Martin Stone
To the great sorrow of his family and friends, Martin Stone passed away unexpectedly on 14 December 2015. This page has been set up and will be managed by his former students and colleagues at the University of Sydney so that his published research can be collected in one place.
Address: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Address: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Papers by Martin Stone
Books 1 and 2 of Cicero's De officiis frankly drew upon Panaetius' Περι τοῦ καθήκοντος, in which the four cardinal virtues - wisdom, justice, fortitude, and temperance - were treated. In order to understand whether the Panaetian divisions are present in Cicero's Philippics , we may impose two tests: 1) Traces of a quadripartite schema applied to the evaluation of each individual in question must be discernible, but not necessarily set out ; 2) the vocabulary of De officiis must appear, or else recognizable synonyms and antonyms of it. No traces of the cardinal virtues are present in the First Philippic . In the later speeches of the series the ethical language is largely Roman and traditional, although the Panaetian schema is not absent from some of the speeches. Its sporadic appearance is the product of an ethical dialectic in which Cicero is a participant, but not the sole begetter.
This paper identifies a passage which must represent a slogan dating from the moment when Tiberius Gracchus’ land law was proposed. It must be contemporary because it reveals what the law originally meant to achieve and did not. Appian’s inclusion of this slogan demonstrates that he was in touch with excellent sources, though some careful detective work is needed to elucidate the historical situation embedded in his narrative. Stone’s reconstruction suggests that the Gracchan land programme and Appian’s narrative of it need whole-scale reconsideration in the light of Ti. Gracchus’ plans for the Italian civitates.
It is curious that, although a whole Life of Plutarch is devoted to Marcus Crassus, so little is known as to the facts and dates of his cursus honorum. His praetorship is a fact, but of uncertain date. Plutarch is often interpreted as associating it with his special command against Spartacus in 72; Appian can be read as placing it in 71. A virtual consensus of scholars follows Broughton in favouring 73. It is contended here that Crassus' destined year was 75, when he turned 40. That it was his actual year is supported by his nobility, ambition and talent: one of eight places should have been his. No province is attested or likely. But the limited availability of praetorian provinces in these years and Crassus' known interest in special commands make this unproblematic.
The early dating proposed makes sense of the absence of an aedileship. It creates, however, an expected consular year of 72. The blocking of this is associated with the discourse of rivalry between Crassus and Pompey: the very odd trial for incestum with a Vestal Virgin finds explanation in this context. The article aspires to shine a light on the post-civil war period in which Crassus, no less than Pompey, is both player and exemplar.
Books 1 and 2 of Cicero's De officiis frankly drew upon Panaetius' Περι τοῦ καθήκοντος, in which the four cardinal virtues - wisdom, justice, fortitude, and temperance - were treated. In order to understand whether the Panaetian divisions are present in Cicero's Philippics , we may impose two tests: 1) Traces of a quadripartite schema applied to the evaluation of each individual in question must be discernible, but not necessarily set out ; 2) the vocabulary of De officiis must appear, or else recognizable synonyms and antonyms of it. No traces of the cardinal virtues are present in the First Philippic . In the later speeches of the series the ethical language is largely Roman and traditional, although the Panaetian schema is not absent from some of the speeches. Its sporadic appearance is the product of an ethical dialectic in which Cicero is a participant, but not the sole begetter.
This paper identifies a passage which must represent a slogan dating from the moment when Tiberius Gracchus’ land law was proposed. It must be contemporary because it reveals what the law originally meant to achieve and did not. Appian’s inclusion of this slogan demonstrates that he was in touch with excellent sources, though some careful detective work is needed to elucidate the historical situation embedded in his narrative. Stone’s reconstruction suggests that the Gracchan land programme and Appian’s narrative of it need whole-scale reconsideration in the light of Ti. Gracchus’ plans for the Italian civitates.
It is curious that, although a whole Life of Plutarch is devoted to Marcus Crassus, so little is known as to the facts and dates of his cursus honorum. His praetorship is a fact, but of uncertain date. Plutarch is often interpreted as associating it with his special command against Spartacus in 72; Appian can be read as placing it in 71. A virtual consensus of scholars follows Broughton in favouring 73. It is contended here that Crassus' destined year was 75, when he turned 40. That it was his actual year is supported by his nobility, ambition and talent: one of eight places should have been his. No province is attested or likely. But the limited availability of praetorian provinces in these years and Crassus' known interest in special commands make this unproblematic.
The early dating proposed makes sense of the absence of an aedileship. It creates, however, an expected consular year of 72. The blocking of this is associated with the discourse of rivalry between Crassus and Pompey: the very odd trial for incestum with a Vestal Virgin finds explanation in this context. The article aspires to shine a light on the post-civil war period in which Crassus, no less than Pompey, is both player and exemplar.