#memmon

Colchester Vase

The Colchester Vase is an ancient Roman British vase made from local clay from Colchester, England dating to 175 AD, depicting a gladiator battle between two individuals: Memnon and Valentinus, which are believed to be stage names.

It was discovered in a Roman-era grave in 1853, which held the deceased's cremated remains.

Why dost thou hail with songful lips no more   The glorious sunrise?—Why is Memnon mute,   Whose voice was tuned as is the silvery flute   When Thebes sat queenly by the Nile’s low shore?   The chained slaves sweat no longer at the oar,         No longer shrines are raised to man and brute,   Yet dawn by dawn the sun thou didst salute   Gives thee the greeting that it gave of yore.   What nameless spell is on thee? Dost thou wait   (Hoping and yearning through the years forlorn)         The old-time splendor and the regal state,   The glory and the power of empire shorn?   Oh, break the silence deep, defying fate,   And cry again melodious to the morn!

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Memnon

Clinton Scollard  1860-1932

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Voltaire’s “Memmon, or Human Wisdom” is a cautionary tale, which alludes to the dangers of becoming too arrogant when the life of its protagonist, Memmon, falls into ruin. One day, Memmon decides that he wants to become the perfect philosopher. He is convinced that he can accomplish his goal easily—he simply has to rid himself of various passions, such as an interest in beautiful women. After making this proclamation, he provides council to a distressed woman who is having issues with her uncle. While they are speaking, the woman’s uncle arrives; he’s heavily armed. In order to avoid an untimely death, Memmon bribes him. After he pays the man off, Memmon decides to accept an invitation to go out with his friends. He gets drunk and loses all of his money gambling. Then, Memmon argues with one of his friends over the game and loses his eye in the dispute. The following day, he seeks the help of the king, but is rudely turned away without assistance. He returns home to find that his belongings are being taken away. Destitute, Memmon sleeps on a bed of straw and is visited by a celestial spirit in a dream. The spirit tells him that the only way he can obtain happiness is by abandoning his dream to becoming a perfect philosopher. In other words, if Memmon contains his arrogance, his life will improve.

I am...

Fashioned by...

          ...the hand of Memmon,

Our wooden limbs...

          ...are disguised by delicate chiffon,

We have glass eyes that do not...

          ...see,

A hollow chest that...

          ...locks away our mentality,

A painted smile...

          ...a destructive forgery,

These fabricated positions...

          ...influenced by broken dreams,

We reject the false craftsman...

          ...as Saint Michael works the seams.