Seneca had a word for men who were consumed with the chase after worldly riches and pleasures to the exclusion of everything else. He called them occupati, the past participle of the verb occupare. They were so busy in this obsessive, single-minded pursuit of the phantoms of prosperity that they never properly set aside time for themselves. The word occupati means engrossed, preoccupied, or obsessed. And I think this word is a fitting description.
In a recent article we discussed Celsus’s ideas on treatment for depression and melancholy. We now look at his prescription for dealing with the common cold, an ailment that until this day has defied a consistent cure. What is interesting about his treatment suggestions is that they seem to be about as effective as anyone could give a cold sufferer today. Judge for yourself. The following information is taken from his De Medicina (IV.5).
When we see a friend is hurting, is it better to try to offer help, or to ignore the problem?
Ibn Abi Duwad was a judge (القاضي) who was born in Basra around A.D. 776. He lived during the reign of the eighth Abbasid caliph Al-Mu’tasim. An Arabic historian relates the following wise sayings of his, along with an amusing anecdote. We will relate them here.
And here. We. Go.
Director: Jim Mickle
Southern gothic is alive and well in this independent, seedy little crime drama. It’s a throwback to the great B-films of the 1970s, and well worth watching of this sort of thing is your bag. This movie is a good companion film to No Country For Old Men, in that both take place in 1980s Texas.
What did the ancients think about depression, and how to cure it? We will look at the views of Celsus, who wrote the most complete medical guide that has survived from Roman times (excluding the writings of Galen).
In the year 530 the Eastern Roman (i.e., Byzantine) Empire was engaged in a limited frontier war with its traditional enemy, the Sassanid Persians. The two great empires had a long history of border clashes, as each constantly was testing the resolution of the other. One of the engagements that took place in this year was the Battle of Dara, and it was fought in what is now eastern Georgia in the Caucasus mountains.
Those who follow the war in Syria on YouTube or Twitter will likely be familiar with the unique profile of the Soviet sniper rifle officially known as the SVD (Samozariyadnyia Vintokvka Dragunova). Unofficially, of course, it goes by the name Dragunov. The weapon has a long record of reliable service, having first appeared in 1963. It has seen action in every conflict in which the Soviet Union, Russia, and her allies have been involved since that time. In Syria, it has seen use all over the theater of conflict, in both urban settings and in the countryside.
Here’s what the cat brought in this week. I’ve got two movies to talk about this week, and both of them are worth seeing. This doesn’t happen very often, so I’m grateful.
Is it better to be feared or loved? This famous question is more nuanced than people think, and was addressed specifically by Cicero in “On Duties” as well as by Machiavelli in his “Prince” and “Discourses.” Yet there has been much oversimplification and misunderstanding on this subject.
We also discuss whether Stoicism lends itself to passivity and fatalism.
Quintus Curtius 
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