Plutarch on the Delay of the Divine JusticePlutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch on the Delay of the Divine Justice
Plutarch
Punishment -- Early works to 1800
He had what corresponds to our university education, at Athens, under
the Peripatetic philosopher Ammonius. He also visited Alexandria, then
a renowned seat of learning; but how long he stayed there, or whether
he extended his Egyptian travel beyond that city, we have no means of
knowing. There is no proof of his having been in Rome or in Italy more
than once, and that was when he was about forty years of age. He went
to Rome on public business, probably in behalf of his native city,
and remained there long enough to become acquainted with some eminent
men, to make himself known as a scholar and an ethical philosopher,
and to deliver lectures that attracted no little public notice. This
visit seems to have been the great event of his life, as a winter spent
in Boston or New York used to be in the life of one of our country
gentlemen before the time of railways.
He had a wife, who appears to have been of a character kindred to his
own; at least five children, of whom two sons, if not more, lived to
be themselves substantial citizens and worthy members of society;
and two brothers, who seem to have possessed his full confidence and
warm affection. He was singularly happy in his relations to a large
circle of friends, especially in Athens, for which he had the lifelong
love that students in our time acquire for a university town. He was
archon, or mayor, of Cheroneia, probably more than once,—the office
having doubtless been annual and elective,—and in this capacity he
entered, like a veritable country magistrate, into material details of
the public service, superintending, as he says, the measuring of tiles
and the delivery of stone and mortar for municipal uses. He officiated
for many years as priest of Apollo at Delphi, and as such gave several
sumptuous entertainments. Indeed, hospitality of this sort appears, so
far as we can see, to have been the sole or chief duty of his priestly
office. As an adopted citizen of one of the Athenian tribes, he was not
infrequently a guest at civic banquets and semi-civic festivals.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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