[lit-ideas] Xerxesian/Leonidesian: The Clash
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:11:01 EST
Thanks to L. J. Helm for further quotes from Curtius, and update on his
readings -- the two-volume life of Hitler. I have in my bedside table a life
of
Thatcher, so aren't we *being* civilised?
Anyway, tried an OED search for Xerxesian, but no hit, so there it goes.
This quote, though, under entry 'free' -- may interest:
1849 GROTE Greece II. lxix. (1862) VI. 216 To
Xerxes, the conception of *free-citizenship..was..incomprehensible.
---- And perhaps just as well, since he could *brainwash* (plusei cephalou)
his army.
---- On the other hand, Leonidas's 299 (I'm assuming he was one of the gang)
_were_ free-citizens.
The point has military relevance.
I'm currrently reading Plato's POLITEIA (Loeb v. 1), and see that there's
this footnote by the translator on the distinction between:
* amateur soldier (as it were, strategike, I think, is the Greek)
and
* professional 'mercenary'.
Plato goes on to point out that only 'courage' in the citizen is which
counts (where I would translate 'citizen' as *civilian*).
But this will surely is offensive to the military types (no derogation in
'type' -- think 'archetype'). For:
--- while I can conceive the idea of a mercenary
-- I can also conceive the idea of a 'civilian' who thinks his or her
highest duty is of the military type (I'm talking confusedly).
Plato says that the 'professional' military is like a 'hound' -- always
prepared to fight --, must live in a continuous 'camp', and in general, cannot
'enjoy' the other pleasures that life is worth living for.
Cheers,
JL
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