The Roman Gaius

Fr. 106

       Ὧδε[. . . .]γείνεσθε Πανελλάδος, ὧδε τελέ[σ]σαι

    Fr. 106 Harder (= 106 Pf., = 209 + 210 Mass.) P.Mil.Vogl. I 18
       col. V 25 [image], 
    Trismegistos 59371

    This is a tale about a Roman, Gaius, who when wounded in the thigh during a battle against the Peucetii, complained of his limp, but was admonished by his mother to behave with greater fortitude. The exact Roman context is much debated, and possibly did not even exist. Similar anecdotes are told about the Spartans and also of Alexander to his father Philip (Plutarch, On the Fortunes of Alexander 331b). The identification of the Peucetians is debated, possibly the Etrucans.

     

    Bibliography

    Pohlenz, Max. 1935, ‘Der Römer Gaius bei Kallimachos.’ Philologus 44:120-2.

    Fr. 106

    γείνομαι: be born; to beget

    Πανελλάς -άδος, ἡ: all Greece, the whole of Greece

    τελέω, fut. τελέσω, aor. ἐτέλεσσα or τέλεσσα: fulfill, accomplish, perform, finish 

    Fr. 107a Harder (= Diegesis V 25-32; 1, 110 Pf.) P.Mil.Vogl. I 18 col. V 25-32 [image], Trismegistos 59371

           Ὧδε [. . . .]γείνεσθε Πανελλάδος, ὧδε τελέ[σ]σαι

                   Φ[η]σὶ Πευκετίων προσκαθημένων [τ]οῖς

                   τείχεσι τῆς Ῥώμης τῶν Ῥωμαίων Γά-

                   ϊον ἐναλλόμενον καταβαλεῖν τὸν

    5            [ἐ]κείνων ἡγούμενον, τρωθῆναι δὲ εἰς

                   τὸν μηρόν· μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐπὶ τῷ σκάζειν

                   δυσφορήσαντα παύσασθαι τῆς ἀθυμίας

                   ὑπὸ τῆς μητρὸς ἐπιπληχθέντα.

       

    As you were...the whole of Greece...thus accomplish

         He says that when the Peucetians were besieging

         the walls of Rome, one of the Romans, Gaius,

         attacked and killed their leader,

         but was wounded in5

         the thigh. After this, he was upset that he limped,

         but stopped being despondant

         when reproached by his mother.

     

    Bibliography

    Treves, P. 1943. "Review of Walbank: Philip V of Macedon" Journal of Hellenic Studies 63:117-20.

    Fr. 106

    As you were...the whole of Greece...so accomplish...

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    Suggested Citation

    Susan Stephens, Callimachus: Aetia. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2015. ISBN: 978-1-947822-07-8.https://dcc.dickinson.edu/callimachus-aetia/book-4/roman-gaius