I love it when Romans get their grump on about modern music

[lesbiassparrow]

I am reading Quintilian's guide to raising the ideal orator and came across this gem (after he has been complaining about effeminate modern music and its indecent rhythms):

"Also no one should use the psaltry or the spadix [both types of harps or lyres], which decent virgins should even shrink from touching" (Institutes of Oratory 1.10.31)

KEEP YOUR VIRGINS FROM THE SPADIX, PARENTS! Sadly I do not have a picture of these instruments of wickedness, so that you can be on the lookout for them. But you can see from my icon that the sacred chickens DO NOT APPROVE OF THESE CORRUPT DEVICES.

Comments

[wistfulmemory.livejournal.com]

And because I'm weird and had the sacred chickens lingers in the back of my mind, the first thing I noticed in this picture was the chicken...

http://hannibal-thecannibal.tumblr.com/post/7422363402

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

THAT PICTURE IS A THING OF BEAUTY. BUT THAT CHICKEN WILL PROBABLY SMITE HIM IN SOME WAY. As it should be.