ancient Greek architecture.


Nardo, Don. Lost Civilizations:The Ancient Greeks. San Diego Ca: Lucent Books, 2001.

Nardo, Don. Living in Ancient Greece. Farmington Hills MI: Green Haven Press, 2004