Aemilius Paullus

The Plutarch Podcast

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Full Show Notes
Greek Parallel - Timoleon

Important People

Perseus - A tyrannical Macedonian leader who acts as a foil to Aemilius's virtues. They are like parallel lines running in opposite directions, even down to their family lives.

Tubero - An obscure character worth keeping an eye on. Raised in a frugal, Roman home supporting Roman virtue, he rises to a trusted position in Aemilius’s army and continues to be dependable and virtuous. A stark contrast to the many lackeys who attend Perseus before his end.

Important Places

Oreus (9) -

Elimiae (9) -
Pydna - The Battle in which the Macedonians finally lose permanently to the Romans. This battle earns Aemilius Paullus the epithet (cognomen) Macedonicus.

Key Virtues and Vices

boldness of speech - (παρρησία) (cf. 23) - It can get you killed if you’re an honest advisor, but it’s always a virtue Plutarch promotes.

Cowardice - Perseus is the textbook example of both these two vices. This one causes his downfall, while the other exacerbates it and sets him up for failure by ensuring he has no real friends when the money runs out.

Miserliness - Perseus's other main failing; it catches up with him when he can't even keep his mercenaries loyal.

Humility (ταπείνος) (cf. 27) - Not a common word in Plutarch; Ancient Greek doesn't have a distinction between humility and humiliation, so pay close attention to how this is used, since its the word the Christians will use to describe humility in the New Testament.

Humanity (φιλάνθρωπος) (cf. 28) -

Freedom of spirit (τὴν ἐλευθεριότητα (28)-

Generosity of Soul (Magnanimity, when translated into Latin) (28) -

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1. Aemilius Paulus (00:00:00)

2. Aedile and Augur (00:04:16)

3. Praetor in Spain (00:09:12)

4. Family Life - Wives and Sons (00:10:22)

5. Consulship (00:13:31)

6. Meanwhile in Macedon... (00:15:07)

7. Skill or Luck? (00:19:46)

8. Perseus's Greed and Aemilius's Tactics - Stay Sharp, Stay Alert (00:20:45)

9. Plutarch, where does water come from? (00:23:08)

10. Battle of Pydna (00:24:21)

11. Plutarch, how tall is Mt. Olympus? (00:24:47)

12. Back to the Battle of Pydna - Eclipse! (00:26:59)

13. Pydna - Battle Begins (00:29:43)

14. Pydna - Plutarch's Sources (00:31:55)

15. Perseus in Flight - Pydna to Pella and Beyond (00:34:00)

16. Perseus in Roman Hands and Aemilius's Advice (00:36:37)

17. Aemilius in Triumph (00:40:24)

18. Victory Lap in Greece, Destruction in Epirus (00:42:01)

19. Joy and Sorrow - Perseus's Children and Aemilius's Children (00:47:48)

20. Perseus's Death (00:49:40)