Letters to Atticus - Classic Text | Alexandria
Letters to Atticus (Epistulae ad Atticum)
The Letters to Atticus represents one of antiquity's most remarkable collections of private correspondence, comprising 16 books of letters written by Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE) to his closest friend Titus Pomponius Atticus between 68 and 43 BCE. This intimate compilation offers an unparalleled window into both the personal life of Rome's greatest orator and the tumultuous final years of the Roman Republic.
The collection first emerged into public consciousness through Cicero's former slave Tiro, who presumably preserved the letters after Atticus's death in 32 BCE. These missives, ranging from brief notes to lengthy political analyses, were discovered by Petrarch in Verona's cathedral library in 1345 CE, a find that helped catalyze the Renaissance's renewed interest in classical literature. The collection provides invaluable firsthand accounts of pivotal historical events, including Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon and the assassination's aftermath, all conveyed through the lens of Cicero's private thoughts and immediate reactions.
What makes these letters particularly fascinating is their startling modernity and candor. Unlike Cicero's polished public orations, these personal exchanges reveal a man wrestling with political dilemmas, family troubles, and philosophical doubts. The collection showcases Cicero's ranging intellectual interests, from architecture to literature, while simultaneously exposing his human frailties – his vanity, his indecision, and his profound grief over his daughter Tullia's death. The letters also illuminate the nature of Roman friendship, as Atticus served not only as Cicero's confidant but also as his financial advisor and literary critic.
The Letters to Atticus continue to captivate modern readers and scholars, offering insights into both the mechanics of late Republican politics and the timeless nature of human relationships. Their influence extends beyond historical documentation, serving as models for epistolary literature and personal correspondence across centuries. These letters remind us that despite the passage of two millennia, the fundamental experiences of friendship, ambition, and uncertainty remain remarkably constant. What other private thoughts and unguarded moments might still lie hidden in these ancient exchanges, waiting to be discovered by careful readers?