-
Personal Grief and Public Mourning in Plutarch's Consolation to His Wife
- American Journal of Philology
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Volume 130, Number 1 (Whole Number 517), Spring 2009
- pp. 67-98
- 10.1353/ajp.0.0044
- Article
- Additional Information
- Purchase/rental options available:
In this article, I argue that Plutarch's consolation letter to his wife is not merely an act of public posturing but a moving personal document, a public statement on correct grieving, and a demonstration of the syncretistic trend in philosophy in early Imperial times. The letter can be connected to a tradition of ancient consolatory activities which established an ancient form of psychotherapy. Here I draw particular attention to the syncretistic aspect of philosophical stances. The case study provides a new and richer interpretation of this remarkable document, opening up further avenues for the study of the ancient consolation genre.