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Celebrity culture is probably as old as civilization itself. Since we have lived in societies, some people have become famous, although few have remained so for long. In today's video, we explore the careers of three ancient Romans who, although almost forgotten today, were once known to millions. Number three, lecturer. In the second and third centuries, a cultural revival that we call the "second sophistic" swept the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Although it touched every aspect of Greek culture, it had a particularly striking influence on oratory To an extent unprecedented in classical history, rhetoric became a spectator sport.
The genre most cultivated by the stars of oratory of the time was declamation-a kind of virtuoso rhetorical exercise that involved addressing a historical audience or justifying a fictional legal case. Talented reciters became celebrities, honored by cities and emperors. Trajan is said to have told one such luminary that he did not understand a word of his ornate Greek, but loved him nonetheless. The king of declamation was Mark Antony Polemon. Born in what is now western Turkey, he moved to the prosperous city of Smyrna, where he gained a reputation as a brilliant orator. In recognition of his talents, Trajan granted Polemon the right to free travel by land and sea.
Hadrian made him a member of the museum in Alexandria. These honors only fueled his already monumental ego. Once Polemon refused to receive the king of Bosporus until the unfortunate monarch paid him the sum of ten talents. Another time he evicted the future emperor Antoninus Pius from his house According to his ancient biographer, Polemon spoke to cities as to subordinates, to emperors as to anyone, but not to rulers, and to the gods as to equals. Gradually crippled by arthritis, Polemon was forced to travel to his final performances on a stretcher. Finally, we are told, he ordered his slaves to bury him alive, exclaiming that the sun would never see him condemned to silence.
When the tomb was sealed, he is said to have exclaimed, "Give me another body, and I will recite again." Number two, guru. The Roman elite had a complex relationship with Greek philosophy. It was perfectly acceptable to admire one or another of the major schools. Stoicism, in particular, became almost completely naturalized. However, there was a subversive component to any philosophical devotion, and the social and political criticism of the more radical sects prompted several emperors to expel all philosophers from Rome.
Such prohibitions only increased the appeal of those philosophers who operated on the margins of society. Some of these men became famous not only for their wisdom but also as miracle workers. The most famous of them was Apollonius of Tyana. A century after the sage's death, when his exploits had already become legendary, the orator Philostratus wrote a long biography of Apollonius, supposedly based on the memoirs of one of Apollonius's students, who may or may not have existed. It is believed to be largely fictional. Similarly, few, if any, of the philosophical treatises that have come down to us under the name of Apollonius are authentic.
We can, however, glance at the outlines of Apollonius' life. Born on the eastern outskirts of the Roman Empire, his native language was probably Aramaic. In early adulthood, he adopted an ascetic lifestyle associated with the philosophy of Pythagoras. He became a vegetarian and gave up wine and women. He refused to wear anything but flax and bark. No razor had ever touched his chin. Apollonius settled in the temple of Asclepius, where he gained a reputation as a healer. Then, as Philostratus tells us, he spent five years traveling through Asia Minor in complete silence.
During his subsequent travels, he visited and studied the philosophy of Persia, India, Ethiopia, and Egypt. This was possible, again according to Philostratus, because Apollonius knew all languages, including the languages of birds and animals. He could also remember his past lives and sense the death of Emperor Domitian hundreds of miles away. Apollonius spent most of his later years traveling through the cities of the Greek East, speaking out against the evils of animal sacrifice, giving moral advice, and performing miracles. Philostratus presents Apollonius as a confidant and critic of emperors from Nero to Nerva. Although this is unlikely to have historical basis, it reflects the assumption that a
holy man of Apollonius' stature would invariably gravitate towards Rome. Speaking of Rome, Wolf Milk, the sponsor of this video, is named after the legend of Romulus, who is said to have been nursed by a she-wolf as a child. This milk, the Romans believed, shaped the fierce determination of their founder's character. Wolf Milk coffee is also designed to inspire. Roasted weekly and shipped fresh, this high-quality, organically grown coffee helps you get what you need to get done, whether it's creating a spreadsheet or fending off Etruscan raids.
Save 20% on any order with a monthly subscription that can be paused or canceled at any time. And no matter how you buy Wolf Milk coffee, you will receive an additional 5% discount with the code told in stone. So follow the link below and start your day like Romulus. Returning to our topic. After his death, if not before, Apollonius of Tyana attracted the attention of the imperial family. Julia Domna, the wife of Septimius Severus, commissioned Philostratus to write his biography. We know that her son Caracalla was a devoted admirer of the works of Apollonius. Alexander Severus reportedly kept a statue of Apollonius in his personal sanctuary.
Later, at the end of the 3rd century, pagan polemicists presented Apollonius as a sage who performed more and greater miracles than Jesus. Christian authors denied that Apollonius was, at best, a demon-charmer. This debate raged until late antiquity, and Apollonius even found his way into Arab folklore. Number one, pillar. In late antiquity, after the Roman world adopted Christianity, holy men became celebrities. Among the most famous were the columnists- hermits who lived on top of columns, exposed to all the vagaries of the weather,
between heaven and earth. They were considered almost angelic figures, capable of transmitting the prayers of believers and invoking God's blessing. Simeon, the first pillar, built his column to escape the crowds of pilgrims attracted by his reputation for holiness. As the crowds grew, he increased the height of the pillar to 40 cubits, about 20 meters. Eventually, however, he realized that his literal elevated position would allow him to awaken the world from its stupor- a phrase that makes him seem like a Byzantine equivalent of the performance artist Simeon kept a monk at the base of his
column to receive visitors. He accepted requests, addressed crowds, and even met with the emperor's sisters. In the decades following his death, however, his fame was overshadowed by another pillar, also named Simeon, known to history as Simeon the Younger Pillar. This Simeon became a pillar at the tender age of seven. As a young man, he moved to a column on a rocky hill south of Antioch, which soon became known as the Mount of Miracles. There he gained a reputation as a healer of the sick and a predictor of the future. Even his image was said to have healing properties. Simeon addressed the crowds gathering under his column. 30 of his sermons have survived to
this day. He wrote letters to emperors and composed a hymn that is still used by the Greek Orthodox Church. Simeon's personal life remained austere. We are told that he ate nothing but the berries of one bush. Around his column, however, a large church complex was built, whose three churches glittered with marble and gold. Tiers of stone benches were built around the base of the column so that supplicants could sit and look up at the living saint. Today, few dare to climb the Mountain of Miracles, located dangerously close to the Turkish-Syrian border The monastery at the top was destroyed in the 13th century.
Only the ruins and the base of the colonnade column have survived. One might assume that Simeon would have appreciated the lesson about the transience of fame. I visited Simeon's Column last spring when I led a small group on a trip through eastern Turkey. Next April I am taking another group to Tunis where we will explore Carthage, Dougou, El Jem and many other places. In June I'm heading to Romania to see some of the most impressive and little-known ruins of the Roman world. And in October I am going to Greece to explore the numerous historical monuments of this country.
Find out more about these and my other upcoming trips at the links in the description My new book, Leaky Aqueducts, Fighter Pigeons, and Mystery Cults, is now available in print and audio formats You'll find additional content, including the next episode of my in-depth review of HBO's Rome, on the Told in Stone Patreon page. Finally, don't forget about my other channels: Told in Stone Footnotes and Scenic Roots of the Past. Thanks for watching.
