Philodemus, On Death

Writings from the Greco-Roman World #29

by W. Benjamin Henry (Translator), Philodemus

On Death, by the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus of Gadara, is among the most significant philosophical treatments of the theme surviving from the Greco-Roman world. The author was an influential figure in first-century B.C.E. Roman society, associated with poets such as Virgil and politicians such as the father-in-law of Julius Caesar. The surviving copies of his treatises were carbonized following the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 C.E. This edition contains the Greek text, newly reconstituted with the help of the infrared imaging technology that has revolutionized the study of Philodemus's works in the twenty-first century, and completely translated into English for the first time. An extensive introduction provides background on Philodemus and his writings, accompanying notes enrich the text, and forty-four pages of photographs illustrate the papyrus manuscript from which the translation is drawn.

Genres: Philosophy

194 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Alan Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely consoling wisdom from the Herculaneum collection.

"But persons of sound mind, even if as a result of some compelling cause they become unmindful of the fact that the finishing-line of life may immediately meet with them, still when it comes into view, they survey with a great speed that cannot be described to those unfamiliar with it both the fact that they have enjoyed everything and the fact that complete unconsciousness is taking hold of them, and expire as undauntedly as they would if their application of the mind had not been wanting even for the briefest period."

- Philodemus, On Death, 39.15-25