| Collections: Classics · Papyri · Renaissance · London · California · Upper Midwest · Chesapeake · Boyle · Tufts History |
| Configure display · Help · Tools · Copyright · FAQ · Publications · Collaborations · Support Perseus |
| Perseus · Tufts
|
|
| Perseus Lookup Tool | New/refine search | Lookup Tool help |
| Searched selected documents for "stella" | 6 [7] results [emphasis and English translations added] |
[Abstract:
The 7th of these 7 instances/"results" of 'stella' in The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius is clearly in reference to the fixed stars in the constellation of the Bear. The 6th instance is presumably in reference to stars of similar appearance as on modern military uniforms and thus not to a comet. The 2nd of the 7 instances is in reference to a decorative star on a statue of Caesar Julius. This one would be interesting to see in real life, wouldn't it? However, none of these three (3) instances is using the word 'crinita' in conjunction with the word 'stell*' whereas each of the four (4) remaining instances do.
Only one (#5) of these four instances of ‘stell*’ is associated with the Latin word 'cometes.' This one corresponds to the documented Chinese comet in 39 CE recorded by Ho Han shu (cf. Gary W. Kronk) and is described also by each of the ancient Roman historians Suetonius, Pliny the Elder, Seneca, and Dio. The Latin words of #5 are: “exortus[1] crinitae[2] stellae[3], quam[4] cometen[5] uocant[6],” which words clearly mean something on the order of: "There appeared a long-haired star, which is being called a comet." Isn't this Suetonius' own definition of what he means when using the two words 'crinitae' and 'stella' etc. together?
Of the remaining three of four instances associated with the word 'crinitae' #1 is associated with the 49 BCE comet referenced by Gary W. Kronk and also by Pliny the Elder.
Likewise #3 is easily associated with Vespasian as recorded by Josephus, Pliny the Elder, and Dio on the one hand, and on the other hand with one of the comets reported for the years 54 through 66 CE.
It appears logical that the Latin words 'crinitae' ("long-haired") and 'stella' ("star,") etc., when used together, reference a comet, does it not?
Accordingly, if Suetonius is consistent in his choice of words within his book The Twelve Caesars, passage #4 below should also logically refer to a comet, or so it seems, does it not?]
[For during the first games which Augustus, his heir, consecrated to his memory, a comet blazed for seven days together, rising always about eleven o'clock; and it was supposed to be the soul of Caesar, now received into heaven: for which reason, likewise, he is represented on his statue with a star on his brow. (C. Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Caesars (ed. Alexander Thomson))]
[For when, among other prodigies, the mausoleum of the Caesars suddenly flew open, and a blazing star appeared in the heavens; one of the prodigies, he said, concerned Julia Calvina, who was of the family of Augustus,1 and the other, the king of the Parthians, who wore his hair long. And when his distemper first seized him, "I suppose." he said, "I shall soon be a god." 2 (C. Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Caesars (ed. Alexander Thomson))]
[A blazing star, which is vulgarly supposed to portend destruction to kings and princes, appeared above the horizon several nights successively. (C. Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Caesars (ed. Alexander Thomson))]
[XLVI. The chief presages of his death were, the appearance of a comet, his father Drusus's monument being struck by lightning, and the death of most of the magistrates of all ranks that year. (C. Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Caesars (ed. Alexander Thomson))]
[XXV. On his return from Greece, arriving at Naples, because he had commenced his career as a public performer in that city, he made his entrance in a chariot drawn by white horses through a breach in the city-wall, according to the practice of those who were victorious in the sacred Grecian games. In the same manner he entered Antium, Alba, and Rome. He made his entry into the city riding in the same chariot in which Augustus had triumphed, in a purple tunic, and a cloak embroidered with golden stars, having on his head the crown won at Olympia, and in his right hand that which was given him at the Parthian games: the rest being carried in a procession before him, with inscriptions denoting the places where they had been won, from whom, and in what plays or musical performances; whilst a train followed him with loud acclamations, crying out, that " they were the emperor's attendants, and the soldiers of his triumph." (C. Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Caesars (ed. Alexander Thomson))]
[LXXVIII. He is said to have been born with many spots upon his breast and belly, answering to the figure, order, and number of the stars in the constellation of the Bear. He had besides several callosities resembling scars, occasioned by an itching in his body, and the constant and violent use of the strigil1 in being rubbed. (C. Suetonius Tranquillus, The Lives of the Caesars (ed. Alexander Thomson))]
|
You are searching ONLY the following works:
|
[1] exortus: “perf part pass masc nom sg [of exorior;] to come out, come forth, spring up, rise, appear.”
[2] crinitae, crinitus, crinio: “covered with hair, hairy, with flowing locks, long-haired.”
[3] stella, stellae, stello etc.: ”a star” vs. ”stella comans, i.e. a comet.” In his work De Vita Caesarum [The Twelve Caesars] Suetonius is using this word seven times only [There are 4 listings for ‘stello,’ which however are part of the 7 for listed for ‘stella.’ This page is my comprehensive review of these passages.
[4] quam: “who? which? what? what kind of a?; in what manner? how? whereby? by what means? why?; Relat., in what manner, to what degree, how greatly, how, how much.”
[6] uocant = vocant: “pres ind act 3rd pl [of voco;] to call, summon, invoke, call together, convoke.”