Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
_Solution._ Is it because the Latins call a breast _ruma_,
and that tree (as they say) is called _ruminalis_ under which the
she-wolf drew forth her breast to Romulus? And as we call those women
that bring up children with milk from the breast breast-women, so did
Rumina—who was a wet nurse, a dry nurse, and a rearer of children—not
permit wine, as being hurtful to the infants.
_Question 58._ Why do they call some senators Patres Conscripti,
and others only Patres?
_Solution._ Is not this the reason, that those that were first
constituted by Romulus they called Patres and Patricians, as being
gentlemen who could show their pedigree; but those that were elected
afterwards from among the commonalty they called Patres Conscripti?
_Question 59._ Why was one altar common to Hercules and the Muses?
_Solution._ Was it because Hercules taught letters first to
Evander’s people, as Juba tells us? And it was esteemed an honorable
action of those that taught their friends and relations; for it was
but of late that they began to teach for hire. The first that opened a
grammar school was Spurius Carbilius, a freeman of Carbilius, the first
that divorced his wife.
_Question 60._ What is the reason that, of Hercules’s two altars,
the women do not partake or taste of the things offered on the greater?
_Solution._ Is it not because Carmenta’s women came too late for
the sacrifices? The same thing happened also to the Pinarii; whence
they were excluded from the sacrificial feast, and fasting while others
were feasting, they were called Pinarii (from πεινάω). Or is it upon
the account of that fabulous story of the coat and Dejaneira?
_Question 61._ What is the reason that it’s forbidden to
mention, enquire after, or name the chief tutelary and guardian God
of Rome, whether male or female?—which prohibition they confirm with
a superstitious tradition, reporting that Valerius Soranus perished
miserably for uttering that name.
_Solution._ Is this the reason (as some Roman histories tell us),
that there are certain kinds of evocations and enchantments, with which
they are wont to entice away the Gods of their enemies, and to cause
theirs to come and dwell with them; and they feared lest this mischief
should befall them from others? As the Tyrians are said to bind fast
their images with cords, but others, when they will send any of them
to washing or purifying, require sureties for their return; so did the
Romans reckon they had their God in most safe and secure custody, he
being unexpressible and unknown? Or, as Homer hath versified,
The earth all Gods in common have?[160]
that men might worship and reverence all Gods that have the earth in
common, so did the ancient Romans obscure the Lord of their Salvation,
requiring that not only this but all Gods should be reverenced by the
citizens?
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