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Have you ever wondered how ancient non-Christians dealt with death? What follows is most of Ode 2.14 by the Roman poet Horace (56-8 BC) where he meditates on the transient nature of life and the harsh reality of death. It\u2019s very sobering, revealing and thought provoking, even for us moderns today. I came across it a few years ago in class about the transformation of Rome into a Christian city. Remember, this is looking at death without a Christian understanding of eternal life in Christ. I\u2019ve added a few comments in brackets giving short explanations to better understand the poem.<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAlas, Postumus, Postumus, <\/span><\/p>\nthe fleeting years are slipping by, <\/span><\/p>\nand devotion will not delay wrinkles, <\/span><\/p>\nthe onslaught of old age, and unconquered death,<\/span><\/p>\nnot even, my friend, if you try each day <\/span><\/p>\nto please dry-eyed Pluto with <\/span><\/p>\nthree hundred slaughtered bulls. <\/span><\/p>\n[Postumus is a person\u2019s name. Devotion (pietas) refers to devotion to the Gods. Pluto, the God of the underworld does not weep at your death and excessive sacrifices to him will not save you from death]<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHe keeps Geryon and Tityos in check
\n<\/span><\/p>\nbehind the gloomy stream,
\n<\/span><\/p>\nwhich must be crossed in every truth by all of us
\n<\/span><\/p>\nwho feed on the bounty of the earth,
\n<\/span><\/p>\nwhether we are kings or penniless sharecroppers.<\/span><\/p>\n[Geryone and Tityos are two giants that dwell in the underworld. The gloomy stream is crossed on a ferry by all the dead, wealthy and poor together, to enter the underworld]<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIn vain will we flee bloody Mars<\/span><\/p>\nand the broken waves of the hoarse Adriatic sea,<\/span><\/p>\nin vain each autumn will we avoid<\/span><\/p>\nthe south wind which harms our bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/p>
You must leave earth, home, and affectionate wife. <\/span><\/p>\nNone of those trees which you\u2019re tending <\/span><\/p>\nwill accompany you (their short-lived master), <\/span><\/p>\nexcept for the hated cypresses.<\/span><\/p>\n[Romans planted cypresses at cemeteries, hence only these accompany the dead]<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nYour heir, more worthy than you, will use up
\n<\/span><\/p>\nyour Caecuban wines, kept under a hundred locks;<\/span><\/p>\nhe will spill on the floor the proud wine,<\/span><\/p>\nbetter than that served at high priests\u2019 feasts.<\/span><\/p>\nAll pictures are mine, all rights reserved<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Have you ever wondered how ancient non-Christians dealt with death? What follows is most of Ode 2.14 by the Roman poet Horace (56-8 BC) where he meditates on the transient nature of life and the harsh reality of death. It\u2019s very sobering, revealing and thought provoking, even for us moderns today. I came across it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2533,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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