| 70s CE |
various parts of the text - see Notes |
none |
Philostratus is not specific about the date. Two earlier passages locate Apollonius in Tarsus - one in ~69 CE1 and another sometime later2.
Two later passages places Apollonius in Tarsus3 sometime on or after 81 CE4. In the interim, Apollonius is reported
to have wandered5 to a variety of locales around the Mediterranean (Phoenicia,
Cilicia, Ionia,
Achaea, and Italy).
The synchronicity of the earthquake with a feud initiated by the ruler of Syria would place Apollonius
in Cilicia or less likely in Phoenicia.6 Although Philostratus does not specify a date,
it seems likely that the earthquake was felt in the 70’s CE.
Footnotes
1 Book 6 Section 30 recounts a
meeting between Apollonius and future Roman Emperor Titus in Tarsus. During the interview, Titus claims to be co ruling with his father Vespasian at the start
of Vespasian’s reign when Titus was 30 years old and Vespasian was 60 which consistently places the meeting in 69 CE.
English - Book 6 Section 30
[6.30] And after Titus had been proclaimed autocrat in Rome and rewarded with the meed of his valor, he went away to become the colleague in empire of his father;
but he did not forget Apollonius, and thinking that even a short interview with him would be precious to himself, he besought him to come to Tarsus; and when he
arrived he embraced him, saying: "My father has told me by letter everything in respect of which he consulted you; and lo, here is his letter, in which you are
described as his benefactor and the being to whom we owe all that we are. Now though I am only just thirty years of age, I am held worthy of the same privileges
which my father only attained at the age of sixty. I am called to the throne and to rule, perhaps before I have learned myself to obey, and I therefore dread
lest I am undertaking a task beyond my powers."
Thereupon Apollonius, after stroking his neck, said (for had as stout a neck as any athlete in training): "And who will force so sturdy a bull-neck as yours under the yoke?"
"He that from my youth up reared me as calf," answered Titus, meaning his own father, and implying that he could only be controlled by the latter,
who had accustomed him from childhood to obey himself.
"I am delighted then," said Apollonius, "in the first place to see you prepared to subordinate yourself to your father, whom without being his natural
children so many are delighted to obey, and next to see you rendering to his court a homage in which others will associate yourself. When youth and
age are paired in authority, is there any lyre or any flute that will produce so sweet a harmony and so nicely blended? For the qualities of old age
will be associated with those of youth, with the result that old age will gain in strength and youth in discipline."
2 Book 6 Section 34 places Apollonius in Tarsus.
English - Book 6 Section 34
[6.34] Now the inhabitants of Tarsus had previously detested Apollonius, because of the violent reproaches which he addressed to them, owing to the fact that
through their languid indifference and sensual indolence they could not put up with the vigor of his remarks. But on this occasion they became such devoted
admirers of our hero as to regard him as their second founder and the mainstay of their city.
For on one occasion the Emperor was offering a sacrifice in public, when the whole body of citizens met and presented a petition to him asking for certain
great favors; and he replied that he would mention the matter to his father, and be himself their ambassador to procure them what they wanted; whereupon
Apollonius stepped forward and said: "Supposing I convicted some who are standing here of being your own and your father's enemies, and of having sent
legates to Jerusalem to excite a rebellion, and of being the secret allies of your most open enemies, what would happen to them?"
"Why, what else," said the Emperor, "than instant death?"
"Then is it not disgraceful," replied Apollonius, "that you should be instant in demanding their punishment, and yet dilatory in conferring a boon; and
be ready yourself to undertake the punishment, but reserve the benefaction until you can see and consult your father?"
But the king, over-delighted with this remark, said: "I grant the favors they ask for, for my father will not be annoyed at my yielding to truth and to yourself."
3 Book 6 Section 43 locates Apollonius in Tarsus.
English - Book 6 Section 43
[6.43] Here too is a story which they tell of him in Tarsus. A mad dog had attacked a lad, and as a result of the bite the lad behaved
exactly like a dog, for he barked and howled and went on all four feet using his hands as such, and ran about in that manner. And he
had been ill in this way for thirty days, when Apollonius, who had recently come to Tarsus, met him and ordered a search to be made
for the dog which had done the harm.
But they said that the dog had not been found, because the youth had been attacked outside the wall when he was practicing with javelins,
nor could they learn from the patient what the dog was like, for he did not even know himself any more. Then Apollonius reflected for a
moment and said: "O Damis, the dog is a white shaggy sheep-dog, as big as an Amphilochian hound, and he is standing at a certain
fountain trembling all over, for he is longing to drink the water, but at the same time is afraid of it. Bring him to me to the
bank of the river, where there are the wrestling grounds, merely telling that it is I who call him."
So Damis dragged the dog along, and it crouched at the feet of Apollonius, crying out as a suppliant might do before an altar.
But he quite tamed it by stroking it with his hand, and then he stood the lad close by, holding him with his hand; and in order
that the multitude might be cognizant of so great a mystery, he said: "The soul of Telephus of Mysia has been transferred into
this boy, and the Fates impose the same things upon him as upon Telephus."
And with these words he bade the dog lick the wound all round where he had bitten the boy, so that the agent of the wound might
in turn be its physician and healer.note After that the boy returned to his father and recognized his mother, and saluted his
comrades as before, and drank of the waters of the Cydnus. Nor did the sage neglect the dog either, but after offering a prayer
to the river he sent the dog across it; and when the dog had crossed the river, he took his stand on the opposite bank, and
began to bark, a thing which mad dogs rarely do, and he folded back his ears and wagged his tail, because he knew that he was
all right again, for a draught of water cures a mad dog, if he has only the courage to take it.
Such were the exploits of our sage in behalf of both temples and cities; such were the discourses he delivered to the public or
in behalf of different communities, and in behalf of those who were dead or who were sick; and such were the harangues he
delivered to wise and unwise alike, and to the sovereigns who consulted him about moral virtue.
4 Book 6 Section 42 discusses a law prohibiting
the making of eunuchs passed by Emperor Domitian whose rule began in 81 CE and ended in 96 CE.
Domitian’s cultural decrees regarding Prostitutes and Eunuchs may have come at the beginning of his rule. A note in the online embedded texts in Book 6 Section 43 date Domition's order
regarding the making of Eunuchs to 82 or 83 CE. Perhaps this is covered in Roman accounts of Domitian’s rule by
Suetonius,
Tacitus, Pliny the Younger,
Juvenal, or court poets Martial
and Statius.
English - Book 6 Section 42
[6.42] The emperor Domitian about the same time passed a law against making men eunuchs, and against planting fresh vineyards, and also in favor of
cutting down vineyards already planted, whereon Apollonius, who was visiting the Ionians, remarked: "These rescripts do not concern me, for I,
alone perhaps of mankind, require neither to beget my kind nor to drink wine; but our egregious sovereign seems not aware that he is sparing
mankind, while he eunuchises the earth."[The castration edict was promulgated in 82 or 83; the edict on the vitculture dates to the early 90's.]
This witticism emboldened the Ionians to send a deputation to the emperor in behalf of their vines, and ask for a repeal of the law which
ordered the earth to be laid waste and not planted.
5 Book 6 Section 35
English - Book 6 Section 35
[6.35] So many were the races which they say Apollonius had visited until then, eager and zealous for others as they for him.
But his subsequent journeys abroad, though they were numerous, were yet not so many as before, nor did he go to fresh districts
which he was not already acquainted with; for when he came down from Ethiopia he made a long stay on the sea-board of Egypt,
and then he returned to Phoenicia and Cilicia, and to Ionia and Achaea, and Italy, never failing anywhere to show himself the same as ever.
For, hard as it is to know oneself, I myself consider it still harder for the sage to remain always himself; for he cannot ever
reform evil natures and improve them, unless he has first trained himself never to alter in his own person. Now about these
matters I have discoursed at length in other treatises, and shown those of my readers who were careful and hard students,
that a man who is really a man will never alter his nature nor become a slave.
But lest I should unduly prolong this work by giving a minute account of the several teachings which he addressed to individuals,
and lest on the other hand I should skip over any important chapter of a life, which I am taking so much pains to transmit to
those who never knew Apollonius, I think it time to record more important incidents and matters which will repay the remembering;
for we must consider that such episodes are comparable to the visits to mankind paid by the sons of Asclepius.
6 Phoenicia is deemed less likely because between Sections 30 and 42 Apollonius is physically located in Tarsus during
several of his discourses but there are no accounts of his discourses where he is located in Phoenicia.
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The Roman Empire in 69 CE