If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need*

by chuckofish

Those wonderful Romans of the late Republic and early Empire were a sophisticated lot. They had artistic talent

Garden fresco from Livia’s villa at Prima Porta

or at least the taste to recognize it.

Garden room detail

Although it was a turbulent time, some people had their priorities straight. Take Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC), for example. An old-school intellectual and statesman, he understood the importance of reading,

“Read at every pause; read at all hours; read within leisure; read in times of labor; read as one goes in; read as one goes out. The task of the educated mind is simply put: read to lead.”

and of books.

“For books are more than books, they are the life, the very heart and core of ages past, the reason why men worked and died, the essence and quintessence of their lives.”

He also realized that if the Republic were to last, its citizens must know their history.

“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?”

I could quote on and on, but you get my drift. Aside from technology, there’s nothing new under the sun — or at least not much new since Roman times. Unfortunately, the classics are no longer considered ‘relevant’ and have dropped out of most school curricula. Did they fill the resulting void with something equally wise and useful? I think not.

Why not get curious and read some of the Latin classics? There’s so much to choose from, including The Aenead, Caesar’s Gallic Wars, Catullus’ love poetry (not my thing), Livy’s History of Rome (wonderful, wonderful storytelling), Ovid’s Metamorphosis (kinky myths), Plautus’ comedies (middle Republic), and loads of stoic philosophy. In other words, there’s something for everyone. But if you don’t have any literature handy, you can always watch Gladiator, which, though not historically accurate, kind of gets the flavor right.

In any case, have a wonderful weekend!

*Cicero