Vatican Sentences: Gnomologicum Vaticanum Epicureum

Abstract

With the publication of the Vatican Sentences, we began the project to edit the works and texts of Epicurus. We not only attempted to recover some of the writings we have available from the discoveries at the Villa of the Papyri, but also to update the translations that, for historical or ideological reasons, have skewed the author's thinking. To this end, we have focused on the eminently materialistic character we attribute to the Samos author —the idea that fear is an element of political control and distortion of knowledge— trying to ensure that the translation of the terms fits the context and the concepts of the time. We recognize our limitations, both due to a lack of linguistic and historical competence, issues we have tried to overcome with various tools and, above all, by consulting specialists and those who before us embarked on such a difficult task. To them, we extend our gratitude before our amendments, and we hope that this attempt will serve to enable others to improve our small contribution.