Antipater of Thessalonica
Encyclopedia
Antipater of Thessalonica was the author of over a hundred epigram
s in the Greek Anthology
. He is the most copious and perhaps the most interesting of the Augustan
epigrammatists. He lived under the patronage of Lucius Calpurnius Piso
(consul in BC 15 and then proconsul of Macedonia for several years), who appointed him governor of Thessalonica.
There are many allusions in his work to contemporary history:
around 20 BC/10 AD. He praised for its use in grinding grain and the reduction of human labour:
The vertical watermill is described by Vitruvius
in his De architectura
, as well as being mentioned by Pliny the Elder
in his Naturalis Historia
. Both were writing in the 1st century AD. The remains of many such Greek and Roman mills are known from Europe, perhaps the most impressive being the stone buildings and Roman aqueduct
at Barbegal in southern Gaul
. The aqueduct also fed the Roman city of Arles
and was built in the 1st century AD. The complex comprised no less than 16 overshot waterwheels.
Epigram
An epigram is a brief, interesting, usually memorable and sometimes surprising statement. Derived from the epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on inscribe", this literary device has been employed for over two millennia....
s in the Greek Anthology
Greek Anthology
The Greek Anthology is a collection of poems, mostly epigrams, that span the classical and Byzantine periods of Greek literature...
. He is the most copious and perhaps the most interesting of the Augustan
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
epigrammatists. He lived under the patronage of Lucius Calpurnius Piso
Lucius Calpurnius Piso (consul 15 BC)
Lucius Calpurnius L. f. L. n. Piso Caesoninus was a prominent Roman senator of the early principate. He was the son of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus and brother of Calpurnia Pisonis, wife of Julius Caesar. He became a confidante of the emperors Augustus and Tiberius...
(consul in BC 15 and then proconsul of Macedonia for several years), who appointed him governor of Thessalonica.
There are many allusions in his work to contemporary history:
- one celebrates the foundation of NicopolisNicopolisNicopolis — or Actia Nicopolis — was an ancient city of Epirus, founded 31 BC by Octavian in memory of his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium the previous year. It was later the capital of Epirus Vetus...
by Octavianus, after the battle of ActiumBattle of ActiumThe Battle of Actium was the decisive confrontation of the Final War of the Roman Republic. It was fought between the forces of Octavian and the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. The battle took place on 2 September 31 BC, on the Ionian Sea near the city of Actium, at the Roman... - one anticipates his victory over the Parthians in the expedition of 20 BC
- one is addressed to Gaius CaesarGaius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar , most commonly known as Gaius Caesar or Caius Caesar, was the oldest son of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder...
, who died in AD 4. None can be ascribed securely to a date later than 4.
Waterwheel
Antipater is also known for being the first to mention use of the waterwheel in a poem . He tells of an advanced overshot wheel watermillWatermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
around 20 BC/10 AD. He praised for its use in grinding grain and the reduction of human labour:
The vertical watermill is described by Vitruvius
Vitruvius
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. He is best known as the author of the multi-volume work De Architectura ....
in his De architectura
De architectura
' is a treatise on architecture written by the Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects...
, as well as being mentioned by Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
in his Naturalis Historia
Naturalis Historia
The Natural History is an encyclopedia published circa AD 77–79 by Pliny the Elder. It is one of the largest single works to have survived from the Roman Empire to the modern day and purports to cover the entire field of ancient knowledge, based on the best authorities available to Pliny...
. Both were writing in the 1st century AD. The remains of many such Greek and Roman mills are known from Europe, perhaps the most impressive being the stone buildings and Roman aqueduct
Roman aqueduct
The Romans constructed numerous aqueducts to serve any large city in their empire, as well as many small towns and industrial sites. The city of Rome had the largest concentration of aqueducts, with water being supplied by eleven aqueducts constructed over a period of about 500 years...
at Barbegal in southern Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
. The aqueduct also fed the Roman city of Arles
Arles
Arles is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence....
and was built in the 1st century AD. The complex comprised no less than 16 overshot waterwheels.
Source
- Ancient History
- Select Epigrams from The Greek Anthology, Edited with a Revised Text, Translation, and Notes, by J. W. Mackail (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1890)
See also
- Apollodorus (runner)Apollodorus (runner)Apollodorus was an unlucky ancient Macedonian runner who although won in Olympics he was killed by lightning on his way back home. He is commemorated by Antipater of Thessalonica in the below epigram....
,Antipater's epigram - Greek AnthologyGreek AnthologyThe Greek Anthology is a collection of poems, mostly epigrams, that span the classical and Byzantine periods of Greek literature...
- VitruviusVitruviusMarcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. He is best known as the author of the multi-volume work De Architectura ....
- WatermillWatermillA watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...