Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. Stearns, epicurus and lucretius on love, cj 31 1936 34351 the violence of lucretius attack on love is quite unepicurean, p. A5gow new yorit toronto iil80vrnt wiltllikgtom bombay calcutta ladras. Lucretiuss on the nature of things is not easy latin. On the nature of things lucretius harvard university press. Not only did lucretius write this more than 2,000 years ago, somehow his book managed to survive the fall of rome, the burning, looting and desecration of the. Imagination and thought are produced by means of images. In it, he set out to explicate the universe, embracing and refuting ideas of the great greek philosophers. Now as with all dilemmas, all forced choices this one, between dead matter bound by deterministic laws. On the northern side of the garden is a large service area formed by the inclusion of the house at no. Lucretius, on the nature of things loeb classical library.
Throughout the first three books of on the nature of the universe lucretius walks a thin line between philosophy, science and poetry. Arlt town gtoffrty cumberleg,publislur totnt univtrsity indiana university library south bend first published 1910 repriiited 1920, 1921, 1923 1924, 1928, 1936, 1946, 1948 priiititd iii great britain. The site was excavated in 1846 by english architect edward falkener. The antiquity of this book calls for respect and appreciation. Lucretius was born in 99 bc, and on the nature of things is his only surviving work. His birth date is not certain, and little is known of his parentage or birthplace. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. Epicureanism was a missionary philospohy, aiming to give man happiness by making him selfsufficient.
Description of the house reg v, ins 4, a, 11 the house of m. In the poem book, lucretius takes on the task of persuading people that they should not fear death. Highly educated, he belonged to the aristocratic sector of the tricipitini, which often emerged in positions of official status. I was in the midst of reading yet another book that referenced lucretius on the nature of things and thought i should stop and read lucretius words for myself. It is sweet, when winds trouble the waters on the great sea, to behold from land the distress of others, not because it is a pleasure that any should be afflicted, but because it is sweet to see from what evils you are yourself exempt.
If livy is easy and horace is hard, then lucretius is much closer to horace in difficulty. Henri bergson, the philosophy of poetry, the genius of lucretius translated and edited by wade baskin ny 1959. Still, lucretius lays out some of his principles in their strongest form. Merrill, the metrical technique of lucretius and cicero berkeley 1924. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Henri bergson, the philosophy of poetry, the genius of lucretius translated and edited by wade.
A volume which no student of lucretius, of the classics, of philosophic literature can afford to ignore. Buy the print book check if you have access via personal or institutional login. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Its a long 300 pages poem written in the first century bc in which the author pontificates about the physical sciences for the purpose of defending epicureanism philosophy. On the nature of the universe is a didactic epic poem. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Titus lucretius carus circa 99 bce circa 55 bce, often shortened to lucretius in an attempt to sound casual, was a roman philosopher who spent his life trying to popularize the ideas of epicurus in the roman world. More quotes from roman poet and philosopher titus lucretius carus c.
By protracting life, we do not deduct one jot from the duration of death. The internet classics archive on the nature of things by. It was later renamed after a portrait with the name of marcus lucretius was found painted on a wall there. Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. The poem is divided into six books or sections and. Lucretius fronto description of the house reg v, ins 4, a, 11 the house of m. The ultimate reality to lucretius is one which has been darkened by the veil of irrational superstition. The way things are by lucretius meet your next favorite book. So, if you know a little latin, but youre not really great at it, this compact volume with the latin on the lefthand page and the english on the right, is the book for you.
Originally patrician, the gens later included a number of plebeian families. The house lies close to the limits of the excavated area. The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the greek. Though often referred to as lucretius, his official name is titus lucretius carus. Sir ronald melvilles accessible and accurate verse translation is complemented by an introduction and notes situating lucretius scientific theories within the thought of 1st century bce rome and discussing the epicurean philosophy that was his inspiration and why the issues lucretius poem raisies about the scientific and poetical views of. What do you think a poet like lucretius, disillusioned with his city, and disappointed by corruption in his time, would do. Though often referred to as lucretius, his official na. Sep 19, 2011 not only did lucretius write this more than 2,000 years ago, somehow his book managed to survive the fall of rome, the burning, looting and desecration of the great libraries, a thousand years of. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines. Many comments have been posted about on the nature of things. Introduction to lucretius on the nature of things cyril baley o f the three great latin poets lucretius seems to make the most peculiar appeal to our own age. Lucretiuss optical theory and doctrines of how the senses work seem rather convoluted and bizarre. House of marcus lucretius fronto house, pompeii, italy.
In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek philosopher epicurus, with the aim of dispelling fear of. Other articles where house of marcus lucretius fronto is discussed. The house of marcus lucretius fronto is a small but elegant house of the roman imperial period. Lucretius argues that the gods are not actively involved in life, so need not be appe. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet classics archive.
Death is somewhat worrying for most people, but an attempt to tackle. The cambridge companion to lucretius edited by stuart. I will set out to discourse to you the ultimate realities of heaven and the gods. Oct 22, 2007 throughout the first three books of on the nature of the universe lucretius walks a thin line between philosophy, science and poetry. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. The gens lucretia was a prominent family of the roman republic. Book 6 lucretius ends his work with the same goal he had when he started book 1. Highly educated, he belonged to the aristocratic sector of the tricipitini, which often emerged in. And we ourselves indeed to make this book, and still to seek the nature of the world and set it down, when once discovered, here. Now it just so turns out that lucretius might just have put his finger, wo knowing it, on a phenomenon of selforganization in the noto rious doctrine of the swerve clinamen in book 2. I am amazed that someone who lived more than 2000 years ago could possess such a deep and complete understanding of our universe. Its a long 300 pages poem written in the first century.
In book 4 he sets out to prove once again that the universe is composed only of physical bits of matter called atoms and that gods did not create the cosmos nor do they intervene in human affairs. He describes the way we see things as images of things which are perpetually peeled off the surface of. Jan 26, 2016 lucretiuss optical theory and doctrines of how the senses work seem rather convoluted and bizarre. For sterile are these men by seed too thick, or else by. Jerome, a prominent roman clergyman writing four centuries after his death, wrote that a love potion had driven him insane and that lucretius had eventually committed suicide. With intense moral fervour lucretius demonstrates to humanity that in death there is nothing to fear since the soul is mortal, and the world and everything in it is governed not by the gods, but by the. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a. Book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi card. Lucretius fronto lies on the east side of the vicolo di lucrezio frontone, an alleyway pictured below off the north side of the via di nola. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek. The house of marcus lucretius was first excavated in 184647. Book summary views reflect the number of visits to the book and chapter landing pages. Oct 07, 2017 the house of marcus lucretius was initially named the house of the female musicians after a fresco in the entry hall.
This service area includes a room r with a flight of stairs to the upper floor pictured above and its own tablinum, atrium s and street access t at no. Leonard and smith lucretius university of wisconsin press 1942. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Oct 09, 2008 lucretius poem on the nature of the universe combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. The lucretii were one of the most ancient gentes, and the wife of numa pompilius, the second king of rome, was named. His aim was to free the roman world from its two great terrors. How does lucretius explain book 4 in on the nature. Consider the whole discussion of how the rooster emits certain particles which stab the pupils of the lion 4. However, for a modern reader it is very boring to read. The tablinum masters office is decorated in especially fine third pompeian, or egyptianizing, style, usually dated from the early empire to the earthquake. The house of marcus lucretius was initially named the house of the female musicians after a fresco in the entry hall. The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the greek philosopher epicurus. In book 4, lucretius discusses the senses and concludes with a section on love and lust. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning.
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