วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 30 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2559

Atticus: Cicero’s Bestie

For Cicero (or anyone for that matter), navigating through the political labyrinth reeked as it is with treacherous opponents, two-faced hypocrites, deadly and venomous intrigues and faction-shifting must seem an insurmountable task, especially when you are a ‘new man’. In this toxic yet exhilarating world, it was of course a precious thing to have found for yourself a true, trustworthy and dependable companion. Atticus is one such companion who had always stood by Cicero's side.

Titus Pomponius Atticus was born in 109 BC to a non-political equestrian family and spent his early life at Rome. However, the civil war between Marius and Sulla drove him to seek a refuge in Athens in 86 BC where he immersed himself in his study and where Cicero became his acquaintance in 79 BC. He did not participate in politics, but was incredibly wealthy due to the fortune he inherited from his father and uncle who left him 2,000,000 sesterces and 10,000,000 sesterces respectively. This sum he cleverly expanded through judicious investments in real estate, so that he could fund his love of books and letters. He also maintained a team of slaves trained as copyists to copy ancient books and scrolls, and published many works including that of Cicero. In addition, Atticus also managed the business affairs of several distinguished political figures such as Cato and Hortensius, made loans to individuals and towns, and even had his own band of gladiators. Cicero’s brother, Quintus Cicero, was married to Atticus’ sister, Pomponia.

Upon his return to Rome in 65 BC, he abstained from all overt participation in politics in the adherence of his epicurean principle. Nonetheless, he was on intimate terms with members of all political parties. “As for you, although you are a born politician, you don’t owe anybody anything”, wrote an envious Cicero to Atticus in 55 BC when Cicero’s political career was thrown into confusion by the arrival of the first triumvirate of Pompey, Caesar and Crassus. Cicero was at that time in great debt to many personages, whereas Atticus was a politician not tied to anyone. Indeed, it is this lack of ideological concerns or obligations which serves to assist Atticus in his many political endeavors behind the scene. No man could have been more clever to avoid the treachery of politics while attempting to exert influence on it.

One of the great legacies this intimate relationship between Cicero and Atticus has passed down to us is their vast amount of correspondences.  During ups and downs of Cicero’s career, Atticus, who was away in Greece, was always kept abreast of what went on in Rome, from the intrigues of powerful men like Caesar, Pompey or Crassus, to the everyday turmoil and crises like gang wars between Clodius and Milo, and lastly the fall of the Republic. Moreover, Cicero often expressed his cares, concerns and wants in his letters, and even sought domestic, literary, financial and even political advice from his prudent friend, who was not even involved in politics!  These correspondences thus provide a priceless primary source of information of the events occurring at that time and allow historians to piece together and put the entire historical occurrence into its context. It is also through these correspondences that we are able to get a glimpse into the nature of friendship between these two figures. Indeed, there is no doubt both men valued this friendship highly and were always ready to afford each other assistance when the other was in dire situation, for instance, when Cicero was forced to flee Italy in 49 BC, Atticus generously granted him 250,000 sesterces. Another instance is when Atticus gave Cicero loans when he faced financial difficulties. This is recorded in Cicero’s letter to Atticus in 57 BC which I look upon as my own), as of your advice for collecting and restoring to a sound state the fragments that remain.” In turn, Atticus found it beneficial to act as Cicero’s financial agent, as Cicero’s letters of recommendation written for Atticus to the governors of provinces assisted the latter greatly.

Thus, it can be said that this is one of the most well-known and well recorded friendship of the ancient world. The amount of correspondences going on between Atticus and Cicero basically gave us a highly valuable insight into not just the nature of their friendship, but also into the nature of the Roman society in general.  


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