Personal grief and public mourning in Plutarch’s consolation to his wife

Copyright © 2009 The Johns Hopkins University PressIn this paper I argue that Plutarch’s consolation letter to his wife is not merely an act of public posturing, but a moving personal document, a public statement on correct grieving, and a demonstration of the syncretistic trend in philosophy in early Imperial times. The letter can be connected to a tradition of ancient consolatory activities which established an ancient form of psychotherapy. Here I draw particular attention to the syncretistic aspect of philosophical stances. The case study provides a new and richer interpretation of this remarkable document, opening up further avenues for the study of the ancient consolation genre.Han Baltusse