, Orator, Statesman

Marcus Porcius Cato (lat.Marcus Porcius Cato; 234 - 149 BC), commonly called, unlike his great-grandson Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger, a contemporary of Julius Caesar, the Elder (Major) and also nicknamed Censor (Censorius, Censor) - represents one of the largest figures of Ancient Rome, both as a statesman and as a writer.

Descended from the plebeian Porcian family, whose ancestor was probably engaged in the breeding of pigs (porcus), Cato the Elder was born in 234 BC. e. (520 from the founding of Rome) in Tuscula and spent his youth partly in the Sabine estate, engaging in agriculture, partly in campaigns, partly speaking at the Roman forum as a free defender of the accused. Already 17 years old, he, fighting Hannibal, had, according to Plutarch, many wounds.

When speaking to the wise, use few words.

Cato Mark Porcius (Sr.)

In 204 BC. e., having received a questura, went with Publius Scipio, later nicknamed African, to Sicily, and the next year crossed with him to Africa, covering transport ships at this crossing.

In 199 BC. e. he was promoted to aedile, in 198 BC. e. - Praetor, and for the management he got the province of Sardinia; in 195 BC e., despite the strict persecution of usurers as praetor, who were driven out by him from the island of Sardinia, he was elected consul together with his fellow countryman and patron L. Valerius Flaccus.

His efforts as consul to prevent the repeal of the Oppian law against luxury were unsuccessful. Having received near (Citerior) Spain in the proconsular administration, he won many victories there, for which he was awarded a triumph upon his return to Rome. He said that he conquered more cities in Spain than how many days he stayed there. In 191 BC. e. he took part in the war with Antiochus as legate Manius Acilius Glabrion and defeated his army at Thermopylae.

If someone praised you, check for yourself if it is true.

Cato Mark Porcius (Sr.)

Returning to Rome, he began to take an active part in meetings of the Senate, in popular assemblies and in court cases. In the Senate, he declared himself especially in opposition to the obtaining of triumphs by various generals (Minucius Ferm, Manius Acilius Glabrion, M. Fulvius Nobilior). In 184 BC. e. he received, along with the same L. Valerius Flaccus, censorship.

In this position, he marked himself with extraordinary severity: he expelled seven senators from the senate and, among them, the former praetor Manilius, just because that day and in the presence of his daughter he kissed his wife; struck out several faces from the list of riders on unimportant reasons (one for being fat, the other for a joke during a censorship); especially, he advocated against luxury, taxing women's jewelry and young slaves with a high tax, and everywhere rebelling against the violation of public interests in favor of private interests (for example, against the seizure of public land during buildings and against the abuse of public water pipes).

And subsequently he was an active defender of every measure directed against the corruption of morals, fighting with all his might against foreign (especially Greek) influence. When in 155 BC. e. the Athenian embassy arrived in Rome with the philosopher Carneades at its head and its effect on the Roman youth became noticeable, Cato tried in every possible way to quickly send the guests home.

Human life is like iron. If you use it in business, it will wear out; if you do not use it, rust eats it up.

Cato Mark Porcius (Sr.)

His struggle against Greek education remained without result; but irreconcilable hostility to Carthage, the destruction of which he stubbornly did not cease to demand until the end of his life (his usual saying in the Senate is known: "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam" ("Carthage must be destroyed")), bore fruit, although Cato himself did not was destined to live up to the realization of his desire.

The harshness of his character and severity towards people made him many enemies: therefore, as Pliny the Elder testifies, he was called to trial 44 times, but he was never convicted. Died 149 BC e.

Cultural heritage
In Roman literature, it is even more important than in public life. He can be called the founder of Roman prose literature, to which he gave examples in eloquence, history, and in various other forms, being undoubtedly the largest prose writer during the entire VI century of Rome, with the beginning of which Roman literature in general arose.

Master the matter, the words will be found.

Cato Mark Porcius (Sr.)

The speeches and historical writing entitled "Origines" were the most prominent products of Cato's literary activity; but, according to Cicero (De orat., III, 33), there was nothing "that would not have investigated and knew and what would not later write Cato."

He compiled a kind of encyclopedia on various sciences, in the form of instructions intended for his son Mark (Praecepta ad filium). This encyclopedia contained articles on agriculture, medicine, military affairs and on all subjects, knowledge of which was useful to a good citizen.

None of this collection has survived to us, just as the letters of Cato, a collection of sayings of famous people and a poem quoted by Helius and bearing the title "Carmen de moribus" have not survived.

Learning is the sweet fruit of a bitter root.

Cato Mark Porcius (Sr.)

Speeches
Eloquence was closely connected with political and civil life in general in Rome and therefore existed in Rome from the earliest times of the state; but only with Cato does it become an art for which the right preparation is required.

Despite his dislike of the Greeks, Cato studied the theory of eloquence from their books and composed the first Roman rhetoric. Both with this manual, and especially with his speeches, where the theory of oratory was applied to the case, Cato found a tremendous influence on the eloquence of his time, as well as on subsequent orators.

After him, there were many speeches made in the Senate, in popular assemblies and in courts. At the time of Cicero, more than 150 of them were addressed in the public, and the famous orator, who studied them carefully, says (Brut., 17) that they contain all the virtues that are required of an orator.

Whoever attaches importance to empty deeds will turn out to be an empty person in important matters.

Cato Mark Porcius (Sr.)

If these speeches were no longer read in the classical age of eloquence, it was only because their outdated language interfered with it. Cicero compares Cato as an orator with the Greek orator Lysia, finding between them a special similarity in sharpness, grace and brevity.

By the strength and causticity that sometimes manifested itself in the speeches of Cato, Plutarch (Cat., 4) compares this patriarch of Roman eloquence even with Demosthenes. An example of this strength and causticity can be cited in the passage preserved by Gellius, where, attacking the commanders who appropriated public money, Cato says: "Thieves who rob private persons spend their lives in prison and chains, and public thieves in gold and purple."

Excerpts from his speech in defense of the Rhodians, to whom the greedy senators wanted to declare war on an empty pretext, while sound political considerations demanded the maintenance of peaceful relations with a rich island friendly to Rome, can be indicated as an example of the skillful construction of Cato's speeches.

And yet Carthage must be destroyed!

Cato Mark Porcius (Sr.)

These excerpts are given in translation in "Lectures on the History of Roman Literature" by VI Modestov (pp. 144-145, published 1888). In general, Cato's speeches have not reached us, and the passages preserved in the form of quotations from ancient writers refer to approximately 93 speeches and are collected by Meyer, in his Oratorum Romanorum fragmenta (Zurich, 1872, 2nd ed.).

"Beginnings"
Cato also laid the foundation for Roman historiography. The Roman historians who preceded him wrote in Greek. Published by Cato in seven books, the work "Origines" is not only the first historical work in Latin, but is also extremely important for acquaintance with Roman and ancient Italian history in general.

It was written from sources that were then little used by Roman annalists and historians. Here were taken into account the ancient fasts, local chronicles of different Italian cities; it was in general a story as documentary as possible, and Roman writers from Cornelius Nepos to Servius unanimously speak of the extraordinary thoroughness of its author in the collection of materials.

It's one thing to be in time, and another thing to hurry.

Cato Mark Porcius (Sr.)

It was written by Cato in old age. Chronologically, it embraced six centuries (up to 603 g from the founding of Rome), and its name, "Beginning", received from the fact that in it two books (second and third) were devoted to the origin of different cities in Italy. So, at least, explains this name Cornelius Nepos (Cat., 3).

These two books, as well as the first, which dealt with Rome during the Tsarist period, were without doubt the most valuable to Roman historians. From the "Beginnings" also only excerpts have reached us, which are best published by Germ. Peter in his Historicorum Romanorum reliquiae (Lpts., 1870).

Marcus porcius cato), usually called in contrast to the great-grandson, contemporary of Julius Caesar, Senior (Major) and also nicknamed the Censor (Censorius, Censor) among Roman writers - is one of the largest figures both as a statesman and as a writer.

short biography

Returning to Rome, he began to take an active part in the sessions of the Senate, in popular assemblies and in court cases. In the Senate, he declared himself especially in opposition to the obtaining of triumphs by various generals (Minucius Ferm, Manius Acilius Glabrion, M. Fulvius Nobilior). He received, along with the same L. Valerius Flaccus, censorship. In this position, he marked himself with extraordinary severity: he expelled seven senators from the senate and, among them, the former praetor Manilius, just because that day and in the presence of his daughter he kissed his wife; struck out several faces from the list of riders on unimportant reasons (one for being fat, the other for a joke during a censorship); especially, he advocated against luxury, taxing women's jewelry and young slaves with a high tax, and everywhere rebelling against the violation of public interests in favor of private interests (for example, against the seizure of public land during buildings and against the abuse of public water pipes).

And subsequently he was an active defender of every measure directed against the corruption of morals, fighting with all his might against foreign (especially Greek) influence. When the Athenian embassy arrived in Rome, headed by the philosopher Carneades, and his effect on the Roman youth became noticeable, Cato tried in every possible way to quickly send the guests home.

His struggle against Greek education remained without result; but irreconcilable hostility to, the destruction of which he stubbornly did not cease to demand until the end of his life (his usual saying in the Senate is known: "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam" ("Carthage must be destroyed")), bore fruit, although Cato himself did not destined to live to see the fulfillment of his desire. The harshness of his character and severity towards people made him many enemies: therefore, as evidenced, he was called to trial 44 times, but was never convicted. Died in

Cultural heritage

In Roman literature, it is even more important than in public life. He can be called the founder of Roman prose literature, to which he gave examples in eloquence, history, and in various other forms, being undoubtedly the largest prose writer during the entire VI century of Rome, with the beginning of which Roman literature in general arose.

Eloquence was closely connected with political and civil life in general in Rome and therefore existed in Rome from the earliest times of the state; but only with Cato does it become an art for which the right preparation is required. Despite his dislike of the Greeks, Cato studied the theory of eloquence from their books and composed the first Roman rhetoric. Both with this manual, and especially with his speeches, where the theory of oratory was applied to the case, Cato discovered a tremendous influence on the eloquence of his time, as well as on subsequent orators. After him, many speeches remained, spoken in the Senate, in popular assemblies and in courts. At the time, more than 150 of them were addressed to the public, and the famous orator, who studied them carefully, says (Brut., 17) that they contain all the virtues that are required of the orator. If these speeches were no longer read in the classical age of eloquence, it was only because their outdated language interfered with it. Cicero compares Cato as an orator with the Greek orator, finding between them a special similarity in sharpness, grace and brevity. According to the strength and causticity that sometimes manifested itself in the speeches of Cato, (Cat., 4) compares this patriarch of Roman eloquence even with. An example of this strength and causticity can be cited a passage preserved by Gellius, where, attacking the commanders who appropriated public money, Cato says: "Thieves who rob private persons spend their lives in prison and chains, and public thieves in gold and purple."

Excerpts from his speech in defense of the Rhodians, to whom the greedy senators wanted to declare war on an empty pretext, while sound political considerations demanded the maintenance of peaceful relations with a rich island friendly to Rome, can be indicated as an example of the skillful construction of Cato's speeches. These passages are given in translation in "Lectures on the History of Roman Literature" by Professor Modestov (pp. 144-145, published in 1888). In general, Cato's speeches have not reached us, and the passages preserved in the form of quotations from ancient writers refer to approximately 93 speeches and are collected by Meyer, in his Oratorum Romanorum fragmenta (Zurich, 1872, 2nd ed.).

Cato also laid the foundation for Roman historiography. The Roman historians who preceded him wrote in Greek. Published by Cato in seven books, the work "Origines" is not only the first historical work in Latin, but is also extremely important for acquaintance with Roman and ancient Italian history in general. It was written from sources that were then little used by Roman annalists and historians. Here the ancient fasts, local chronicles of various Italian cities were taken into account; it was in general a story as documentary as possible, and Roman writers from Cornelius Nepos to Servius unanimously speak of the extraordinary thoroughness of its author in the collection of materials. It was written by Cato in old age. Chronologically, it embraced six centuries (up to 603 from the founding of Rome), and its name, "Beginning", got from the fact that in it two books (the second and the third) were devoted to the origin of different cities in Italy. So, at least, explains this name Cornelius Nepos (Cat., 3). These two books, as well as the first, which dealt with Rome during the Tsarist period, were without doubt the most valuable to Roman historians. From the "Beginnings" also only excerpts have reached us, which are best published by Germ. Peter in his Historicorum Romanorum reliquiae (Lpts., 1870). The speeches and historical writing entitled "Origines" were the most prominent products of Cato's literary activity; but, according to Cicero (De orat., III, 33), there was nothing "which would not have investigated and knew and what Cato would not write about afterwards." He compiled a kind of encyclopedia on various sciences, in the form of instructions intended for his son Mark (Praecepta ad filium). This encyclopedia contained articles on agriculture, medicine, military affairs and on all subjects, the knowledge of which was useful to a good citizen. Nothing from this collection has survived to us, just as the letters of Cato, the collection of sayings of famous people and the poem quoted by Helly (see) and bearing the title "Carmen de moribus" have not survived. It came down to us - although, as everything makes us think, far from in its original form - only the essay "On Agriculture" ( De agri cultura). In this essay, without a systematic order, all kinds of rules related to agriculture, gardening, horticulture, cattle breeding, winemaking, etc. are mixed, and practical instructions are also reported, up to medical recipes and words for conspiracies, inclusive. De agri cultura, called by some as De re rustica, is usually published in agricultural Roman writers (Scriptores rei rusticae) and is best published by Keil, along with Varro's work on the same subject in 1884 (Lpc.) ... In Russian there is a special work by Zedergolm: "On the Life and Works of Cato the Elder" (Moscow, 1857).

SPEAKERS

Cato the Elder (c. 234-148 BC)

Cato the Elder (M. Porcius Cato), commonly called, unlike Cato, a contemporary of Julius Caesar, the Elder (Major) and also called the Censor (Censorius, Censor) among Roman writers, is one of the largest figures of Ancient Rome and as a statesman and as a writer.

Descended from the plebeian family of Porcius, whose ancestor was probably engaged in breeding pigs (porcus), Cato the Elder was born in 234 BC. (520 from the founding of Rome) in Tuscula and spent his youth partly in the Sabine estate, engaged in agriculture, partly in campaigns, partly speaking at the Roman forum as a free defender of the accused.

Already 17 years old, he, fighting Hannibal, had, according to Plutarch, many wounds. In 204, having received a questura, he went with P. Scipio, later nicknamed African, to Sicily, and the next year he crossed with him to Africa, covering transport ships at this crossing. In 199 he was promoted to aedile, in 198 he was appointed praetor, with the province of Sardinia being given to him to rule; in 195, despite his strict persecution of usurers as praetor, who were driven out by him from the island of Sardinia, he was elected consul together with his compatriot and patron L. Valerius Flaccus.

His efforts as consul to prevent the repeal of the Oppian law against luxury were unsuccessful. Having received near (Citerior) Spain in the proconsular administration, he won many victories there, for which he was awarded a triumph upon his return to Rome. He said that he conquered more cities in Spain than how many days he stayed there. In 191 he took Man as legate. Acilius Glabrion took part in the war with Antiochus and defeated his army at Thermopylae.

Returning to Rome, he began to take an active part in the sessions of the Senate, in popular assemblies and in court cases. In the Senate, he declared himself especially in opposition to the triumphs obtained by various commanders (Minucius Ferm, Man. Acilius Glabrion, M. Fulvius Nobilior). In 184 he received, along with the same L. Valerius Flaccus, censorship. In this position, he marked himself with extraordinary severity: he expelled seven senators from the senate and, among them, the former praetor Manilius, just because that day and in the presence of his daughter he kissed his wife; struck out several faces from the list of riders on unimportant reasons (one for being fat, the other for a joke during a censorship); especially, he advocated against luxury, taxing women's jewelry and young slaves with a high tax, and everywhere rebelling against the violation of public interests in favor of private ones (for example, against the seizure of public land during buildings and against the abuse of public water pipes). And subsequently he was an active defender of every measure directed against the corruption of morals, fighting with all his might against foreign (especially Greek) influence.

When, in 155, the Athenian embassy arrived in Rome with the philosopher Carneades at its head and its effect on the Roman youth became noticeable, Cato did his best to get the guests home as soon as possible. His struggle against Greek education remained without result; but irreconcilable hostility to Carthage, the destruction of which he stubbornly did not stop demanding until the end of his life (his usual saying in the Senate is known: "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam"), bore fruit, although Cato himself was not destined to live to see his desire come true.

The harshness of his character and strictness towards people made him many enemies: therefore, as Pliny the Elder testifies, he was called to trial 44 times, but was never convicted. He died in 149.

In Roman literature, it is even more important than in the state. life. He can be called the founder of Roman prose literature, to which he gave examples in eloquence and history, and in various other forms, being undoubtedly the largest prose writer during the entire VI century. Rome, with the beginning of which Roman literature in general arose.

Eloquence was closely connected with political and civil life in general in Rome and therefore existed in Rome from the earliest times of the state; but only with Cato does it become an art for which the right preparation is required. Despite his dislike of the Greeks, Cato studied the theory of eloquence from their books and composed the first Roman rhetoric. Both with this manual, and especially with his speeches, where the theory of oratory was applied to the case, Cato found a tremendous influence on the eloquence of his time, as well as on subsequent orators.

After him, there were many speeches made in the Senate, in popular assemblies and in courts. During the time of Cicero, more than 150 of them were addressed to the public, and the famous orator, who studied them carefully, says that they contain all the virtues that are required of an orator. If these speeches were no longer read in the classical age of eloquence, it was only because their outdated language interfered with it. Cicero compares Cato, as an orator, with the Greek orator Lysis, finding between them a special similarity in sharpness, grace and brevity. By the strength and causticity that sometimes manifested itself in the speeches of Cato, Plutarch compares this patriarch of Roman eloquence even with Demosthenes. An example of this strength and causticity can be cited in the passage preserved by Gellius, where, attacking the commanders who appropriated public money, Cato. He speaks: "Thieves who rob private persons spend their lives in prison and chains, and public thieves in gold and purple".

Excerpts from his speech in defense of the Rhodians, to whom the greedy senators wanted to declare war on an empty pretext, while sound political considerations demanded the maintenance of peaceful relations with the rich Rome friendly to Rome, can be cited as an example of the skillful construction of K.'s speeches. vom. These passages are given in translation in "Lectures on the History of Roman Literature" by prof. Modestov (pp. 144-145, ed. 1888).

In general, Cato's speeches have not reached us, and the passages preserved in the form of quotations from ancient writers refer to approximately 93 speeches and are collected by Meyer, in his "Oratorum Romanorum fragmenta" (Zurich, 1872, 2nd ed.). K. laid the foundation for the Roman historiography. The Roman historians who preceded him wrote in Greek.

The work "Origines" published by Cato in seven books is not only the first historical work in Latin, but it is also extremely important for acquaintance with Roman and ancient Italian history in general. It was written from sources that were then little used by Roman annalists and historians. Here were taken into account the ancient fasts, local chronicles of different Italian cities; it was in general a story as documentary as possible, and Roman writers from Cornelius Nepos to Servius unanimously speak of the extraordinary thoroughness of its author in the collection of materials. It was written by K. in his old age. Chronologically, it embraced six centuries (up to 603 from the founding of Rome), and its name, "Beginnings", got its name from the fact that in it two books (the second and the third) were devoted to the origin of different cities in Italy. This, at least, is how Cornelius Nepos explains the name. These two books, as well as the first, which dealt with Rome during the Tsarist period, were, without a doubt, the most valuable to Roman historians. From the "Beginnings" to us also only excerpts have reached, which are best published by Germ. Peter in his Historicorum Romanorum reliquiae.

The speeches and historical writing entitled "Origines" were the most prominent products of Cato's literary activity; but, according to Cicero (De orat., III, 33), there was nothing "which would not have investigated and knew and what Cato would not write about afterwards." He compiled a kind of encyclopedia on various sciences, in the form of instructions intended for his son Mark (Praecepta ad filium). This encyclopedia contained articles on agriculture, medicine, military affairs and on all subjects, the knowledge of which was useful to a good citizen. None of this collection has survived to us, just as the letters of Cato, the collection of sayings of famous people and the poem, quoted by Gellius and bearing the title "Carmen de moribus", have not survived. Only the work "On Agriculture" (De re rustica) has come down to us - although, as everything makes one think, it is far from its original form. In this essay, without a systematic order, all kinds of rules related to agriculture, gardening, horticulture, cattle breeding, winemaking, etc. are mixed, and practical instructions are also reported, up to medical recipes and words for conspiracies, inclusive. De re rustica, called by some as De agricultura, is commonly published in agricultural Roman writers (Scriptores rei rusticae) and is best published by Keil, along with Varro's on the same subject in 1884.

Encyclopedic Dictionary of F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Max Porcius Cato the Elder is an ancient Roman politician, statesman, writer, whose work laid the foundations of Roman literary prose, a contemporary of Gaius Julius Caesar. He is called the elder because his great-grandson also bore the name Marcus Porcius Cato (the Younger). His fellow Roman writers gave him the nickname "Censor" for his extraordinary zeal in fulfilling his duties. The biography of Cato the Elder, his deeds are quite well known, since many sources have survived in which he is mentioned.

Mark Porcius was a descendant of a plebeian family, was born in 234 BC. e. in Tuskula. In his youth he lived in the family estate of the Sabine, in 217 he entered the military service. It is known that in the battle with Hannibal, he was repeatedly wounded, being a 20-year-old young man, he was a military tribune. In 199 BC. e. he got the post of aedile, the next year he was already praetor in the province of Sardinia, he did much to eradicate usury on the island. In 195 he was elected consul, entrusting the administration of Middle Spain, where he conquered many cities. Upon his return to Rome, he was in for a triumph. As a legate, he won the Battle of Thermopylae with Antiochus.

Returning from the battlefield, Cato the Elder becomes a senator, actively participates in trials, in popular meetings. As a senator, he spent a lot of effort to prevent some generals from being awarded triumphs. He loudly declared himself in the position of censor, which he received in 184 BC. e. He guarded the severity of morals very strictly, regardless of personality. Cato was a passionate denouncer of luxury, demanded the payment of large taxes for young slaves, women's jewelry, and zealously watched that private interests did not interfere with the realization of public interests.

Another characteristic feature of his activities in the state, political field was all kinds of resistance to foreign influence. Especially Marcus Porcius was not indifferent to Hellenization and Carthage. His phrase went down in history, which he often uttered in the Senate: "Carthage must be destroyed." Because of his adherence to principles, the severity of his character, he had a lot of enemies and ill-wishers. In the biography of Cato the Elder, there is such an eloquent fact: he was called to trial 44 times, but they could never be convicted, and Mark Porcius used to defend his honor himself.

The struggle for the purity of morals, a huge hostility to foreign interference contributed to the fact that Cato the Elder became a writer, gaining in this field no less fame than in the political. In an effort to instill in his son Mark his principles and knowledge, without alien influence, he wrote books for him, in particular, about the history of Rome ("Beginning"), about everyday affairs. He penned the "Advice to the Son", which is considered to be the first Roman encyclopedia, in which Cato gave advice on medicine, rhetoric, agriculture, etc.

Mark Porcius Cato the Elder died in 149 BC. e.