1) Lucretius argues for the existence of atoms...in 60 BC:

"Things cannot be created out of nothing or reduced to nothing. You may distrust my words since atoms cannot be seen with your eyes? Think however of all the tiny particles you do not see, but which we know must exist.."
2) "First of all the raging wind that whips the sea, overturns ships and scatters clouds. Sometimes it races across plains in a whirling tornado and knocks flat trees with a furious howl and menacing roar; all invisible particles of wind sweeping the land, sea and clouds..."
3) "Your clothes left by a surf-beaten shore grow damp. The same clothes, spread out in the sun, become dry. But did we see how the water soaked in, or how it departed with the sun's heat? The water must be distributed into tiny particles which the eyes cannot possibly see."
4) "More examples: after many annual revolutions around the sun, the ring on my finger becomes thin due to constant contact. Dripping water hollows out a rock. An iron plow imperceptibly shrinks with hard use in the field. We see the solid paving of roads gradually worn down..."
5) "..But our human sense of sight begrudges us any glimpse of particles leaving at any particular time. No scrutiny by our eyes can perceive the particles that time and nature gradually adds to things, increasing them little by little..
6) "..Neither can we perceive the particles lost to wasting old age, like rocks hanging over the sea crumbling due to the corrosive salt water, or the time at which we lose them. Therefore, we must conclude that nature works through invisible but material particles called atoms."
Lucretius, 'On the Nature of the Universe', written c.60 BC. #ancient #science #philosophy #physics #atoms #atomic #nature
See also a sister thread from Lucretius on the Void:

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More from @OptimoPrincipi

6 Feb
1) As well as arguing all matter was made of atoms, Lucretius described his opposite concept of the Void:

"The universe is not a closely packed mass of matter. The void exists in all things; an intangible and empty space. If void did not exist, things could not possibly move.."
2) "Matter obstructs and offers resistance. If only matter existed, resistance would be everywhere all the time and nothing could ever begin to yield. But as it is, we see with our eyes that many things on the earth, the sea and in the sky move in many different ways.."
3) "Furthermore, many things we perceive as solid, we learn on closer inspection have a porous structure: in a rocky cave all surfaces are moist with plentiful seeping water, nutrients travel through every part of an animal's body and up into every branch of a tree.."
Read 5 tweets
30 Jan
1) A magical, mystery thread connecting The Beatles and Roman archaeology! On this day in 1969 the Fab Four played what would be their last ever concert - performing unannounced on the rooftop of their Savile Row headquarters. But this was by no means the only venue considered..
2) A number of weird and wonderful concert ideas were considered as the culmination of their 'Let It Be' project, including playing in an art gallery to an audience of dogs, playing to an empty arena or returning to play the Cavern Club in Liverpool...
3) During the band's rehearsals for the mystery concert, another idea was raised on multiple occasions: they would charter a boat to sail to the coast of Libya, rehearsing during the sea voyage, and when they arrived perform a concert in an ancient Roman theatre!..
Read 7 tweets
24 Jan
1) Gaius "Caligula" Caesar was assassinated on this day in 41 AD - by all accounts thoroughly deserved; yet the word 'assassination' tells us little, and it is easy to forget the human reality of what such revolutions often entail. Suetonius gives us a healthy reminder:
2) "On 24 January, Gaius was slow to rise as he was queasy after a heavy banquet the night before. His friends persuaded him to come out with them along a covered walk. There he met some young stage performers from a noble family rehearsing their presentation..."
3) "He stopped to view and encourage the theatre troupe and said he would have eagerly attended their performance later if it was not for the cold. At that point the prefect Sabinus ordered his centurions to clear away the crowd and then asked Gaius for the day's watchword..."
Read 7 tweets
23 Jan
1) The Temple of the Divine Claudius was a vast temple complex on Rome's Caelian Hill, overlooking the valley that would later be occupied by the Colosseum. Though almost nothing now remains of the structure, its scale and grandeur once rivalled anything in the city.. #LostRome
2) The 'Claudium' was intended as a sacred complex to revere Claudius and the imperial cult. Construction began soon after the death and deification of the emperor in 54 AD, initiated by his widow Agrippina who was likely responsible for his supposed death by poisoning. #LostRome
3) The sprawling temple complex sat on a gigantic podium that spread across the Caelian Hill, measuring 180 x 200 metres; with towering retaining walls of travertine that raised the structure 20 metres above the valley below. #LostRome
Read 18 tweets
18 Jan
1) Chasing 'likes' and validation on social media? Seneca has some advice to offer from 2,000 years ago:

"Why should pride in your abilities lure you into publicity? Who needs the applause of strangers or the approval of the mob? Not one of them can fully understand you anyway..
2) "You may ask then, 'For what purpose did I learn these skills?' It was for yourself that you learned them. Your efforts are never wasted. Asked if he worries his art will only reach a few, the wise man says: I am content with few, content with one, content with none at all..
3) "In fact, you should scorn the pleasure which comes from the applause of the majority. Many people praise you? So? Have you any reason for praising yourself? Do you really want to be a person whom the many can understand. Your good qualities should face inwards."
Read 4 tweets
16 Jan
1) "To purify your new farmland you need to have a pig-sheep-bull procession. They must be led around the land as the following words are spoken: 'I call upon the benevolence of the gods, in the hope of good fortune I entrust to you this pig, sheep and bull led around my farm'.. Image
2) "You should then invoke Jupiter and Janus with an offering of wine. Then to Mars you speak these words: 'Father Mars, I pray you be kind to my new home and family. I have arranged this pig-sheep-bull procession so you may ward off disease, barrenness, disasters and storms'.. Image
3) ..'I pray you allow my vegetables, grain and orchards to grow and reach maturity; protect the shepherds and the flocks and bestow good health upon me, my home and my family. For these reasons, and to purify my farm, please be honoured by my pig-sheep-bull procession'.. Image
Read 5 tweets

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