The Destiny in the Tomitan Funerary Poetry

  • Angela Anca Dobre “Dunarea de Jos“ University of Galati
Keywords: destiny, Tomis, epigraphy, funerary monuments, mythology

Abstract

The destiny is a favorite topic in the Greek and Latin mythology, which defines it as a divine independent body, superior to all deities of the Panthenon, „dictating” the facts even to Zeus. The Greek theatre illustrates the best the relationship between destiny and the individual freedom (to see the Greek drama authors: Eschil, Sophocle, Euripide). The Romans believed as well in Destiny seeing him as a personal genius, supreme judge of everyone’s life. The Greek colony and then the metropolis of the Left Pont, Tomis was perfectly framed into the Greek philosophical-religious system, Hellenistic, and then into the Roman one. We see how people of Tomis were „related” to the Destiny from the numerous funerary epigrams still preserved. All talk about the implacable destiny, about the existence of life after death reflecting the philosophical ideas was processed by the folk reflection of those who conceived them. The most impressive are those written for those dead too early and expressed the parents’ grief and helplessness in front of the faith. The funerary epigrams are inestimable sources for understanding the way of thinking, the philosophical and religious ideas of the ancient Tomis inhabitants.

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Published
2009-11-27
How to Cite
Dobre, A. (2009). The Destiny in the Tomitan Funerary Poetry. The Annals of "Dunarea De Jos" University of Galati. Fascicle XIX, History, 8, 257-262. Retrieved from https://www.gup.ugal.ro/ugaljournals/index.php/history/article/view/578
Section
ISTORIA CULTURII