An epigram for Ablabius

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ahmed_crow
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An epigram for Ablabius

Postby ahmed_crow » 2018-10-22, 11:03

This's an epigram by Ablabius but I couldn't understand it, what does it mean?

"Saturni aurea saecla quis requirat?
Sunt haec gemmea, sed Neroniana."

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Re: An epigram for Ablabius

Postby Bubulus » 2018-12-03, 6:36

ahmed_crow wrote:This's an epigram by Ablabius but I couldn't understand it, what does it mean?

"Saturni aurea saecla quis requirat?
Sunt haec gemmea, sed Neroniana."

I recently found an explanation of this somewhat famous epigram (if only because it's the first in the PHI texts) and posted it in another forum. Let me quote myself:
Ser wrote:The context the epigram is found in (Sidonius Apollinaris' Epistulae 5.8.2) is:

Ut mihi non figuratius Constantini domum vitamque videatur vel pupugisse versu gemello consul Ablabius vel momordisse disticho tali clam Palatinis foribus appenso: "Saturni aurea saecla quis requirat? Sunt haec gemmea, sed Neroniana", quia scilicet praedictus Augustus isdem fere temporibus extinxerat coniugem Faustam calore balnei, filium Crispum frigore veneni.

Edward Courtney in The Fragmentary Latin Poets (2003) says it is the 4th century consul, who has this Wikipedia article. The "Neroniana" bit is apparently a reference to Nero's poisoning of Britannicus and execution of his wife Claudia Octavia via suffocation in a hot bath, making parallels with Constantine's poisoning of his son Crispus and suffocation of Fausta.

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Re: An epigram for Ablabius

Postby ahmed_crow » 2020-03-01, 20:46

Thank you, forgive that I'm late.

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Re: An epigram for Ablabius

Postby vijayjohn » 2022-02-22, 23:54

I'm sure you're fine. :P


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