Posts: 4,483
Threads: 634
Joined: Aug 2005
Reputation:
0
Picking up a clue from a different thread, I remembered a talk I once had with a man who had translated Herodotus. We both agreed that when we were dead, we would love to meet the author of the Histories. So here's the question: who would you like to meet? My list (right now):
Herodotus;
Aristotle;
the author of Job;
Seleucus Nicator;
Pliny the Elder;
Marcus Aurelius;
Synesius of Cyrene.
I hesitate about Alexander and Jesus - it's hard to express why, but the Greek deinos covers it more or less: they were great, impressive, terrible, inspiring - all at the same time. I think I would be unable to speak to them, although I would like to see them from a distance.
[size=75:4ylb7gcs][Edit: spelling error][/size]
Jona Lendering
Relevance is the enemy of history
My website
Posts: 1,568
Threads: 207
Joined: Jul 2001
Reputation:
0
All four of my great grandfathers.. Only met one, but I was about 4 and all I remember is sitting on his bed, Mom later said it was a vigil as he was dying. surprised I had any recollection, and the sound of someone playing a penny whistle, though she said that was probably at his wake.
After that?
Hibernicus
Hibernicus
LEGIO IX HISPANA, USA
You cannot dig ditches in a toga!
[url:194jujcw]http://www.legio-ix-hispana.org[/url]
A nationwide club with chapters across N America
Posts: 1,513
Threads: 210
Joined: Aug 2008
Reputation:
1
There are so many to choose from, so I'll just try to pick a couple.
Socrates - was he really that impressive? What was he like?
Marcus Aurelius - my favourite emperor, and one of my favourite philosophers. I also have a lot of questions about his campaigns.
Brutus - what was the founding of the Republic like? What really happened? (Assuming, of course, that he was a real person and the early stories can be trusted.)
Caesar - so many questions! About his goals, dreams, campaigns, views on the res publica...
Posts: 1,550
Threads: 81
Joined: Oct 2006
Reputation:
49
Neat idea!
Epicurus and Gaius Gracchus would be interesting. Of course, Caesar, Gracchus, etc. have had a long time to convince themselves of what they were 'really' trying to do! (But maybe you can't reprogram your own memory in the Elysian Fields?) Cyrus the Great of Persia would be interesting, because we know so little about him.
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
Posts: 15,116
Threads: 415
Joined: Mar 2002
Reputation:
78
It would be nice to meet some ancient people, but I guess their body odour would be repulsive to our modern noses (excluding the Romans, probably).. Also, most of them would probably be a bit uglier than reflected in most statues or portraits. It would diminish our images of their greatness somewhat, I fear. :?
Besides, we would not understand one word of what they would have to say to us!!
Quote:All four of my great grandfathers..
You had four grandfathers? Wow...
Posts: 556
Threads: 28
Joined: Aug 2007
Reputation:
0
Great grandfathers, not grandfathers being great. :lol:
Valete,
Titvs Statilivs Castvs - Sander Van Daele
LEG XI CPF
COH VII RAET EQ (part of LEG XI CPF)
MA in History
Posts: 7,668
Threads: 117
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation:
0
:lol:
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
Posts: 7,668
Threads: 117
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation:
0
Well, Jesus of Nazareth and Paul of Tarsus would be at the top of my list.
Lee Harvey Oswald maybe, and question him for his source for Magic Bullets. :wink: Personally, I don't think he was the shooter, but that's getting close to off-off topic.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
Posts: 15,116
Threads: 415
Joined: Mar 2002
Reputation:
78
Quote:Great grandfathers, not grandfathers being great. :lol:
I think I was a bit tired when writing that... 
Posts: 3,817
Threads: 147
Joined: Dec 2001
Reputation:
2
You know, I think I'd like to meet Jesus too...just to see what all the hububs about. lol See what the real guy is like.
____________________________________________________________
Magnus/Matt
Du Courage Viens La Verité
Legion: TBD
Posts: 346
Threads: 63
Joined: May 2007
Reputation:
0
Epictetus\\n[quote]There are so many to choose from, so I'll just try to pick a couple.
Socrates - was he really that impressive? What was he like?
quote] Well hes a little busy to meet. But you can follow his presidential campaign @ freewebs.com/socratpres :wink:
M. Demetrius\\n[quote]Well, Jesus of Nazareth and Paul of Tarsus would be at the top of my list.
quote] You remind me of an experience at space camp. an astronaut was speaking. We had the opprotunity to meet him. This counselor for older campers said "who ever dosent want to meet him, come here." then, one of her campers said "I WANNA MEET JESUS!" then she said, "well jesus is over here, so if you want to meet him, come here."
Dan/Anastasios of Sparta/Gaius Statilius Rusticus/ Gaius Germanicus Augustus Flavius Romulus Caesar Tiberius Caelius (Imperator :twisted: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_twisted.gif" alt=":twisted:" title="Twisted Evil" />:twisted: )
Yachts and Saabs are for whimps!
Real men have Triremes and Chariots 8) <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="8)" title="Cool" />8) !
Quote:I hesitate about Alexander and Jesus - it's hard to express why, but the Greek deinos covers it more or less: they were great, impressive, terrible, inspiring - all at the same time. I think I would be unable to speak to them, although I would like to see them from a distance.
[size=75:2r5agxyi][Edit: spelling error][/size]
i have to agree. i would love to meet all the people mentioned here. but .... then what?
and would i have to wait in line for others that wanted to meet them too? would there be a time limit on the meeting? :?
call me simple, but i havent got any profound questions to ask any of them.... except maybe to challenge them to a game of Monopoly lol that's always been a good way to get to know someone's true personality! :wink:
Posts: 188
Threads: 10
Joined: Aug 2007
Reputation:
0
I would hesitate about meeting Jesus, as well. Don't get me wrong - I'm a Christian, but I would probably do something completely asinine. Even though he would immediately forgive me, I would nevertheless feel like a jackass.
J. Caesar, Augustus, Basil II, Godfrey de Bouillon, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt; the list could go on and on. I'd probably just stare at all of them, slack-jawed and drooling.
John Baker
Justice is the constant and perpetual wish to render to every one his due.
- Institutes, bk. I, ch. I, para. I
Posts: 4,483
Threads: 634
Joined: Aug 2005
Reputation:
0
Quote:I would hesitate about meeting Jesus, as well. Don't get me wrong - I'm a Christian, but I would probably do something completely asinine. Even though he would immediately forgive me, I would nevertheless feel like a jackass.
Quote:i would love to meet all the people mentioned here. but .... then what?
Which reminds me of the story about Andy Warhol, who got -from Edie Sedgwick, if I recall correctly- a telephone, which he could use to talk to God. Warhol replied, almost desperately: "But I have nothing to say to God". I think I agree; if God would answer all our questions, part of the fun of our quest for the meaning of it all would be spoiled.
I already mentioned the author of Job, who presents us with a God who replies to Job's call, starts a serious talk with him, but does not give a straight answer. I think any straight answer would have made Job's life meaningless, because he had no questions left.
On a more mundane level: I'd love to meet Herodotus, Aristotle, Seleucus, Pliny the Elder, Marcus Aurelius, and Synesius of Cyrene.
Jona Lendering
Relevance is the enemy of history
My website
Quote:On a more mundane level: I'd love to meet Herodotus, Aristotle, Seleucus, Pliny the Elder, Marcus Aurelius, and Synesius of Cyrene.
you'll all laugh at me but i swear..... i was just beginning The Histories.. and chose a bad time to do it. i was exhausted and fell asleep in the middle of the first page, slouched in my chair, one eye open still trying to read before i was unconcious - and at THAT moment i swear to GOD i heard someone actual yell at me to "Put the D*mn Book down and go to sleep!" and in my mind i saw a bearded man in a toga giving me the nastiest look :x
So you might say i've met Herodotus and i dont think i like him very much :?
needless to say i did put the book down and took a proper nap.
|
