Some aspects of the concept of virtus in Roman literature until Livy

Abstract

This study is an interpretation of some essential occurrences of virtus in the Roman literature from the beginnings until Livy. The method can be characterized as philological, more precisely comparative-diachronical. Despite the great variety of literary genres, virtus remains rather similar from one author to another. The fact that the Romans repeatedly emphasized the importance of virtus goes to show the fundamental significance of this concept for their society. Originally the conception of virtus was quite narrow consisting in the readiness of the agrarian and militant community to wage war and to endure hard toil. Gradually virtus was expanded to contain intellectual values, and virtus, which should mean 'manliness', included all individual virtues in the ethical terminology of Cicero. The result of the terminological expansion and the conceptual extension was that, by the time of Livy, virtus connoted the ideal combination of the characteristics of any living organism or artificial product. Thus it had become identical with ἀρετἡ. In the world of values of the practically-minded Romans, virtus was impervious to contemplation, it was unremitting action. Some authors, however, considered action for displaying virtus and acquiring fame am bivalent. Here an individualistic tendency against a collectivistic world of values becomes apparent. Virtus is a rationalistic value; there is not a single occurrence where virtus should imply reverence to gods. In the expressly masculine Roman culture virtus is the combination of the characteristics of men of will and action. The opposite of this Stoically-coloured Roman virtus is Epicurean quietism and amiable sensi bility. virtus. ἀρετἡ. ideal haracteristics. unremitting action. heroism. military efficiency. intellectual faculties. select few. men of will.