Epistles, Volume III: Epistles 93-124
Meditative missives.

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, born at Corduba (Cordova) ca. 4 BC, of a prominent and wealthy family, spent an ailing childhood and youth at Rome in an aunt’s care. He became famous in rhetoric, philosophy, money-making, and imperial service. After some disgrace during Claudius’ reign he became tutor and then, in AD 54, advising minister to Nero, some of whose worst misdeeds he did not prevent. Involved (innocently?) in a conspiracy, he killed himself by order in 65. Wealthy, he preached indifference to wealth; evader of pain and death, he preached scorn of both; and there were other contrasts between practice and principle.

We have Seneca’s philosophical or moral essays (ten of them traditionally called Dialogues)—on providence, steadfastness, the happy life, anger, leisure, tranquility, the brevity of life, gift-giving, forgiveness—and treatises on natural phenomena. Also extant are 124 epistles, in which he writes in a relaxed style about moral and ethical questions, relating them to personal experiences; a skit on the official deification of Claudius, Apocolocyntosis (in LCL 15); and nine rhetorical tragedies on ancient Greek themes. Many epistles and all his speeches are lost.

The 124 epistles are collected in Volumes IV–VI of the Loeb Classical Library’s ten-volume edition of Seneca.

1131131928
Epistles, Volume III: Epistles 93-124
Meditative missives.

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, born at Corduba (Cordova) ca. 4 BC, of a prominent and wealthy family, spent an ailing childhood and youth at Rome in an aunt’s care. He became famous in rhetoric, philosophy, money-making, and imperial service. After some disgrace during Claudius’ reign he became tutor and then, in AD 54, advising minister to Nero, some of whose worst misdeeds he did not prevent. Involved (innocently?) in a conspiracy, he killed himself by order in 65. Wealthy, he preached indifference to wealth; evader of pain and death, he preached scorn of both; and there were other contrasts between practice and principle.

We have Seneca’s philosophical or moral essays (ten of them traditionally called Dialogues)—on providence, steadfastness, the happy life, anger, leisure, tranquility, the brevity of life, gift-giving, forgiveness—and treatises on natural phenomena. Also extant are 124 epistles, in which he writes in a relaxed style about moral and ethical questions, relating them to personal experiences; a skit on the official deification of Claudius, Apocolocyntosis (in LCL 15); and nine rhetorical tragedies on ancient Greek themes. Many epistles and all his speeches are lost.

The 124 epistles are collected in Volumes IV–VI of the Loeb Classical Library’s ten-volume edition of Seneca.

30.0 In Stock
Epistles, Volume III: Epistles 93-124

Epistles, Volume III: Epistles 93-124

Epistles, Volume III: Epistles 93-124

Epistles, Volume III: Epistles 93-124

Hardcover(6th printing/1st pub.1925)

$30.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

Meditative missives.

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, born at Corduba (Cordova) ca. 4 BC, of a prominent and wealthy family, spent an ailing childhood and youth at Rome in an aunt’s care. He became famous in rhetoric, philosophy, money-making, and imperial service. After some disgrace during Claudius’ reign he became tutor and then, in AD 54, advising minister to Nero, some of whose worst misdeeds he did not prevent. Involved (innocently?) in a conspiracy, he killed himself by order in 65. Wealthy, he preached indifference to wealth; evader of pain and death, he preached scorn of both; and there were other contrasts between practice and principle.

We have Seneca’s philosophical or moral essays (ten of them traditionally called Dialogues)—on providence, steadfastness, the happy life, anger, leisure, tranquility, the brevity of life, gift-giving, forgiveness—and treatises on natural phenomena. Also extant are 124 epistles, in which he writes in a relaxed style about moral and ethical questions, relating them to personal experiences; a skit on the official deification of Claudius, Apocolocyntosis (in LCL 15); and nine rhetorical tragedies on ancient Greek themes. Many epistles and all his speeches are lost.

The 124 epistles are collected in Volumes IV–VI of the Loeb Classical Library’s ten-volume edition of Seneca.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780674990869
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Publication date: 01/01/1925
Series: Loeb Classical Library , #77
Edition description: 6th printing/1st pub.1925
Pages: 480
Sales rank: 973,739
Product dimensions: 4.25(w) x 6.38(h) x 1.00(d)
Language: Latin

About the Author

Richard Mott Gummere (1883–1969) taught Latin at Haverford College and served as Headmaster of the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and Dean of Admissions at Harvard College.

Table of Contents

Letters—

XCIII. On the Quality, as Contrasted with the Length, of Life

XCIV. On the Value of Advice

XCV. On the Usefulness of Basic Principles

XCVI. On Facing Hardships

XCVII. On the Degeneracy of the Age

XCVIII. On the Fickleness of Fortune

XCIV. On Consolation to the Bereaved

C. On the Writings of Fabianus

CI. On the Futility of Planning Ahead

CII. On the Intimations of Our Immortality

CIII. On the Dangers of Association with Our Fellow Men

CIV. On Care of Health and Peace of Mind

CV. On Facing the World with Confidence

CVI. On the Corporeality of Virtue

CVII. On the Obedience to the Universal Will

CVIII. On the Approaches to Philosophy

CIX. On the Fellowship of Wise Men

CX. On True and False Riches

CXI. On the Vanity of Mental Gymnastics

CXII. On Reforming Hardened Sinners

CXIII. On the Vitality of the Soul and Its Attributes

CXIV. On Style as a Mirror Of Character

CXV. On the Superficial Blessings

CXVI. On Self-Control

CXVII. On Real Ethics as Superior to Syllogistic Subtleties

CXVIII. On the Vanity of Place-Seeking

CXIX. On Nature as Our Best Provider

CXX. More about Virtue

CXXI. On Instinct in Animals

CXXII. On Darkness as a Veil for Wickedness

CXXIII. On the Conflict Between Pleasure and Virtue

CXXIV. On the True Good as Attained by Reason

Appendix A

Appendix B

Index of Proper Names

Subject Index

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews