h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm just finishing up the private Meditations of the Emperor Marcus (April 26, 121 – March 17, 180) [Peter O'Toole in the film 'Gladiator', BTW] and I find myself suspecting that if it were possible to reconstruct philosophical influences with the accuracy and rigour of John Livingstone Lowes' reconstruction in 'The Road to Xanadu' (one of my favourite books, and one I hesitate to recommend to anyone) of the sources of the imagery used by Coleridge in 'Kubla Khan' and 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' -- if that were possible, then one would find that there was a current of thought in Rome and the Eastern Mediterranean in the first seven centuries after Divus Augustus that led directly to both the Meditations of Marcus and to the Suras of Muhammad (pbuh).

In other words, I suspect that there is a common intellectual and philosophical source for both the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius and the Koran, that the ideas written down by Marcus in the Second Century and by Mohammad's amanuensis in the Seventh were part of a common currency in the 'civilized' world of the First Millenium.









And then I think: 'boy, I bet that's not an original thought.'

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The first sentence and paragraph of this post are lovingly dedicated to Effers.

how far down the arabian peninsula did rome extend, we know it included what is now israel and lebanon and of course eygypt was part of the empire.

ah, but I'm not suggesting that the influence was Rome -> Arabia any more than it was Arabia -> Rome. I'm suggesting a common Zeitgeist, if I may wax Teutonic for a moment.

Although, in the century after Marcus, a certain fellow named Philip rose to the Purple. Philip came to have a rather relevant cognomen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_the_Arab

cant link at moment will look later

with the decline of rome a large number of soldiers would be free to wander where they will and might attempt to carve out a kingdom for themselves, or seek employment as caravan guards, maybe this was how the thaughts of a roman emperor camre to the attention of a barely iterate camel herd

No no no. What I'm meaning is that Marcus thought his thoughts, influenced by the au currant philosophical mise en scene and Mohammad received his inspiration influenced by the au currant (somewhat delayed) mise en scene, but Mohammad was not directly influenced by Marcus -- they were just thinking the common thoughts of the Eastern Mediterranean -- and Marcus was not influenced -- obviously -- by Mohammad.

i know, but what a way to inflame warner

imagine the bile and venom this sort of theory this could produce from him,

playing him at his own game

throw out an unproven theory and then dance around it fanning the flames as he bursts into flame

i am a man of simple pleasures

Dude, it's like the fakie grabbing Mute and Tony Hawks 720 were thrashed far apart but were the same thing!

Kewl!

like

pyramids in africa and south america!!!!!!!!!

but that was because of the atlanteans

Clearly this is evidence of the lizard people...

...

Is Marcus worth reading, though?

TRiG.

Hi Trig.

I felt he was worth reading.

If one enjoys reading the private thoughts of a person trying to figure out how to live a life in human society, even if one doesn't agree with the conclusions, then I would say it's worth reading.

He tends to compose little aphoristic reminders to himself of how to behave, how to control his temper, how to roll with the punches life throws. I get the impression that he was a very calm, dignified individual -- his actions would have been what the Romans might have described as 'fas' -- on the outside. At least, that's how he strove to act.

If one doesn't much enjoy Latin literature, it probably isn't something to bother with.


The 'Meditations' is a pretty slim volume, if that is any influence.

>>The 'Meditations' is a pretty slim volume, if that is any influence.

It is.

Unlike you, I would require the services of a translator. Any recommendations?

TRiG.

Actually, I needed a translation: Marcus, despite being Emperor of Rome, wrote in the Greek of the second century. My Greek, at the best of times (about half a millenium B.C.) is exceedingly weak.

I used the newest of the Penguin editions. It seemed more than adequate for a quick read. Although he wrote in Greek, he is obviously a Roman, and it certainly comes through in the Penguin translation.

My confession has caused me to sink so much in your esteem hasn't it, Trig, that you aren't going to post here anymore, are you?

Nor will I!

bugger!


my dirty secret is out.


my illiteracy that has no name.

I am shocked!

Penguin indeed!

The esteemed *Dummies Guide to the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius* series is considered the new gold standard by the most discerning descendants of Graeco-Roman culture!