Ancient salutations were quite simple. Greek letter writers, exempli gratia, satisfied themselves with variations of Πλάτων τῶ Δίωνι εὖ πράττειν (or instead of εὖ πράττειν: χαίρειν): Plato (hopes) Dion flourishes (or is happy). A typical Latin salutation is: M.Tullius Cicero M. Varroni S.D (Marcus Tullius Cicero greets Marcus Varro). S.D. = Salutem dicit. SPD = Salutem Plurimam dicit. Pliny in the first century AD added ‘suus’ : C.Plinius Sabino suo SD.
In the medieval period and on into the renaissance, the salutation gained greater weight and length, full of scraping and bowing. Erasmus in de epistolis conscribendis gives us a few examples for fun:
Perspicacissimo domino, septem artium liberalium calendabro aureo. Radianti theologorum apici. Religioniis lucernae semper fulgenti.
Using the “Salutationes” link in Slack, and the greetings on the “Cicero on Letters” page as well as the sheets I handed out in class, please send a couple of your classmates a note. Say hi, in whatever way you want; ask how they are; say goodbye. Seriously. If you see someone has not been addressed, write to them. Will this be a bit random and out of control? Yup.
” page as well as the sheets I handed out in class, please send a couple of your classmates a note. Say hi, in whatever way you want; ask how they are; say goodbye. Seriously. If you see someone has not been addressed, write to them. Will this be a bit random and out of control? Yup.
