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Cicero's Somnium Scipionis: The Dream of Scipio

by Marcus Tullius Cicero

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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1345202,602 (3.82)3
The Dream of Scipio (Latin, Somnium Scipionis), written by Cicero, is the sixth book of De re publica, and describes a fictional dream vision of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus, set two years before he commanded at the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC.Upon his arrival in Africa, a guest at the court of Massinissa, Scipio Aemilianus is visited by his dead grandfather (by adoption), Scipio Africanus, hero of the Second Punic War. He finds himself looking down upon Carthage "from a high place full of stars, shining and splendid". His future is foretold by his grandfather, and great stress is placed upon the loyal duty of the Roman soldier, who will as a reward after death "inhabit... that circle that shines forth among the stars which you have learned from the Greeks to call the Milky Way". Nevertheless, Scipio Aemilianus sees that Rome is an insignificant part of the earth, which is itself dwarfed by the stars. The planetary spheres are enumerated with references to Pythagorean thought and the idea of the Music of the Spheres. Then the climatic belts of the earth are observed, from the snow fields to the deserts, and there is discussion of the nature of the Divine, the soul and virtue, from the Stoic point of view.The literary and philosophical influence of the Somnium was great. Macrobius commented on it in his Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis, which in turn was an important source for medieval dream theory.… (more)
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» See also 3 mentions

English (3)  Italian (2)  All languages (5)
Showing 3 of 3
Beautiful Clinker Press edition. Fascinating fragment. ( )
  kcshankd | Dec 25, 2023 |
Edition: // Descr: 26 p. 17.5 cm. // Series: Call No. { 875 C48 57 copy #2 } Edited with Notes by Samuel Hart. // //
  ColgateClassics | Oct 26, 2012 |
Edition: // Descr: 26 p. 17.5 cm. // Series: Call No. { 875 C48 57 } Edited with Notes by Samuel Hart. // //
  ColgateClassics | Oct 26, 2012 |
Showing 3 of 3
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» Add other authors (31 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Cicero, Marcus Tulliusprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Landgraf, GustavEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Meissner, CarlEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ronconi, AlessandroEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Stok, FabioEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Quando arrivai in Africa (come saprete ero stato assegnato al console Manio Manilio, quale tribuno militare della quarta legione), la prima cosa che feci fu quella di andare a trovare Massinissa, un re che per giusti motivi era in stretti legami d'amicizia con la mia famiglia.
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«Ma affinché tu, o Africano, possa servire la repubblica con un impegno ancora maggiore, sappi questo: per tutti coloro che avranno contribuito alla conservazione, alla salvezza e all'accrescimento della patria, c'è una sede sicura loro assegnata nel cielo, della quale potranno godere, felici, per l'eternità.»
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The Dream of Scipio (Latin, Somnium Scipionis), written by Cicero, is the sixth book of De re publica, and describes a fictional dream vision of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus, set two years before he commanded at the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC.Upon his arrival in Africa, a guest at the court of Massinissa, Scipio Aemilianus is visited by his dead grandfather (by adoption), Scipio Africanus, hero of the Second Punic War. He finds himself looking down upon Carthage "from a high place full of stars, shining and splendid". His future is foretold by his grandfather, and great stress is placed upon the loyal duty of the Roman soldier, who will as a reward after death "inhabit... that circle that shines forth among the stars which you have learned from the Greeks to call the Milky Way". Nevertheless, Scipio Aemilianus sees that Rome is an insignificant part of the earth, which is itself dwarfed by the stars. The planetary spheres are enumerated with references to Pythagorean thought and the idea of the Music of the Spheres. Then the climatic belts of the earth are observed, from the snow fields to the deserts, and there is discussion of the nature of the Divine, the soul and virtue, from the Stoic point of view.The literary and philosophical influence of the Somnium was great. Macrobius commented on it in his Commentarii in Somnium Scipionis, which in turn was an important source for medieval dream theory.

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