Existential angst, Roman style
While many tombstones echo the picture, portraying the Romans as a pious and god-fearing people, others playfully challenge that idea. Readers will enjoy the account of the afterlife, which segues naturally from mischievous tombstones bearing the letters NF F NS NC (non fui, fui, non sum, non curo: ‘I didn’t exist, I existed, I don’t exist, I don’t care’) to Epicureanism and Lucretius’ Symmetry Argument: if we were not troubled by not existing before we were born, then why should we fear our lack of being after death?
While idly pondering life’s great imponderables, it’s worth remembering that the Romans, as with so many things probably did it better first.
Taking the long view, it’s even better to know we can wolf down some fun facts about the Ancient Romans and Greeks in 3-minute or 30 second chunks. I’m tempted to quote that great philosopher, Ferris Bueller, but my Latin doesn’t stretch to that.
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