TUSCULUM (NEAR FRASCATI)

The political importance of Tusculum is limited to early times. It was very powerful during the Latin League in the fourth century B. C. and almost constantly at war with its neighbors. Friendly assistance was frequently given to Rome and returned by this city in kind (Liv. iii. 25 et al.). However, one often finds the place leagued with the enemies of Rome-the Aequians, Volscians, and Samnites (Liv. vi. 25; viii. 7; viii. 37 et al.). Even before the end of the Republic, its political influence has disappeared and it becomes henceforth a dwellingplace for men of wealth and leisure.

Ex municipio antiquissimo Tusculano, ex quo plurimae familiae sunt consulares, municipiis omnibus non sunt.

quot e reliquis

Cic. pro Planc. 19.

Ἐπὶ ταύτης δὴ τὸ

Τοῦσκλον ἵδρυται πόλις οὐ φαύλως κατεσκευασμένη κεκόσμηται δὲ ταῖς κύκλῳ φυτείαις καὶ οἰκοδομίαις, καὶ μάλιστα ταῖς ὑποπιπτούσαις ἐπὶ τὸ κατὰ τὴν Ῥώμην μέρος. τὸ γὰρ Τοῦσκλον ἐνταῦθα ἐστὶ λόφος εὔγεως καὶ εὔνδρος, κορυφούμενος ἠρέμα πολλαχοῦ καὶ δεχόμενος βασιλείων κατασκευὰς ἐκπρεπεστάτας.

Strab. v. 3, 12.

1 Famous from the earliest times for its distinguished men.

The place

2 Frascati today with its palaces of distinguished churchmen continues the tradition of the later Tusculum as a city of villas (Hor. Epod. i. 29; Sen. De Ben. iv. 12). was healthful, its climate and scenery attractive, and its distance from Rome such that it was desirable as a country home. The emperors were fond of it, Tiberius, Nero, and Galba often staying there (Tac. Ann. xiv. 3; Suet. Galb. iv. 18).

ON THE ROAD TO ANCIENT TUSCULUM

Cicero Compliments the Town

From Tusculum, a very ancient municipality, from which a great many families of consular rank have sprung more than from all the rest of the municipalities put together.1

It is on this ridge that Tusculum is situated, a city which is not wanting in adornment, being entirely surrounded by ornamental plantations and edifices, particularly that part of it which looks towards Rome. For on this side Tusculum presents a fertile hill, well irrigated, and with numerous gentle slopes embellished with majestic palaces.2 H. C. HAMILTON

Quae tibi mandavi, et quae tu intelleges convenire nostro Tusculano, velim, ut scribis, cures, quod sine molestia tua facere poteris. Nam nos ex omnibus molestiis et laboribus uno illo in loco conquiescimus. Quintum fratrem cotidie exspectamus. Terentia magnos articulorum dolores habet. Cic. ad Att. i. 5, 8.

Nos Tusculano ita delectamur, ut nobismet ipsis tum denique, cum illo venimus, placeamus. Cic. ad Att. i. 6, 2.

MARCUS. Nos vero, si quid tale acciderit, ut a deo denuntiatum videatur ut exeamus e vita, laeti et agentes gratias pareamus emittique nos e custodia et levari vinclis arbitremur, ut aut in aeternum et plane in nostram domum remigremus aut omni sensu molestiaque careamus: sin autem nihil denuntiabitur, eo tamen simus animo, ut horribilem illum diem aliis, nobis faustum putemus nihilque in malis ducamus, quod sit vel a dis immortalibus vel a natura parente omnium constitutum. Non enim temere nec fortuito sati et creati sumus, sed profecto fuit quaedam vis quae generi consuleret humano nec id gigneret aut aleret quod cum exanclavisset omnes labores, tum incideret in mortis malum sempiternum: portum potius paratum nobis et perfugium putemus.

Sin reflantibus

Quo utinam velis passis pervehi liceat. ventis reiiciemur, tamen eodem paulo tardius referamur

3 Cicero constantly testifies to his love for his Tusculan villa. He took great pride in adorning it with works of art and in collecting choice books for its library. His friend Atticus often assisted him in this connection.

4 Such discourses on the part of Cicero and his friends (Atticus, in this case) give the chief charm to the villa for the classical student. The orator has many times expressed his feeling for his country homes as places for retirement and study.

3

Cicero Writes an Informal Note to a Friend

Please carry out my commissions, and, as you suggest, buy anything else you think suitable for my Tusculan villa, if it is no trouble to you. It is the only place I find restful after a hard day's work. I am expecting my brother Quintus every day. Terentia has a bad attack of rheumatism.

E. O. WINSTEDT

I am so pleased with my house at Tusculum that I am never really happy except when I am there.

E. O. WINSTEDT

A Philosophical Discussion Between Cicero and a Guest1 MARCUS. But let us, if indeed it should be our fate to know the time which is appointed by the gods for us to die, prepare ourselves for it with a cheerful and grateful mind, thinking ourselves like men who are delivered from a jail, and released from their fetters, for the purpose of going back to our eternal habitation which may be more emphatically called our own; or else to be divested of all sense and trouble. If, on the other hand, we should have no notice given us of this decree, yet let us cultivate such a disposition as to look on that formidable hour of death as happy for us, though shocking to our friends; and let us never imagine anything to be an evil, which is an appointment of the immortal gods, or of nature, the common parent of all. For it is not by hazard or without design that we have been born and situated as we are. On the contrary, beyond all doubt there is a certain power, which consults the happiness of human nature; and this would neither have produced nor provided for a being, which, after having gone through the labours of life, was to fall into eternal misery by death. Let us rather infer that we have a retreat and haven prepared for us, which I wish we could crowd all sail and arrive at; but though the winds should not serve, and we should be driven back, yet we shall to a certainty arrive at that point eventually, though somewhat later. But how can that be miserable

necesse est. Quod autem omnibus necesse est, idne miserum esse uni potest? Habes epilogum, ne quid praetermissum aut relictum putes.

ATTICUS. Ego vero, et quidem fecit etiam iste me epilogus firmiorem.

MARCUS. Optime, inquam. Sed nunc quidem valetudini tribuamus aliquid, cras autem et quot dies erimus in Tusculano, agamus haec et ea potissimum, quae levationem habeant aegritudinum, formidinum, cupiditatum, qui omni e philosophia est fructus uberrimus.

Cic. Tusc. Disp. i. 118-119.

Ησαν δ ̓ αὐτῷ περὶ Τοῦσκλον ἐγχώριοι δίαιται καὶ κατασκοπαὶ περιόπτων καὶ κατασκευαὶ ἀναπεπταμένων ἀνδρώνων καὶ περιπάτων, ἐν αἷς ὁ Πομπήϊος γενόμενος ἐμεμφέτο τὸν Λούκουλλον, ὅτι πρὸς θέρος ἄριστα διαθεὶς τὴν ἔπαυλιν ἀοίκητον ἐν χειμῶνι πεποίηκε. γελάσας οὖν ἐκεῖνος “Εἶτα” ἔφη “σοὶ δοκῶ ἐλάττονα τῶν γεράνων νοῦν ἔχειν καὶ τῶν πελαργῶν, ὥστε ταῖς ὥραις μὴ συμμεταβάλλειν τὰς διαίτας.”

Plut. Lucull. xxxix.

Latini quoque Tarquinios adserebant aemulatione et invidia, ut populus qui foris dominabatur saltim domi serviret. Igitur omne Latium Mamilio Tusculano duce quasi in regis ultionem tollit animos. Apud Regilli lacum dimicatur diu Marte vario, donec Postumius ipse dictator signum in hostis iaculatus est-novum et insigne commentum-uti repeteretur. Cossus equitum magister exuere

A Roman of the last century of the Republic, remembered chiefly for his vast wealth. (See note under Misenum, and the topic Houses under Places in Rome.)