Memacterión , Deutero the month ends, year 2 of the 100 Olympiad
De Athenodorus to Herágenes, greetings.
Χα ῖ ρε, Herágenes, old friend!
this be another of those letters on my desk patiently wait for the auspicious day for departure, as will all future until the reopening of trade routes. It does not matter too much, the very idea that read them and write the very fact comfort me enough. On the other hand, I am old to trust in my memory and I prefer to write when events are still fresh in it if it helps me Mnemosyne and her daughters have a good visit.
Paso, then, in this peaceful DYSIS and before Selene fit entirely in place in the firmament, relatarte everything in this our ancient Athens has happened worth mentioning. You know, even if your absence is already long, that Memacterión a month is not exactly characterized by the abundance of social events and major festivals . After the festival Proerosias last month the feast of the first plowing, for the goddesses of Eleusis protect the crop and the seed may flourish , it is quieting Stormy Zeus to have kindly give us a calm autumn and few storms that can damage the field or, it must be said, to punish my old bones, which do not support the humidity of this season. The Zeus Maimaktes Pompa, our chthonic Zeus and agriculture, was held last Decat the last decade of the month . And as if Zeus himself Serna was in a position favorable Helios was amazing and Pompa uneventful: they were leading the procession, carrying the Hieróforos Koidion God (Zeus the fleece), the sacrificial lamb and other holy objects , they followed the Archon Basileus and liturgist , girls ending procession of famous families as canephorus with baskets full of flowers . When the bubble came to the temple, the liturgist raised their prayers to God as the Archon Basileus purified the victim with lustral water. The lamb for slaughter went to their doom without hesitation and the participants kept a respectful silence when the Archon Basileus killed it with his dagger. What more could you want? He probably liked to Zeus because he still enjoyed his mercy and Helios bonanza that raised when the Thunderer permits.
your memory has always been very good, so remember, surely, that it was not the only event of the month. The next day was carried out festival in remembrance of those killed in the battle of Platea and, yes, old friend, he made the old fashioned way. They have taken shape, at least not yet, the winds of reform are breathing even before your departure. What did they say? Ah, yes, I remember! They said they had long passed since Thucydides relates in his book, The Peloponnesian War, that day of mourning in which Pericles himself praised the courage of the fallen and the parents whose children had perished in that battle ; much it had rained, they said, no sense to do exactly what was done then, we had to subtract emotion that Athens could not live in the past ... Memec! Fortunately we still have politicians who value importance of that battle and the fact that it was the blood of our young people that, watering the fields of Plataea, make possible the final victory against the Persians . Well deserved, therefore, to be remembered with dignity, even if it means plunging into tears a thousand times. And so, Herágenes, my friend. Athens plunged into deep mourning in memory of those brave just the day after the joy that was the Zeus Maimaktes bubble. According to ancient custom, the coffins were exposed, which once housed the bones of the fallen, and all who would be approached with offerings to fill them. When the time came the funeral, each of the tribes carried the coffin in cars due to it, one per tribe, and an empty bed, fully prepared: that of the missing could not be found and collected, to the grave public were available to them outside the city . took part in the tour he wanted, but I assure you, Herágenes, virtually the entire city was present, was much the crowd. As the procession reached the foot of the tomb, placed in boxes filled with earth and flower beds were empty and who, recalling his ancestors, he wept and mourned deeply. It gave a speech of praise which fell after preliminary vote in a venerable old man, an octogenarian whom the gods have granted long life, grandson of one of those killed. It was so emotional, Herágenes, which moved the crowd dispersed and in deep silence and respect for what he had heard. You know how difficult it may be that in a city as noisy as Athens.
And a little more I can already tell, except that harbor the hope that return some day soon, to your country where you still expect your family and friends. I hope the Fates allow us the match. But for now, is Hypnos that round me and this tired body needs rest.
Goodbye, friend, and Tyche you smile. 
0 comments:
Post a Comment