Moralia: Volume XI

by Plutarch, F.H. Sandbach (Translator)

Plutarch (Plutarchus), ca. 45-120 CE, was born at Chaeronea in Boeotia in central Greece, studied philosophy at Athens, and, after coming to Rome as a teacher in philosophy, was given consular rank by the emperor Trajan and a procuratorship in Greece by Hadrian. He was married and the father of one daughter and four sons. He appears as a man of kindly character and independent thought, studious and learned.

Plutarch wrote on many subjects. Most popular have always been the 46 Parallel Lives, biographies planned to be ethical examples in pairs (in each pair, one Greek figure and one similar Roman), though the last four lives are single. All are invaluable sources of our knowledge of the lives and characters of Greek and Roman statesmen, soldiers and orators. Plutarch's many other varied extant works, about 60 in number, are known as Moralia or Moral Essays. They are of high literary value, besides being of great use to people interested in philosophy, ethics and religion.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of the Moralia is in fifteen volumes, volume XIII having two parts.

256 pages, hardback

First published January 1, 1936

About the author

Plutarch (later named, upon becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus; AD 46–AD 120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist, known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia. He is classified as a Middle Platonist. Plutarch's surviving works were written in Greek, but intended for both Greek and Roman readers.

Reviews

[Unknown · Rating 4 out of 5]

We must admit that Herodotus is an artist, that his history makes good reading, that there is charm and skill and grace in his narrative, and that he has told his story “as a bard tells a tale,” I mean not “with knowledge and wisdom,” but “with musical clear-flowing words.” To be sure these writings charm and attract everyone, but we must be on our guard against his slanders and his ugly lies, which, like the rose-beetle, lurk beneath a smooth and soft exterior; we must not be tricked into accepting unworthy and false notions about the greatest and best cities and men of Greece. —On the Malice of Herodotus, 874b
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Everything has an attraction towards things that are of the same kind as itself or similar to it. —Causes of Natural Phenomena, XLI

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This short volume contains the following essays:
• On the Malice of Herodotus
• Causes of Natural Phenomena
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I’ve only read Herodotus once, and a long time ago, so I could not fully appreciate the first essay in which Plutarch accuses Herodotus of gross misrepresentation in the latter’s History.

The second essay is another in a question-answer-style, this time focusing on Natural History.

Short, interesting reads.
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On the Malice of Herodotus
Our historian certainly knows how to sneer gracefully like a gentleman . . . (860e)

"The Spartans, therefore, were waiting fo the full moon”
But what are you doing? You shift the moon from the middle of the month to the beginning, turning the heavens and the calendar and everything else upside down; and this is when you claim to be writing the history of Greece so that it shall not lack fame! (861f)

They supposedly preferred any alternative to their present unhappy state. (863d)

Might one not suitably apply to Herodotus himself the remark that he puts in the mouth of the Ethiopians? In reply to the offerings of perfume and purple clothing Herodotus makes him say: “Full of guile are the unguents and full of guile are the Persian garments.” So one might say of him: “Full of guile are the statements and full of guile the whole treatment of history in Herodotus.” (863d)

One could let these omissions pass without criticism in another author, but in an author . . . who has collected and recorded many other stories of this kind, one can hardly think that he omits noble actions and noble sayings because he is careless of detail or thinks them beneath his notice; it must be because he is hostile and prejudiced towards certain parties. (866c)

It looks to me as though, like Hippocleidas standing on his head on the table and waving his legs in the air, Herodotus would “dance away the truth” and say: “Herodotus doesn’t care.” (867b)

The truth is that a common danger obscures individual grievances; men forget all other feelings, and either honour makes them decide for the nobler course or necessity for the expedient one. (868e)

However, we are not concerned with the fact, that he tells lies; we are examining only his malicious lies.(870a)
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Causes of Natural Phenomena
Why are bees quicker to sting persons who have just committed an immoral sexual act? (XXXVI)

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare to see Plutarch mad, but he is in The Malice of Herodotus. He believes Herodotus tells malicious lies about most Greek cities, and undercuts heroic deeds by attributing base motives, usually with no evidence. He has a pretty easy time showing Herodotus loves to tell juicy, shocking stories, and often omits accounts of noble actions altogether, or impugns them.
Plutarch also points out the incoherence in some of Herodotus's calumnies. He frequently cites evidence lost to us, such as inscriptions and other writings.

It's pleasant to learn the Corinthians did not run away from Salamis, and the Thebans were not at Thermopylae against their will. I can't always tell who's right, as in the dispute over the timing of festivals and whether the Spartans almost made it to Marathon in time. But most of the time Plutarch makes a convincing case. When I first read Herodotus years ago, I could tell he was a know-it-all who loved to say commonly held notions were wrong. So it's satisfying to see the debunker debunked. His account is still fun to read, and the starting point for this period of history, but this essay by Plutarch pointing out his malicious lies should be read along with it.

The Causes of Natural Phenomena is full of weird notions, as one would expect. It's just one nutty thing after another. I was laughing to myself at his belief that rainwater is more nourishing if it comes with thunder and lightning; then I saw a footnote from the editor explaining why it is. So I had to laugh at myself instead-- score one for Plutarch.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge fan of Herodotus, I was scandalized to read such detailed criticism accusing him of being merely an artist, and fast and loose with facts.

Obviously, Plutarch knew far more of the particulars than I do. Prima facie, it seems that Plutarch is extremely religious and resents that the Greek pantheon of gods is questioned, that Oracles could be corrupt, or that true detraction is shared to ruin the reputation of individuals and poleis.

I hope to talk to a specialist to understand the rancor of usually so staid a writer as Plutarch.

[Stuart Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plutarch lets loose with a vicious harangue against the vile calumny of Herodotus. Mostly because Plutarch was a Boeotian and Herodotus' History was not kind to Boeotia. He unloads on Herodotus and points out many of his errors and evidence of his malice and he doesn't let silly things like facts get in his way. Plutarch just really didn't like the man.

Then follows some delving into natural philosophy. We discuss why sea water is not good for land plants and why octopi change their colors. These things, along with others like why bear paws are tasty, turn out most of the time to be caused by the natural affinity of some things for cold and some for hot. Occasionally, it's because some things are wispy and airy and light and others are thick and turbid and dark. From this you now know whether to plant barley or wheat. The ancients spurious logic about nature is always fun.

[John Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Natural Phenomena part does my head in because science has moved on and it's moving me back to the paradigm then, but I liked the correction of the Heraclitus quote in the footnotes: you can actually step into the same river twice, it's just the waters in it are new. On the Malice itself is something I can see myself reading again because of the unwonted passion Plutarch is displaying, presumably because he's a Boeotian and Herodotus has a particular down on them as medisers during Xerxes invasion.