
Pietatis vis.[1]
The Power of Familial Love
Maior sit pietas sanguinis, atque amor
Fratrum, quàm imperii, divitis & Tagi.
Illis haec etenim praemia serviunt,
Et dignis decorant laudibus asseclas.
Virtutes opibus quis neget omnibus
Praestare, & superas inferioribus
Auras esse magis numine laudeque
Completas, nisi sit caecus, & impius?
Lycurgus voluit tradere posthumo
Fratris sceptra, sibi debita protinus.
Sed duxit satius subdita legibus
Firmanda, imperii quàm esse caput sui.[2]
Love for one’s kith and kin and brotherly affection are greater things than loyalty to power, or wealth, or chief.* For these are served by rewards, and decorate their servants with deserved honours. Who could deny that virtue stands above all wealth, and that the higher airs are more full of God and praise than the lower, were he not wholly blind and impious? Lycurgus wanted to give over his brother’s sceptre, which was due to him; he thought it better to strengthen the rule of law then to head an empire of his own.
* Assume Tagus here = Greek ταγος, since there seems little point in loyalty, however strong, to a river in Portugal.
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Relating to the image:
- animals (+ wings of an animal) [25F(+342)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ reaching, handing, giving) [31A2512(+9341)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward (+ receiving something) [31A2512(+935)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward - AA - both arms or hands (+ holding something) [31AA2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- barefoot [41D2339] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ceremonial drapery [41A423] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- column, pillar ~ architecture [48C161] Search | Browse Iconclass
- hand not visible [31A2519] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head bent forward; bowing [31A244] Search | Browse Iconclass
- lawgiver [44B531] Search | Browse Iconclass
- male persons from classical history (with NAME) non-aggressive activities of person from classical history [98B(CHARILAUS)5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- monkeys, apes (+ ornamental variants of animals) [25F22(+15)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- mountains [25H11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- nephews, nieces (third degree family relationships) [42G233] Search | Browse Iconclass
- non-aggressive activities of Lycurgus, the Spartan [98B(LYCURGUS)5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- obelisk, needle [25I153] Search | Browse Iconclass
- other ornament derived from animal forms [48A9845] Search | Browse Iconclass
- person addressing a group, orator [33A34] Search | Browse Iconclass
- reading to somebody [49N1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- ruler and his subjects [44B127] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sceptre, staff (symbol of sovereignty) [44B192] Search | Browse Iconclass
- throne [44B1212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- transfer of power [44B1222] Search | Browse Iconclass
- uncles, aunts (third degree family relationships) [42G232] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Authority, Power; 'Dominio', 'Giurisdittione' (Ripa) [53C11] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Deity, God (in general) ~ Christian religion [11A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- filial love, 'Pietas filiorum' [42B4] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Legality (+ emblematical representation of concept) [59C3(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Maintenance of the Law [59C1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- parental love [42B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Respect, Reverence, Esteem (+ emblematical representation of concept) [57B2(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Virtuousness; 'Amor di Virtù', 'Attione virtuosa', 'Guida sicura de' veri honori', 'Virtù', 'Virtù insuperabile' (Ripa) [57A6] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Wealth, Opulence; 'Opulenza', 'Richezza' (Ripa) [55B1] Search | Browse Iconclass
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