Boys will be boys .....

A young Roman recruit writes to his mother ... his homesickness shows, even though he tries to hide it.

Apollinaris is a soldier in the fleet ... a marine ...and he writes his letters after arrival in Italy. His home was in Arsinoites (Fayum) in Egypt.

This young man would once have walked these streets of his home town.

Ravenna and Misenum were the main naval bases in the mare nostrum though ships were regularly detached to other ports.



A Roman Marine

Letter of a Recruit: Apollinarius

Select Papyri I (1932) #111 (II. A.D.)

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The site in modern Italy where he was when he wrote the letter

Apollinarius to Taesis, his mother and lady, many greetings!

Before all I pray for your health. I myself am well, and make supplication for you before the gods of this place. I wish you to know, mother, that I arrived in Rome in good health on the 20th of the month Pachon, and was posted to Misenum, though I have not let learned the name of my company (kenturian); for I had not gone to Misenum at the time of writing this letter. I beg you then, mother, look after yourself and do not worry about me; for I have come to a fine place. Please write me a letter about your welfare and that of my brothers and of all your folk. And whenever I find a messenger I will write to you; never will I be slow to write. Many salutations to my brothers and Apollinarius and his children, and Karalas and his children. I salute Ptolemaeus and Ptolemais and her children and Heraclous and her children. I salute all who love you, each by name. I pray for your health.

[Address:] Deliver at Karanis to Taesis, from her son Apollinarius of Misenum.

Misenum, upper left.



And schoolboys ....

‘Young people were characterised by an excess of blood and heat. In the course of the years, they would cool down and become more balanced. There was no need to be overly concerned about them.’

These inattentive and ungrateful students would have walked and hunted in these hills....

‘When I start my lecture, they just carry on winking at one another and talking about charioteers, miming, horses, dancers, past or future fights. Even better: some stand around like statues, their arms crossed. Others pick their nose with both hands, yet others remain seated when many people jump to their feet enthusiastically; they force enthusiastic listeners to sit down, and others count the number of newcomers, while yet others stare at the leaves on the trees.’

The orator Libanius (4th century AD) talks about a lecture he held for students in Antioch, Orations 3 in het Romeinse Rijk p.92).