Herodes Atticus Mourned Three Foster Sons With Plethora of Sculptures

Summary: Herodes Atticus mourned three foster sons with a plethora of sculptures, which occasioned censure from the Quintilii brothers as proconsuls.

Polydeukes numbered as one of three favorite students adopted as foster sons by Herodes Atticus; Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, 16:41, image of ca. 165 CE marble bust of Polydeukes; Altes Museum (English: Old Museum), Museum Island (German: Museumsinsel), northern Spree Island, historic central Berlin, northeastern Germany: Ophelia2, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Herodes Atticus mourned three foster sons, Achilles, Memnon and Polydeukes, with a plethora of sculptures, which was censured as extravagant by the Quintilii brothers, Condianus and Maximus, during their proconsulships.

Herodes Atticus (Ancient Greek: Ἡρώδης ὁ Ἀττικός; Roman name: Lucius Vibullius Hipparchus Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes; 101-177 CE), a wealthy Athenian Greek rhetorician and statesman with Roman citizenship, was an exemplar of the Second Sophistic (Ancient Greek: Δεύτερη Σοφιστική, Défteri Sofistikí), according to Roman Imperial period Greek sophist Philostratus (Ancient Greek: Φιλόστρατος Philostratos; ca. 170-245/250 CE) in The Lives of the Sophists (Greek: Βίοι σοϕιστῶν; Latin: Vitae Sophistarum), published circa 230 to 238 CE. Ancient sophistic dated to the fifth century BCE with Gorgias of Leontini (Ancient Greek: Γοργίας ὁ Λεοντίνος) as founder. Philostratus credited Aeschines (Ancient Greek: Αἰσχίνης, Aischínēs; 389-314 BCE with the founding of the Second Sophistic in the fourth century BCE (Philostratus; Emily Wilmer Cave France Wright translation, 1922; Book II.481, pages 6-7).

"Now ancient sophistic, even when it propounded philosophical themes, used to discuss them diffusely and at length; for it discoursed on courage, it discoursed on justice, on the heroes and gods, and how the universe has been fashioned into its present," summarized Philostratus.

Contrastingly, the Second Sophistic ". . . sketched the types of the poor man and the rich, of princes and tyrants, and handled arguments that are concerned with definite and special themes for which history shows the way," Philostratus explained.

Despite his sophistic training and his career as a teacher, however, Herodes Atticus was known for unbalancing his philosophy of moderation and self-control with excessive expressions of grief and with grief-motivated sprees of memorializing of deceased loved ones. After the murder of his eight months pregnant wife, Regilla (full name: Appia Annia Regilla Atilia Caucidia Tertulla; 125-160 CE), a crime for which he was charged and acquitted, Herodes Atticus darkened his house with black decor and made numerous dedications in her name in Greece and Italy.

Philosophical close friend Lucius unsuccessfully tried to reach Herodes Atticus through reason. "Herodes, in every matter that which is enough is limited by the golden mean, and I have often discoursed on it myself; and, moreover, I used to hear you also, at Olympia, commending the golden mean to the Greeks, and at that time you would even exhort rivers to keep their course in mid channel between their banks. But what has now become of all this advice? For you have lost your self-control, and are acting in a way that we must needs deplore, since you risk your great reputation" (Emily Wilmer Cave France Wright translation, 1922; Book II.557, pages 160-163).

A sarcastic ridicule uttered by Lucius finally quenched Herodes Atticus's displays of extreme grief. White radishes in a black house insulted Regilla, Lucius mocked (Emily Wilmer Cave France Wright translation, 1922; Book II.557, pages 162-163).

A later outpouring of uncontrolled grief, however, was not quenched. In this instance, Herodes Atticus refused to relinquish his emotional overwhelm.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016, 17:23, image of marble busts of Polydeukes (left) and Herodes Atticus (right), found at Herodes Atticus's villa at Kifissia, northeast of Athens, western Attic peninsula; Athens Stone Sculpture Gallery, National Archaeological Museum of Greece, Athens, Greece: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication, via Wikimedia Commons

As a teacher, Herodes Atticus favored three students. His favoritism of Achilles, Memnon and Polydeukes extended to adopting them as foster sons. Their youthful deaths unleashed Herodes Atticus's unbridled grief, so that ". . . he mourned them as though they had been his own children, since they were highly honourable youths, noble-minded and fond of study, a credit to their upbringing in his house" (Emily Wilmer Cave France Wright translation, 1922; Book II.558-559, pages 164-167).

Herodes Atticus commemorated the three with sculptures of them in various stages of hunting. He had the sculptures installed at his villas in Greece.

Herodes Atticus owned three lavish villas in Greece, according to Welsh author, graphic artist and photographer David John in "Herodes Atticus" on his online travel guide, My Favourite Planet. Two were in Attica (Greek: Αττική), at Marathon (Greek: Μαραθών), west of Athens in eastern Attica, and Kifissia (Greek: Κηφισιά) northeast of Athens in western Attica. The third was in the Peloponnese (Greek: Πελοπόννησος), at Loukou (Greek: Λουκούς), known as the ancient settlement of Eva or Eua (Greek: Εύα), North Kynouria or Vóreia Kynouría (Greek: Βόρεια, Κυνουρία), eastern Arcadia (Greek: Αρκαδία), eastern Peloponnese peninsula.

"Accordingly he put up statues of them hunting, having hunted, and about to hunt, some in his shrubberies, others in the fields, others by springs or in the shade of plane-trees, not hidden away, but inscribed with execrations on any one who should pull down or move them. Nor would he have exalted them thus, had he not known them to be worthy of his praises" (Emily Wilmer Cave France Wright translation, 1922; Book II.558-559, pages 166-167).

Herodes Atticus was a neighbor, at mile marker three, of the Quintilii brothers, Sextus Quintilius Condianus and Sextus Quintilius Maximus, at mile marker five, on Rome's Via Appia. Yet, neighborhood does not connote neighborliness, for Herodes Atticus considered that the Quintilii's Trojan descent should disqualify them from "the highest honours" (Emily Wilmer Cave France Wright translation, 1922; Book II.559, pages 166-167).

Accordingly, Herodes Atticus ignored the Quintilii brothers' censure of his plethoric sculptural installations as "an extravagance" during their proconsulships ca 168-170 CE. The sculpture-obsessed memorializer ". . . retorted: 'What business is it of yours if I amuse myself with my poor marbles?'"

Memnon the Ethiopian numbered among the three favorite students adopted as foster sons by Herodes Atticus; Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, 22:50, image of marble portrait of Memnon, found near Loukou, Greece, and donated in 1899; Roman Gallery, Altes Museum, Museum Island, northern Spree Island, historic central Berlin, northeastern Germany: Gary Todd, CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Polydeukes numbered as one of three favorite students adopted as foster sons by Herodes Atticus; Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, 16:41, image of ca. 165 CE marble bust of Polydeukes; Altes Museum (English: Old Museum), Museum Island (German: Museumsinsel), northern Spree Island, historic central Berlin, northeastern Germany: Ophelia2, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Altes_Museum_-_Büste_des_Polydeukion.jpg

Wednesday, July 20, 2016, 17:23, image of marble busts of Polydeukes (left) and Herodes Atticus (right), found at Herodes Atticus's villa at Kifissia, northeast of Athens, western Attic peninsula; Athens Stone Sculpture Gallery, National Archaeological Museum of Greece, Athens, Greece: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marble_Busts_of_Polydeukion,_c._150_AD_(left)_%26_Herodes_Atticus_(Athenian_Sophist,_right),_Both_Found_at_Kiphisia,_Attica,_Middle_2nd_Cent._AD_(28215241310).jpg; Gary Todd (Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D.), Public Domain, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/101561334@N08/28215241310/

Memnon the Ethiopian numbered among the three favorite students adopted as foster sons by Herodes Atticus; Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, 22:50, image of marble portrait of Memnon, found near Loukou, Greece, and donated in 1899; Roman Gallery, Altes Museum, Museum Island, northern Spree Island, historic central Berlin, northeastern Germany: Gary Todd, CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Memnon_the_Ethiopian_(detail).jpg

For further information:

Borg, Barbara E. "Herodes Atticus in Rome: The Triopion Reconsidered." Pages 317-330. In: Catherine M. Draycott, Rubina Raja, Katherine Welch and William T. Wootton, eds., Visual Histories of the Classical World: Essays in Honour of R.R.R. Smith. Studies in Classical Archaeology, vol. 4. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers, 2018.
Available via ResearchGate @ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340655030_Herodes_Atticus_in_Rome_The_Triopion_reconsidered_in_C_M_Draycott_R_Raja_K_Welch_and_W_T_Wootton_eds_Visual_Histories_of_the_Classical_World_Essays_in_Honour_of_RRR_Smith_Turnhout_Brepols_2019_317-30

Gleason, Maud W. "Making Space for Bicultural Identity: Herodes Atticus Commemorates Regilla." In: Walter Scheidel and Brent Shaw, eds., Princeton/Stanford Working Papers in Classics Paper No. 070801. July 1, 2008.
Available via SSRN (Social Science Research Network) @ https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1427349

Gleason, Maud W. "Making Space for Bicultural Identity: Herodes Atticus Commemorates Regilla." Pages 125-162. In: Tim Whitmarsh, ed., Local Knowledge and Microidentities in the Imperial Greek World. (Cambridge University Press, 2010) 125-162.
Available via Academia @ https://www.academia.edu/8957440/_Making_Space_for_Bicultural_Identity_Herodes_Atticus_Commemorates_Regilla_in_T_Whitmarsh_ed_Local_Knowledge_and_Microidentities_in_the_Imperial_Greek_World_Cambridge_University_Press_2010_125_162

John, David. "Herodes Atticus." My Favourite Planet > English > People.
Available @ http://www.my-favourite-planet.de/english/people/h1/herodes-atticus.html

Lambert, Royston. "3 Robert 1979, 160-5, Polydeukes died in 173-4 when Herodes Atticus was about 73. Vermeule, 1960, 7; H. Weber, 145-6." Page 262. Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous. Notes and References, pages 244-276; Chapter Eleven, pages 262-263. First published in Great Britain by George Weidenfeld & Nicolson Limited in 1984. London: Phoenix Giant, 1997.
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/belovedgodstoryo0000lamb/page/262/mode/1up

Lambert, Royston. ". . . . The aged Herodes Atticus in a public paroxysm of despair at the loss of his eromenos, Polydeukes, commissioned games, inscriptions and sculptures on a lavish scale and then died, inconsolable, shortly afterwards." Page 143. Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous. Chapter XI Life Eternal 130-31, pages 143-154 First published in Great Britain by George Weidenfeld & Nicolson Limited in 1984. London: Phoenix Giant, 1997
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/belovedgodstoryo0000lamb/page/143/mode/1up

Marriner, Derdriu. "Did Herodes Atticus Genuinely or Fakely Grieve for His Murdered Wife?" Earth and Space News. May 18, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/did-herodes-atticus-genuinely-or-fakely.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Did Herodes Atticus Have Eight Months Pregnant Wife, Regilla, Killed?" Earth and Space News. May 11, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/did-herodes-atticus-have-eight-months.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Herodes Atticus Dedicated Odeon at Acropolis in 161 CE to Murdered Wife." Earth and Space News. Thursday, July 6, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/07/herodes-atticus-dedicated-odeon-at.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Herodes Atticus's Wife's Ancestral Estate Was Near Quintilii's Villa." Earth and Space News. Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/herodes-atticuss-wifes-ancestral-estate.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Herodes Built Empty Tomb of Regilla at Triopion as Memorial, Not Tomb." Earth and Space News. Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Available @

Marriner, Derdriu. "Marcus Aurelius Liking Trojan Quintilii Brothers Upset Herodes Atticus." Earth and Space News. Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/04/marcus-aurelius-liking-trojan-quintilii.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Within Five Years of His Wife's Murder, Herodes Grieved His Daughters." Earth and Space News. Thursday, May 25, 2023.
Available @

Pomeroy, Sarah B. The Murder of Regilla: A Case of Domestic Violence in Antiquity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2007.
Available via Google Books @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Murder_of_Regilla/UsUJS9g6qHgC

Rife, Joseph L. "The Burial of Herodes Atticus: Élite Identity, Urban Society, and Public Memory in Roman Greece." The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 128 (2008): 92-127.
Available via JSTOR @ https://www.jstor.org/stable/40651725

Robert, Louis. "Deux Inscriptions De L'Époque Imperiale En Attique." The American Journal of Philology, vol. 100, no. 1, Tekmhpion: A Special Issue in Honor of James Henry Oliver (Spring 1979): 153-165 (13 pages).
Available via JSTOR @ https://www.jstor.org/stable/294235

Sir John Soane's Museum. "Portrait bust of Polydeukes, favourite of Herodes Atticus." Sir John Soane's Museum > Collections.
Available @ http://collections.soane.org/object-m517

Strazdins, Estelle. "Five: Commemoration Embodied." Pages 194-246. Fashioning the Future in Roman Greece: Memory, Monuments, Texts. Part II: Textual Monuments and Monumental Texts. Oxford Studies in Ancient Culture and Representation. Oxford UK: Oxford University Press, Feb. 9, 2023.

Wright, [Emily] Wilmer Cave [France]. ". . . . He mourned his daughters with this excessive grief because he was offended with his son Atticus. He had been misrepresented to him as foolish, bad at his letters, and of a dully memory. At any rate, when he could not master his alphabet, the idea occurred to Herodes to bring up with him twenty-four boys of the same age named after the letters of the alphabet, so that he would be obliged to learn his letters at the same time as the names of the boys. He saw too that he was a drunkard and given to senseless amoours, and hence in his lifetime he used to utter a prophecy over his own house, adapting a famous verse as follows: One fool methinks is still left in the wide house, and when he died he handed over to him his mother's estate, but transferred his own patrimony to other heirs. The Athenians, however, thought this inhuman, and they did not take into consideration his foster-sons Achilles, Polydeuces, and Memnon, and that he mourned them as though they have been his own children, since they were highly honourable youths, noble-minded and fond of study, a credit to their upbringing in his house. Accordingly, he put up statues of them hunting, having hunted, and about to hunt, some in his shrubberies, others in the fields, others by springs or in the shade of plane-trees, not hidden away, but inscribed with execrations on any one who should pull down or move them. Nor would he have exalted them thus, had he not known them to be worthy of his praises. And when the Quintilii during their proconsulship of Greece censured him for putting up the statues of these youths on the ground that they were an extravagance, he retorted: 'What business is it of yours if I amuse myself with my poor marbles?'" Pages 164-167. Philostratus and Eunapius: The Lives of the Sophists, Book II.1.558, pages 164-167. The Loeb Classical Library. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, MCMXXII [1922].
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Philostratus_and_Eunapius/NeYNAQAAIAAJ
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/philostratuseuna00phil/page/165/mode/1up