Forum+Celeris

 THE FORUM CELERIS

// ALLOW US TO PHILOSOPHIZE YOU //

THE FORUM CELERIS PRESENTS: "SPE IN LATIN LITERATURE" After the death of that man, never the less the Helvetians tried to do that thing which the set up. When they decided that, they now prepared to do that thing, they burned all the towns, which numbered twelve, they burned their villages, which numbered fourteen, and they set aflame the remaining private buildings; they incinerated all the crops, besides those which they could carry themselves, so that they might remove all hope of returning home, and to be ready to ascend into all danger; for three months, having planned rations for themselves, ordered that each one (person) bring them (the rations) from their home. ||
 * = Latin Text: Book 1, Chapter 5 of //De Bello Gallico,// by C. Julius Caesar Post eius mortem nihilo minus Helvetii id quod constituerant facere conantur, ut e finibus suis exeant. Ubi iam se ad eam rem paratos esse arbitrati sunt, oppida sua omnia, numero ad duodecim, vicos ad quadringentos, reliqua privata aedificia incendunt; frumentum omne, praeter quod secum portaturi erant, comburunt, ut domum reditionis spe sublata paratiores ad omnia pericula subeunda essent; trium mensum molita cibaria sibi quemque domo efferre iubent. ||= English Translation


 * __De Bello Gallico__ is arguably Julius Caesar's most famous book. The narrative was written between 58-50 BCE. Although the main purpose for this famous story was probably to boost Caesar's popularity among the masses, the epic battles remain engrained in Roman History. This specific selection (Book 1, Chapter 5) describes the interesting Helvetian practice of razing their own property before going into battle. The Helvetians partookin this practice in order to have nothing to return to, or nothing for them to protect. Hopefully, they would fight with an unmatched bravey. Gaul lies in and around present-day France.

"Spe" translates as hope. This is probably the ultimate Roman Virtue, as it was necessary throughout the warlike, tumultuous battles around the Roman Empire. Even today, spe is incredibly important. With natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes tearing apart families and property, the only things people can give are sympathy and hope for better days to come. Hope can also be more personal. One could hope for a good grade on an assignment, or hope for their team to win the Super Bowl. People depend on hope today as much as when the Romans fought during their kingship, republic, or empire. || ||