Ancient consolatory writings offer us a window onto alien forms of loss and grief, as experienced in a world where death happened, in most cases, much earlier and with less reliable warning than in developed countries today. Here, eight original studies explore the topic of bereavement in consolatory writings from ancient Greece, Rome, early medieval and Arabic society. David Scourfield examines consolation as a genre; James Chong-Gossard treats consolation in Greek tragedy, and the rejection of comfort; Han Baltussen studies the purpose and impact of Cicero's curious 'Consolation to Himself ' on the loss of his daughter. Marcus Wilson proposes a new interpretation of Seneca's consolatory writings; George Boys-Stones studies the Consolatio ad Apollonium as 'therapy for the dead'; David Konstan reflects on Lucian's Of Mourning and the consolation tradition. For later Antiquity and reception, Josef Lossl treats continuity and transformation of ancient Consolatio in Augustine of Hippo, while Peter Adamson addresses Arabic ethics and the limits of philosophical consolation.
The collection offers unexpected results: consolation itself is on occasion rejected, philosophy deliberately marginalised, while much emerges which is unique and personal to the ancient individuals involved.