Appendix M: Summary Table
In the chart below, in the downward columns, we cite in abbreviated form the various arguments discussed in the text. In the cross columns, we list the various periods during which Longinus might have written. Because evidence is so plentiful for the first century ce we have been able to subdivide; the third century we have had to treat as a unit. The arguments include both positive arguments and argumenta ex silentio, Wherever an argument of either kind is applicable to Lοnginus, we have marked the box with a 1 (a 1/2 where evidence is un certain); where an argument is not applicable, we have left the box blank.
| ARGUMENT | 1st century B.C. | Augustus | Tiberius | Caligula | Claudius | Nero | Vespasian/ Titus | Domitian | Nerva/ Trajan | 3rd century A.D. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caecilius | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Theodorus | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2[1] |
| Colossus[2]
a) Rhodes |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| b) Vogue | 1 | 1/2[3] | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Persecution2
a) Philosophers |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1[4] |
1 |
1 |
|||
| b) Rhetoricians | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| c) Jews | 1 | 1 | 1[5] | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Style
a) Atticism |
1 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| b) Asianism | 1/2[6] | 1/26 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Vesuvius | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | [7] | |||
| Decline
a) Natura1[8] |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 | ||||
| b) Historical | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| c) Political | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| d) Moral | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Revival
a) Political |
1 |
1[9] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| b) Moral | 1 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| c) Oratorical | 1[10] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1[11] | 111 | 1 | |||
| TOTALS | 12+1/2 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13+1/2 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 11+1/2 |
- In Spengel's index (Rhetores Graeci), there are four references, or possible references, to Theodorus of Gadara. One appears in Demetrius, whose dates are unknown, though G.M.A. Grube, A Greek Critic; Demetrius on Style (Toronto, 1961), would place him in the third century; there are also possibly three references to Theodorus in an anonymous Hand book of Political Argument, but the dates of this anonymous author are unknown. ↵
- In the chart, we have distinguished between the possible reference to the Colossus of Rhodes (36.3) and the vogue for colossi which existed during part of the 1st century (see section ILB.l and Appendix D). We have also distinguished between the banishment of philosophers and the banishment of rhetoricians (see Appendix E). ↵
- Although there is no evidence that Claudius was desirous of a colos sal statue of himself, since the vogue began with his immediate predeces sor and was picked up by his immediate successor, it seems reasonable that some vestiges of the vogue were present during his reign. ↵
- Seneca was banished and executed under Nero qua political conspirator, not qua philosopher. ↵
- Tacitus, in his description of the persecution of the Christians following the great fire, does not seem to identify them with the Jews. ↵
- Cicero was aware of some of the criticisms of Asianism (see Appendix F), and he himself was accused of Asianism. His criticisms are like those of Seneca the Elder. ↵
- If, by the third century, there were any topos dealing with catas trophes, it would probably have dealt with later catastrophes, such as the earthquake at Smyrna, etc. ↵
- There is a reference to natural decline in Horace (see reference cited in Appendix H, n·. 1), but it is so general that it can hardly be called a "theory" of natural decline. ↵
- After the excesses of the late Republic, the reign of Augustus appeared as both a political and moral revival. But the philosopher in ch. XLIV of On the Sublime does not seem to be speaking of the political disruption and moral disorder of the Republic. ↵
- Cicero represents the culmination of oratorical achievement; but a culmination is not a revival. ↵
- Although we lack pro-Asian support, there was at this time a re vival of Asianism, and presumably some thought this represented an oratorical revival, e.g., Nicetes. ↵
